Bath Out, Shower In

We had our bath taken out because neither of us used it to bathe in, and visitors only ever used the over bath shower. We had a 1700 long shower tray put in with a large overhead rain shower and a hand spray (wouldn’t be without that). At the moment I’m using three suction hand grips on the walls as I recently had a hip replacement. I had planned to remove them, but will leave them in situ because they work very well. What I don’t want are permanent hand rails, much as they are the better option. I feel I have to make concessions to whoever buys the house after me - I doubt if they are likely to be elderly. The tiles were expensive and removing handrails would damage them. I have three neighbours here who have all replaced their baths with walk in showers.

I had the bath removed and a walk in shower fitted. Best thing ever. I have a rainfall shower with the controls at the walk in end so I am able to turn it on before I get in (no cold shocks when turned on). The plumber ( a relative) also advised wall panels and easy clean glass panel which is virtually self cleaning. Just a wipe down with a squeegy blade from Lakeland before getting out and Bob's your uncle. There is also a hand held shower. I also have a long handled brush with interchangeable heads especially designed for this from Amazon and I quickly wipe out the shower tray after use.

I like a bath and as we also have a separate ensuite with shower wouldn’t get rid of the bath we have now. This is a family-sized house, though, where I think a young family would expect to have a bath for children. Our previous house had two full bathrooms and I was surprised how much of a selling point it was, people seemed delighted to have a second bath. (Both has showers over them.)

If yours isn’t a family home, then you might as well put your own needs first and have a decent sized shower put in. It won’t be your problem to fix if the house needs to be sold later on by your family.

I’d second/third the wall panelling suggestion. We had it put in to our last house and it was brilliant, so much nicer than tiling.

I would think that if you’re planning to leave the house to your family a few thousands off the price, which may not necessarily be the case anyway, can’t be a major deciding factor on what is best for you now and in the future.

When my OH had his hip op it was surprising how many people didn’t realise that they weren’t advised to climb into their baths to use over bath showers for a few weeks afterwards. They hadn’t even considered it.

Agree make your home fit for you. Don't worry about the future.
Let's face it, if you buy from older folk, the new people will end up remodeling the house, to update and fit thier needs.

Your comfort, convenience and safety is what matters now. Hang the reduction in house value - I believe it can be negligible - and put yourself first. Having the workmen in will be a wee bit stressful but well worth the decision. Good luck. I wish you well.

I had my bath taken out last year and a large walk in shower fitted (1800 x 700), I was struggling with the bath and this has made a huge difference...

Mine was all done within a week - apart from decorating and in all honesty, making life easier for me, now and going forward was what mattered.
Interestingly though, the firm who did mine told me that a lot of people were doing the same so perhaps reductions in value aren't that much?!

Shelflife

Definitely go for a large walk in shower. Never mind about not having a bath in the house , your safety is paramount. I have a walk in shower and I love it. So quick , I am in and out every morning in no time at all. I have room for a shower seat should the need arise. Go for it , you will not regret it !

I totally agree. I'm not totally sure it will affect the value, for a walk in shower is a lovely luxury for totally able bodied. for larger people, for having showers with kids

I bought my current house quite willingly without a bath, and there was room with no bath for a bidet, which is wonderful.

Greyduster make sure you test your suction hand grips every time. Ours failed once or twice.

My son bought a house from an older lady who had the bath taken out and a walk in shower installed. It didn’t put him off buying the house but having a young family he has replaced the bath with a shower above it.

midgey

Greyduster make sure you test your suction hand grips every time. Ours failed once or twice.

This - I installed two when I had my knee replacements, and kept them on, but give them a good pull before every use- from time to time, one of them comes away.

