Convert bathroom to shower room?

When we downsized I was really pleased the bathroom in our new property, although pretty small, had both a shower enclosure and a bath as grandson was a frequent visitor and bath time was the highlight of his visits. We never used the bath but as DH started having various health issues and became poorly he found the power shower was sore on his skin which was getting very thin so occupational health got us a "bath board" which enabled him to sit on the bath while I showered and washed him with one of those plastic showers fixed to the taps. We were so pleased we hadn't taken the bath out as so many people had recommended!! I would agree with those who say removal of the bath will affect the value of your family-sized house.

I agree with grannysyb do whatever makes your life easier and don't worry about resale. I don't think it's such a big issue nowadays in any case, buyers will see the whole house not just the bathroom.

We had a large bathroom with a shower over the bath. We split it into two rooms and have a shower room with a second loo while retaining the bathroom. Personally I wouldn't worry about resale value, do whatever makes your life comfortable.

Don’t have a door at all !

A bath can always be reinstalled, but a buyer would want to pay less for the house
My new bathroom layout has a shorter bath than before and it is lower so will stay easy to get into for longer. When my parents needed carers they looked at the bath and said that the devices used for helping someone have a bath would not work because the taps were in the middle, so I made sure that when I had a new bath it had taps at the end. Being a shorter bath is not a problem for me as I'm fairly short maybe not so good if you are 6 foot 3
I had my bathroom completely redone, the loo and sink and bath all changed places, it gives a lot more floor space. Might this be a possibility for you? If you do have a shower put in make sure that the door opens so that it is easy for someone to help you
If in the future I need a shower I'll have one fitted

Without question I would get rid of the bath. A really I interested prospective purchaser would take that into account and not let it be a deterent. I do believe there is a non-slip material which can be applied to the floor at time of installation. Mats can be both a nuisance and a danger. Go for it. I still have my bath as there's plentry of space but never use it. Actually been thinking of putting a board across the top to save me wiping out the dust. Yep, I'm that lazy!

We converted our bathroom into a shower about two years ago and have not regretted it. We were finding that clambering into the bath was becoming more and more difficult as age crept up on us.

I turned the downstairs bathroom into a shower room. Not a wet room which I don't like. When we are less able we can move the bedroom downstairs and just close off upstairs.
For now OH uses the shower room and I love my bath which has a shower for rinsing off.
If you do convert your bathroom choose the biggest cubicle you can fit in.

PippaZ

Those look good greenlady. I find the mats pretty nasty and then kill them with bleach

I LOATHE bathmats

A friend had a wet room installed on the ground floor, and now she is recuperating from a long spell in hospital it has absolutely come into it's own. I think this, if possible, is a far better solution ans it doen's require going up and down stairs.

Those look good greenlady. I find the mats pretty nasty and then kill them with bleach

Take the bath out I would , replace with walk in shower and if you have enough space a built in seat.
A bath is all very well if you remain totally fit and able, but otherwise it’s no use

Chestnut

I had a bath removed and replaced with a shower cubicle which I love. But the shower tray is very long, the full length of a bath, so just check two things.
1/ The surface. Mine is very smooth and slippery, so I have to use two bath mats, one at each end.
2/ If the taps and shower bracket are at one end then you can't reach them from the other end. You have to rinse off the mats after every shower to remove soap scum, which can be difficult if you then can't reach the taps and shower bracket when you've finished.
So basically think about how you will get in and out and reach things before you install the shower and tray.

I bought these when I had my bath taken out for a shower and they are excellent. No need for mats, I just rinse the whole cubicle down with fresh water after showering. You do need to make sure that the shower tray is completely clean and dry (clean then wipe over with meths and wipe over with clean cloth) before sticking them down, mine have been in place for 2 years now and still fine. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06VSPLZ4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

Blackcat3

Personally no. I’d never buy a house with only a shower. Better to replace the bath to a walk in with shower over? I admit we only ever shower but it’s nice to have a bath too.

I think that would be more of a selling problem than a decent shower..... also do folk realise that you have to get into the bathe while its empty, sit while it fills then stay in the cooling water until its empty again? AND they are a devil to clean!
If this is intended to be your final house then I would absolutely do it, if you are thinking that you will move again, then look at moving before you decide.

Trisha57, have exactly what you want. I think the 'lower resale' argument is overrated. If there's room for a bath, it's simple to put one back in, so I don't think it would put many people off buying, these days.

Returning the bathroom to its original state is actually a very small cost compared with the cost of the house, and re-doing bathrooms is common when moving house. Being safe now is much more important and a large shower with a non-slip tray will make life easier and safer for you. Go for it!

I'm thinking of doing this as currently, my shower is over the bath and my bath has really high sides.
I'm struggling a little as it is...

Interestingly enough, the people I've had quotes from have all said that this is an option quite a lot of people are looking at / doing at the moment, if not for age, for space reasons.

At my old house I had my bathroom changed into a wet room, I had the basin and the toilet moved to different positions to make more space. One advantage is being a family home it would suit a family with a disabled child.

Personally no. I’d never buy a house with only a shower. Better to replace the bath to a walk in with shower over? I admit we only ever shower but it’s nice to have a bath too.

I had a bath removed and replaced with a shower cubicle which I love. But the shower tray is very long, the full length of a bath, so just check two things.
1/ The surface. Mine is very smooth and slippery, so I have to use two bath mats, one at each end.
2/ If the taps and shower bracket are at one end then you can't reach them from the other end. You have to rinse off the mats after every shower to remove soap scum, which can be difficult if you then can't reach the taps and shower bracket when you've finished.
So basically think about how you will get in and out and reach things before you install the shower and tray.

Wet rooms are quite popular at the moment and especially useful as you get older.

I think it might affect the resale value, as it's a family home. A couple with a young child would probably prefer to have a bath.
We are considering converting our bathroom to a shower room, but it's a 2 bedroomed flat. We are retired and have never used the bath. We use the shower head over the bath, but as we get older, it becomes trickier to step into the bath to have a shower.
As there are just the two of you and you are retired, I would consider moving to a smaller house or flat with a shower room, rather than convert a 3 bedroomed house.

My mother did this many years ago and when we had the house valued after she went into a care home last year, all three estate agents said it did not make a difference to the sale price of the house. However, one said it might reduce the number of people wishing to view the house as some people do insist on their being a bath, especially if they have young children.

If you are not planning to move house in the near future, then I would suggest you go ahead and install the shower, you will have the use of it and not worry about resale values. Enjoy!

I can see the attraction of doing this and would do it for myself but I do think it would affect resale value for a family house. It depends what’s more important to you - the convenience (and water saving) of a shower or a probably not too big loss of value in a home you don’t sound like you intend to move from in the foreseeable future. Personally I would have the shower every time and one over the bath isn’t great as you get older and less mobile.

After caring for and watching mum as she aged I realised that if one is lucky enough to live to a good age then you will certainly need to old-age proof your house. That includes things like eye-level ovens, fridges etc and step in showers.

All being undertaken in our house. I’m not worried about the resale value tbh as it will either be sold for care or if our children inherit they will do very well, with or without a bath.