Tub to shower - Make the Switch Now?
- Is a tub to shower conversion going to bring down your property value? That really depends on your home, your neighborhood, and how many bathrooms you have.
- What do interior designers and realtors have to say about converting your tub to a shower? They suggest switching to a shower if you have only one bathroom, any more than that you should leave one tub.
- How much space do I need to convert my tub area into a shower? Minimum residential codes are 30″ x 30″ but for us, that is way too tight. We have found 36″ should really be the minimum.
What should you consider before taking on a tub to shower conversion?
One of the most common remodels being done today are tub to shower conversions.
Before you bath lovers start panicking about tubs around the US being converted into showers consider why even you might want to make the switch.
The truth is though that fewer people are taking baths these days.
Most older homes don’t have bathrooms large enough for both a stand-alone shower and a bathtub. If that is true in your home then you may want to consider leaving one bathroom with a tub but converting the second bath to a shower.
Even if you don’t personally enjoy a bath, when it comes time to sell your home, not having a bathtub at all could affect your resale value.
Before You Take the Plunge - Consider This
Does that mean though that you should convert your beloved tub into a shower?
Converting a tub to a shower can be a good option if you are one of those families that only prefer taking showers. On a side note replacing a tub with a shower isn’t a good idea if you’re planning on selling your home in the next few years and you don’t have another tub.
Families with small children who are buying homes are looking for tubs and it could hurt your resale value.
That said, if you have a true need for a shower and plan to stay in your home for some time, then convenience right now may trump the financial loss down the road.
65% of homeowners like, and want, a shower with no tub
But that still leaves 35% of the population wanting a tub. So, think about your neighborhood. Is it mostly composed of young families? Or is it more of a retirement community? That will be a determining factor.
Most realtors we polled on this said that a good rule of thumb is this:
- If you have a studio, or a one bathroom home, removing the tub and creating a shower suite is not going to have a great impact on the value of your home. In fact, it could even increase your home’s value by 10 percent.
- If you have 2 bathrooms, don’t turn both bathrooms into shower suites. Taking away all of the tubs in a 2 bath or more home would have a negative impact on the value of your home.
How much space do I need to be able to convert my tub to a walk in shower?
In most cases, the width of a standard tub is plenty of room for a shower conversion. It’s the depth that is the challenge. Many tubs are 32 inches deep but that makes for a pretty tight shower. 36 inches should really be a minimum.
30 inches is the minimum depth set by the International Residential Code so it is possible to go smaller. Just keep in mind that this depth will feel very tight.
There are many cheap options for adding a shower, including fiberglass shower systems that can be purchased from any big box store. These are some of the systems that we end up pulling out all of the time. Most of the time, unknown cracks led to leaks. Often, these leaks have gone on undetected for many years and then led to dry rot and extensive and expensive repairs.
The advantage of walk-in tile shower is that it can be designed to fit your space – exactly.
Every square inch is utilized to maximum capacity. You completely rearrange your bathroom to fit your families needs. You’re able to take into consideration how it will look best, both from within the room and also from outside the room, looking in.
A tube to shower conversion is hands down, the most dramatic change we see in our line of work. It literally opens up a bathroom and makes it feel so much bigger that customers are in awe when they see the final result.
What's the bottom line?
Depends on your home, how many bathrooms you have, your family, your neighborhood, the size of your bathroom, how long you plan to stay in your home and your own personal preferences.
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