Thinking about upgrading our bathroom to make it attractive for potential buyers/renters. 2 bedroom house.
Currently we've a shower with toilet. Thinking of putting a bath under the shower. I'm afraid it could be counter productive. Also thinking of return of money.
Your thoughts are welcome.
Yeah. Stepping over is a real pain. Not just for people with mobility issues, even just early teens and smaller adults can struggle.
I would definitely choose a bath-shower over a shower only if I had the choice. Always had them through my childhood. Although I haven't had a bath in decades. I mean I have a bath but haven't used it in decades.
But you do have to be careful stepping out of them.
A bit of soap left in the base of the bath tub and nothing obvious to hold onto is a naked trip to the emergency department waiting to happen.
@AngoraFish: I got a concussion and banged up shoulder slipping and falling in my old bath/shower due to how slippery it was.
So if you never use the bath (like most Australians), why on earth would you prefer a bath-shower? Surely it's just a waste of space and money if it is never used.
Not really. :)
We have 2 of 'em (they were in the house when we moved in) and it's not a problem at all, unless you have mobility issues. I wouldn't design it that way myself but it's no biggy.
I grew up with them, and agree, it’s not a problem **unless you have mobility issues*.
Common injuries, like sprained ankles or just sore backs, count as mobility issues. There were several times growing up when I simply could not shower by myself because of these temporary ailments.
If I were redoing a bathroom, I definitely wouldn’t put just a shower/bath in. Ideally a separate shower and bath is the better way to go.
@jjjaar: If you pick uo a common injury, just have a bath when that happens. It's not forever. I lived in places with a shower over bath for 10 years and never did anyone have a problem out of all the people I lived with.
On the other hand not having a bath in your unit means it's not feasible for anyone with kids to live there, so you are reducing the number of potential renters
@Jackson: It’s not about being able to wash yourself, it’s about physically climbing into a bathtub without a suitable railing installed that is dangerous with those kinds of injuries.
Agree bathing in a bath is easier than showering, but you gotta get in there first.
@jjjaar: Unless you have a bum injury it's simple, you sit on the side and swing your legs over. No need to potentially stand on your injuries
Does your house already have a bath? If Yes, then No
but if no, then yes?
Well every house should have a bath/bath shower, for Kids and a standard shower.
Baths are just big useless dust traps 99% of the time. It's not worth taking up a chunk of your house for the, maybe, 3-4 years where your hypothetical kids might get some use out of it. A plastic sandpit under the shower from Bunnings does just as well as a bath for a 3 year old, better in fact.
@AngoraFish: I agree, I hate bath shower too. But its depends on OPs target audience. That's why shitty/tiny motels has bath showers to cater the kids.
@AngoraFish: A 2 year old, maybe; not a 3, let alone a 4, a 5, a 6, a 7… year old. The kids may be "hypothetical" to you, or even to the OP, but perhaps not to the buyers/renters he aims to attract. The absence of a bath is a deal breaker to any parents of children aged 3–6.
@wisdomtooth: My place only has a shower. Got a 6y/o who has been here since birth and it's been fine. Had a shower chair when he was under 1, then just showered like anyone else.
@Doobies: Sure, children can survive without a bath, but it sure is convenient when they can stay there playing for half an hour or so. A bath is also sometimes needed when the kid needs soaking 😅
The absence of a bath is a deal breaker to any parents of children aged 3–6.
Is this a fact? Those with children that young are mostly millennials.
@wisdomtooth: Thats not factual, a plastic tub works fine for little kids and 3+ can shower like anyone else.
@AngoraFish: I have to strongly disagree with this statement, what if you have 2 kids 2 years apart, a plastic tub isn't going to cut it. A bath is just about a necessity if you want to bathe you 2 or more kids conveniently at the same time. Kids love to play in the bath, esp when there's two or more.
But yes but no but yes but no.
Bath is good for little kids. Shower over a bath is not good for adults to shower in.
Is your property otherwise likely to appeal to people with little kids? If it’s not in a toddler friendly area, don’t bother with a bath.
As a side note, our first house didn’t have a bath but the laundry tub was in a great position and perfect for bathing babies. Especially as it was at waist height. Since kids got big enough for showers we’ve used the bath maybe twice.
Agree with this
If it’s a common bathroom in a house for a young family then a bath is very handy
If it’s in an ensuite for primarily adult use then just a shower is the way to go
Shower over a bath is not good for adults to shower in.
Lots of houses in the US have these, I didn't find it inconvenient at all. Even here, I've lived in a house that has a bath/shower, no issues at all. In fact, I've used tiny showers that are much more annoying.
It all depends on the setup
Shower over bath is a bit easier to clean because no grout or corners to scrub.
But generally, it's seen as a "cheaper" option for tiny homes/units where there's only one bathroom, and/or that bathroom is too small for a separate bath and shower.
So many buyers will prefer the shower-only, thinking its more fancy, but some couples with small kids will completely rule out any house without a bathtub.
You have to know your market: who is looking to buy places like this in this area?
But generally, it's seen as a "cheaper" option for tiny homes/units where there's only one bathroom, and/or that bathroom is too small for a separate bath and shower
Exactly the OPs situation, hence he should put in a bath. Also ask any REA, not having a bath is an issue
We ripped our bath out. Tiny bathroom with old tiny bath. 🙄
Went for walk in shower with glass screen. Ensure you put in handshower.
People with little kids can pommie wash in a tub or sink but adults, including the elderly and disabled, form a much larger market.
