Future proofing the bathroom

When we moved to this house, although the en suite wasn't particularly old, it had a convoluted design where the shower was a step up affair almost like a dais. Coupled with the previous owners dreadful grouting , we decided to rip the whole thing out and I was absolutely adamant that I wanted a completely flat shower cubicle. The bathroom fitters hummed and ha'd a bit but I got my way. That was and has been invaluable to me when I broke my arm recently. The bath in the main bathroom is rarely used.

If you knocked through into the loo and lost that door you could fit a shower unit into the square area. Or put in a range of storage. That would free up space for the hand basin (or two!) with under unit storage.

I had a bath last night, the last of the year. Mostly I shower but I love a bath, I can really attend to my feet and skin without getting cold and soak away any aches and pains. I don’t do anything that makes me particularly grimy nowadays but even then, well, you soak an item that’s really dirty, you don’t just chuck a bucket of water over it and hope it’ll be clean.

I know exactly what I’m missing. Years ago I didn’t have a shower, only a bath. I would never, ever, again want to have a bath - only a shower. I just don’t understand why lying in rapidly cooling water which contains your own grime holds one iota of pleasure.

I’d suggest that if you decide to get rid of the bath you think about having a bidet. It is so useful if for any reason you can’t get your feet or legs wet. It’s been a godsend at times for us since the builder automatically added one to our bathroom plans. Incidentally they are a joy to very small grandchildren. “Look a special little washbasin just for me!”

You don’t know what you are missing GSM
I hope you are not implying anything
On the other hand in a previous house there was a jacuzzi Apart from it being massive the tank not holding enough water to fill it My husband was quite excited but said it was like having a bath in a cement mixer

I have the Japanese attitude towards baths - shower first rather than wallow in your own grime. I don’t remember when I last had a bath - probably about twenty five years. Give me a shower every time. We inherited a jacuzzi in the en suite when we moved here - still as good as new, and will remain so.

Nothing to add really except that after having two new hips. I felt it such an achievement to be able to say I had a bath last night. It was fantastic
Got a shower room downstairs but it’s just not the same as a soak in the bath with some Epsom Salts

My feeling is that whoever buys my house when i sell will want to put in a new bathroom and can do what they like. While I own it I will have what I want and need. 15 years ago before DH died we put in a new kitchen based on the belief that we would be selling it and moving a year or two later. He died, I am unable to move for the foreseeable future and I HATE the kitchen. I am never doing anything to any house on the basis of expecting to move again.

i was only 57 when i could not get in and out of the bath, i had a few falls and realised that as much as i loved my bath i did not want to have anymore falls, i stay in a H/A house so it was time to ask for a walk in shower, i have a seat and can sit as long as i like under the shower, it is not the same, but being on my own and risking a fall was not worth it. keep the loo where it is and have a look about getting some storage for under the sink or slimline drawers or large laundry type basket with lid for towels, i have a slim bookcase for all my prescribed shampoos, creams and shower gels (psoriasis), try sitting with some paper and mark out your bathroom with or without the bath and see what you could get in the space. have a look online about storage or whatever else you would like. good luck.

Hot tub on the patio?

Just thinking outside the box (must be the mulled apple juice!)

Having just had the work done to install a second loo downstairs I second that keeping your existing loo in place is a good idea - it has cost us £1000 - £1300 to install a new drainage system across our front drive.

Calendargirl

^but best of all a big cupboard to put everything in^

In other words, an airing cupboard, which so many homes don’t seem to have now.

No calendargirl. Not an airing cupboard at all because I’ve already got one of those with the tank in it and space for bedding and towels. My new cupboard is floor to ceiling and holds overflow from my wardrobes, seasonal duvets at the top, shelves designed for bottles, loo rolls etc. it’s multi purpose and a god send. Also, small plastic crates with medication such as paracetamols all clearly labelled on the front. Heat pads, blood pressure monitor etc. all in this one big cupboard.

Yes, definitely a vanity unit under the basin if you don’t already have one. A pedestal basin is a storage opportunity lost! We have drawers under all our basins.

I agree with GSM. Keeping the loo door would open up a lot of space for cupboards. Build the sink into a cupboard unit and have more storage at eye level.

