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Bath or shower

(78 Posts)
LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 08:08:35

I’m going to get a new bathroom. It’s very small so am thinking of installing a walk-in shower rather than having a bath. I rarely use the bath and it’s only me now so it makes absolute sense. The only concern is for when I sell (although I don’t think I’ll ever move now unless I’m forced to by circumstance!) If a family with young children buy they’ll most probably want a bath but of course they could use a baby bath in the shower. Your thoughts?

Cossy Sun 11-Aug-24 11:29:15

We only have showers in our home now due to two teeny tiny bathrooms!

I love showers.

BlueBelle Sun 11-Aug-24 11:25:20

I haven’t had a bath for 40 years poooh how I must smell No once I found a shower I ve never ever wanted a bath the grandkids have grown up with showers
I put a whole new bathroom in my mum and dads house before I sold it on the advice of the estate agent and apparently the first thing the new buyers did was pull it out and throw it away Makes me feel sick thinking about it

Grandyma Sun 11-Aug-24 10:09:01

We had our bath replaced by a walk in shower 7 years ago - best thing we ever did!! The grandchildren weren’t babies when it was done but as toddlers they loved it!!

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 10:03:21

I know! We have so many refugees from London and I was one of them when my daughter was little.

Callistemon213 Sun 11-Aug-24 09:55:30

LaCrepescule

My street is full of young families now (small terraced houses) and the bathroom used to be downstairs (we had a new one put in upstairs.) The old bathroom still has a loo and basin and it would be relatively inexpensive for a buyer to reinstall a bath. That way the kids could be in the bath whilst mum or dad is cooking dinner (it’s situated through the kitchen.) I’d be prepared to knock money off the purchase price if I have to.

No, don't offer to knock money off!!

If they want it, they'll buy it.

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 09:55:22

Also, I never seem to be able to relax in the bath. My daughter (who’s moving out soon) loves to but she’s told me to do whatever’s right for me.

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 09:53:01

My street is full of young families now (small terraced houses) and the bathroom used to be downstairs (we had a new one put in upstairs.) The old bathroom still has a loo and basin and it would be relatively inexpensive for a buyer to reinstall a bath. That way the kids could be in the bath whilst mum or dad is cooking dinner (it’s situated through the kitchen.) I’d be prepared to knock money off the purchase price if I have to.

Tizliz Sun 11-Aug-24 09:52:51

My bath taps are the only ones I can get a bucket under.

Never have a bath, takes too long to fill it and seems a waste of water - was different when I could read a book in the bath and stay there for a hour but now glasses get steamed up and a disaster if I dropped my iPad in the water 😱

Callistemon213 Sun 11-Aug-24 09:44:38

Doodledog

This is a daft question given that we are mid bathroom fitting, but what’s the difference between a walk in shower and a shower? Is it the absence of a tray?

It's fully tiled, a bit like a mini wet room but with a wall along the side, opening without a door at one end of the wall iyswim.
I've only really seen them in Australia but they're great.

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 09:40:40

That’s lovely GrannyIvy!

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 09:39:40

London!

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 09:39:28

Yes that’s a good point Pascal - it could be replaced with a bath without too much of a problem. I want to do what’s best for me now! I think I’ve earned it…
Whoever buys my house isn’t likely to be short of cash as it’s in a very desirable location just outside

pascal30 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:55:17

Definitely do what suits you now.. it will be very easy to restore a bath as all the plumbing is there.. should someone wish to change if you sell..

GrannyIvy Sun 11-Aug-24 08:41:44

We took our bath out and had a walk in shower. No regrets but do occasionally miss having a bath. My advice is do what suits you best now. Our small GC love going in the big shower!

Doodledog Sun 11-Aug-24 08:41:18

This is a daft question given that we are mid bathroom fitting, but what’s the difference between a walk in shower and a shower? Is it the absence of a tray?

Callistemon213 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:38:08

X post!

Callistemon213 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:37:23

I haven't had a bath for several years either. We do still have a bath in the main bathroom with a good shower over but sometimes I wish we'd had a shower installed in there instead of or as well.

You have to do what's best for you and, if you have room, a walk in fully tiled shower would be good; if not, install the largest you can fit in the space available.

LaCrepescule Sun 11-Aug-24 08:35:25

Thank you! My mind is made up - shower it is!

LOUISA1523 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:35:12

Do what suits you best....my DD has 2 young girls and has converted her bathroom into a wet room and got rid of the bath

Doodledog Sun 11-Aug-24 08:34:32

I would think about the likely market for your house. As Calendargirl says, if it’s likely to be a retiree, then a shower could be the best bet. A single person might (or might not) feel the same. If it’s a family house though, I would assume that having no bath would put people off. House prices being what they are, I don’t think that everyone will have the budget for major refurbishment soon after moving in. I wouldn’t have considered a house with no bath when we bought ours, and the children were 5 and 7.

I don’t think many young parents would want to use a baby bath in the shower. Apart from storage issues and ‘tin bath in front of the fire’ connotations there is the fact that toddlers and small children still need to be bathed and wouldn’t fit.

Is there room for both? If at all possible I think that would be the preferred option, but I prefer baths and am in the process of having my bathroom refitted with a new one (and a new shower). I realise that the day will come when it won’t be used, but for as long as I can manage it I want to keep the option of a soak.

Georgesgran Sun 11-Aug-24 08:33:29

I think you should do what’s best for you and not try to second guess what might or might not happen in the future.

jusnoneed Sun 11-Aug-24 08:22:33

We haven't had a bath for over 30 years, used a baby bath when needed for little ones.

My son is in the process of buying a house, first job - take out the bath and put a large shower cubicle in the same space.

Oldbat1 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:16:56

We have a large walk in shower and i love it.
In the other bathroom we have a roll top bath but this only gets used when family visit. We both struggle to get out of said bath as lovely as it looks.
Also folk nowadays seem to replace kitchens and bathrooms when they move house.

Calendargirl Sun 11-Aug-24 08:15:38

Do what’s best for you now

Why will a young family buy the property in the distant future? Might be another older person such as yourself who will be put off by a bath.

hmm

PaperMonster Sun 11-Aug-24 08:13:04

Recently didn’t buy a house and one of the reasons was that we’d have to install a bath. We don’t have small children, but I have a couple of conditions which are helped by having a bath.