If you like baths then just buy a bath lift for a couple of hundred pounds.

www.healthcarepro.co.uk/bathroom-aids/bath-lifts/bellavita-bath-lift?sku=Q12461&sv_tax1=google&sv_tax2=shopping&sv_tax3=UPP_HCP_PMX_TRO_SR71_4362cf99-0929-4c71-9dad-cb7b3dd05e2b&sv_campaign_id=16205106370&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiI2a6vek_QIVxvftCh3guAJ8EAQYAiABEgI88fD_BwE

Unless, perhaps??? you ahve space to put a walk-in shower somewhere else, en-suite even??? We made a big walk in shower for the guest rooms, and it was great to use when I had my knees done as I just could not have used the over bath shower (which I am very happy using again now).

Perhaps get some advice from a specialist who might work out is and where this would be (or not) possible.

We had a walk in shower installed when we redid our bathroom a couple of years ago and it's brilliant! So quick and easy to use. However, we did also keep a bath as we had the same advice as you had, that it adds value on resale.
In the event, neither of us uses the bath (can't!) but one of our sons does when he visits.
Our bathroom isn't very big btw, shower prob around 90cm square but we angle the showerhead slightly against the open side and that works ok.

Better to have a large walk in shower in place of a bath in my opinion. My mother tried to squeeze a smaller shower cubicle in to her bathroom and that wasn't easy for her to get in to as she got older and she definitely couldn't get in to the bath anymore.
We have a large (bath size) walk in shower in our ensuite. It has a glass side panel and is so easy to clean which is also another thing you need to consider as you get older.
Definitely only consider your needs. Bathroom/shower designs change fashion so often that it is likely to be replaced in future by the next owners of your property anyway.

I wouldn't be put off from buying a house with a large shower and no bath. I don't think many people would - as it's so simple to swap them anyway. I'm sure it makes no difference to the house value, so go for what you prefer.

Good advice, Midgey. They have indicators that change colour if they’re not properly fixed, but I always test anyway.

(and) consider having an EV charging point installed (if possible) as, locally, they're said to be great for increasing the house value and speed of sale.

Our home is quite old. My GP had the bathroom renovated in about 1955. We bought their home when we married in 1959 (they'd passed).

That bathroom worked well. Much later we renovated the bathroom, removing the tub for a huge shower that we love. We've each had a knee replaced, baths in a tub would've been impossible.

Nobody misses the tub. Our GC and GGC have all used the shower, once they aged out of portable baby baths in the shower.

I think any good bathroom renovation is a plus to sale.

12 years + ago I found I could get in a bath but not out without a lot of difficulties. I had the bath removed and a shower fitted and it is large enough to house a stool which I now need whenever I have a shower.

I am looking after myself and whoever buys the house after my demise can do what they like with it.

but ive heard removing the bath can reduce the value of my home

I doubt that the value would be reduced by much, and as other posters have said, if you sold then new owners would probably change the bathroom to suit themselves anyway.

I'd go for a bigger shower.
We have a bath in the bathroom but it isn't used much now and I've noticed that if family come to stay they either use the shower over the bath or nip into our ensuite and use the bigger shower!

When a relative could no longer use the over bather shower and it was replaced for her - had to be done before they would release her from hospital - she was not allowed to have the glass screen incase of falls - the occupational health people insisted on a curtain. Because of that we decided not to use glass screens either - have one still stored in the house - and used curtains. There is another benefit to a curtain - they do not have the traps for mould etc along the track or round the fixings of the shower door.

Welshwife, yes, I do wonder why glass screens are so popular in the UK - especially in hard water areas. The Ideal Standard over-bath one keeps itself mysteriously clean (so must be treated in some way) but the large shower enclosure in the ensuite is a nightmare of water spots and limescale. If I ever move, a new one would be a wet room or a simple curtain. With plenty of room, a curtain would be just fine and cleaning access would be better.

You must think of the sellable aspect of the house. If it’s going to be a family house, a bath is a must. If you don’t have space to have a shower, then a shower over the bath should suffice. When the children were young, it was great to put them in a bubbly bath, while I got on with some tidying up. Luckily, the bathroom was large enough to have a shower cubicle as well. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.