I would also suggest going away for a few days while the work is done. You can be kept updated via photos and videos and nobody will get in anyones way.

That’s really helpful. I would suggest that the wall (or at least half of it if you still want a partition) between loo and bathroom be removed, and the door into the bathroom blocked up. A large walk-in shower could then be installed where the existing shower is, and extending along the wall in front of the blocked-off door. It would be best, I think, to leave the loo in situ because the foul drain and stench pipe will already be there and re-routing would be an expensive and disruptive job. This leaves you with your bath but gives you the benefit of a level-entry shower, which with my knees I find invaluable.

There is a bedroom right next to the loo, and squaring off the bathroom and loo would impact on the entrance to that, so I don't want to change the basic dimensions.

I am not an architect, and definitely not an artist , but this is a rough drawing. It is not to scale at all, but you can see the position of the doors and windows, as well as the plumbed in items.

Perhaps you might take measures, sketch what exists? Many people have a very good eye for renovations but may not be able to understand your description to windows and openings.

Engineering a bathroom, with the correct measurements could be a doodle, for those inclined to mentally read spaces.

If people buying your house in the future have, or plan to have children, then they will want a bath for them. One of the best part of each day with small children is bath time!!!!

I am fortunate that my early 1980's 2-bed flat has a separate bathroom and an ensuite shower room, Had the bathroom completed refitted soon after I moved here, hopefully this year will update the en-suite.

See lots of discussions on kitchen, but few on bathrooms, etc. Have also found it much more difficult to get an idea of costs involved. I have plans for two different configerations and will need to get companies in the quote for both.

The separate loo which is very much an outdated idea now, always used to totally confuse any friends, etc. from USA, who would ask for the 'bathroom' meaning the loo.

but best of all a big cupboard to put everything in

In other words, an airing cupboard, which so many homes don’t seem to have now.

Perhaps you could have a walk-in shower, but yes climbing in and out of a shower over a bath could be difficult in time to come, but then so could getting in and out of a bath with your arthritis. Loos in bathrooms here are not the norm, yes there are some,but it’s not the norm. Most have a small hand basin in the loo for handwashing. Keep it separate if you can.

Doodledog, I am another watching with interest.
I love my bathroom. It was refurbished a couple of years before I was diagnosed with bone cancer, so we still have a bath, with shower over. At the moment, I can get into the bath, with the help of steps from OT. But I can see that soon it may not be doable.
We also have a separate loo, which we are both loathe to lose, even though we have one downstairs.

Our bathroom is too small for a bath and our house had been occupied by someone in a wheelchair and it was a wet room. Loved the fact of no step into a shower and haven't missed having a bath at all. It also had a grab handle which was brilliant for leg shaving!

We did have to replace the sink which was too low and the loo which was very high! Eventually replaced the wet room altogether and it is great. We didn't put another grab handle in, but could easily do so if we wanted.

My mum has a wetroom too. No way could she get in or out of a bath! That has a seat that can be folded down as well as grab handles everywhere.

We had a bathroom that we inherited with a weird shape bath, bidet, loo, shower with a corner door and a sink unit. No storage. It was very dated. All now ripped out and now a vanity unit, big walk in shower with a single glass screen, loo, but best of all a big cupboard to put everything in : towels, toiletries, loo rolls, duvet covers etc etc. best decision ever. I wanted a bath but found getting in and out very challenging when I tried them out in Wickes!

A new initiative in France for next year, any one over 70, or over 65 if special needs- will be entitled to a free assessment of their house or flat, and large subsidy or even total cover, of any adaptations required, be it stairlift, ramps, replacing bath with walk-in shower, installing downstairs loo and shower, etc.

Brilliant, should happen here too.

We have a shower/bath combination only so are thinking re-doing the bathroom and having a separate walk-in shower.

I want to keep the bath as I love a bath in winter and soak for a good hour! (Luxury!)

So it looks like we will rip out the old bath/shower and tile the bathroom with non-slip tiles, build in a shower into one of the corners, and put in a new bath on the opposite side.
Fortunately there is enough room, just, without being too crowded, which includes a sink and toilet (which we will re-align to fit better).

Do whatever you think would be best for your circumstances Doodledog, and all the best!