I would want to see the stats on this, but it's probably a bit different depending on where you live. IME REAs will always recommend having a shower over bath over a shower only
Hate bath shower. Its a compromise that ensures you get the worst experience of both.
There are some caveats (cost, availability, regulatory approval) but I'd love one of these from Duravit
Otherwise I'd say it's a 50:50, the shower-over-baths have a widened area for standing and an occasional bath is a wonderful thing
Ha nice! A tub with a gate so it's easy to get in and out.
Love the "perv window" 😂
Bathtub shower with a shower curtain 🤮
No thanks
Get one with a glass door then
As with everything, and I mean everything in life, something designed to fulfil one role will always be better than one designed to do more.
A proper shower has glass walls and you don't need to step over to get in, proper bath has a normal faucet and is easier to manage. No shower curtains.
The reasons these compromises exist are obviously cost and space management concerns but it is always a compromise.
Currently we've a shower with toilet.
Yeah don't shower in the toilet
Same pipes though, and let's be honest, who hasn't let one go now and then while showering.
Sometimes you need to stomp it down the drain though.
Maybe they toilet in the shower, to save time and money.
I'm thinking of putting a garbage disposal in my shower… Already making salads in there.
I remember in 90s Hong Kong you had shower. Toilet and kitchen
I personally think shower-bath is way better than just a shower. But it's always a trade-off - you're basically attracting people who want a bath vs sending away people with mobility issues.
If it's done well then it's honestly great. Baths are amazing (better than stand-alone baths I've used), and the shower is equally as good/works as well as any other shower.
I think many people have just experienced poor combinations where the bath is too shallow or small, or the shower is old and dinky.
The only time I might have a bath is when I go to a decent hotel…To be honest with you the bath-showers that I have used in the past, I hated - I would much rather have space in my shower.
I'd love to know the actual statistics for elderly deaths caused by falls from stepping into or out of bath showers.
Probably extremely low since the elderly don't use them much
Youa re aware statistically the bathroom is the deadliest room in the house.
Plenty of elderly I know are still living in exactly the same house they were when they were 30 years younger and fitter.
Or are you saying that the elderly just stop having to wash at some point?
just stayed in an airbnb with a bath-shower.
disliked it.
They're usually annoyingly narrow, but at least it's now possible to source curved shower rails via Amazon. Back in the day I brought one home from Lowes Honolulu in my bodyboard bag
A claw feet tub: It can be placed anywhere, even the middle of the lounge.
Bath shower is pretty average, but what's worse is having a toilet in the bathroom. No thank you.
All the apartments I've lived in and current 90yo house has a toilet in the bathroom
Before kids, bathtub was only used to throw old clothes in. Been using it for kids bath but I imagine once they can shower themselves that it'll be back to being a laundry hamper again lol
Thanks everyone! Much appreciated. I wil keep the same structure but upgrade everything without a bath.
I work in the bathroom industry and this is one of the most common questions I get from customers.
I am a firm believer that if you can't fit both separately then just go for a shower only and use the space to make the shower bigger than standard and the vanity can have extra storage.
In a 2 bedroom house I think these will be more important than a bath.
I have little kids and would never buy a house based on whether it had a bath or not. Kids can go in the shower once they are too big for the baby bath.
We have a bath under the shower. Lived in this house for over 35 years. Used the bath when the kids were small and haven't used it since except if the grandkids sleep over and want to play in the bath. They shower at their place so it is more for novelty and fun at grandma's place. Goodness you should see the mess when they are finished but I digress. Now that I am old I am finding the tub difficult to climb in and out of to shower. Being quite short as well as old doesn't make it any easier. One of my great fears is that either my husband or I will have a fall getting in or out of the shower. If upgrading the bathroom was within our finances we would definitely have a walk in shower.
When I bought my house, I had a separate bath and Shower. When I renovated, I got rid of the bath, as I only used it to throw dirty cloths into. The bathroom is so much bigger without it.
When looking to purchase, first thing I look at in photos is bath/shower. If it has one, I'm moving on to the next property. Do not like.
If only there was a way to change things if you don't like them.
There is. Moving on to something you do like instead of spending thousands of dollars on a bathroom renovation.
I mean it's your money and whatever floats your boat. But it's kind of like saying I'm not going to say yes to a job because the chair has a coffee stain and smells funny.
@May4th: Umm, wot? No, it's kind of like saying if I have two otherwise equivalent job offers, one of which has stained office furniture that smells like cigarette smoke and wet dog, and another that offers nice clean office furniture, I know which one I would pick.
Although, frankly, if I was offered a job with shitty furniture like that I'd have to question the employer's commitment to their employees.
Dude, how many houses do you think there are in Australia on the market at any one time? There's always another real estate agent, and frankly, if you're not discerning about what for most people will be the biggest purchase of their lives then you have more money than common sense. Also, what are you doing on OzBargain?
@AngoraFish: i hate those things as much as the next guy but i'm saying there's much more important things to look for in a property than the furnishing, like location, layout, aspect etc which is much more important to your comfort and capital growth than a shower tub that can be renovated in a few weeks at maybe 1% of what you paid for your property. you don't want to be my in laws who missed out on so many good properties because they didn't like the colour of the cupboard or thought the benchtops looked dated. if you fuss over every single easily altered furnishing of a property you are going to be left with neither money nor sense
True but why waste money when you can find one that doesn’t have it. I’ve only seen them in hotels and also hate them.
I agree, but plenty of others will be the opposite, they will look and see only a shower and move on.
The poll results above suggest otherwise.
People who like baths are aggressive about their opinions, but at the end of the day their only real argument is "kids", as we've seen in this thread. Not one person has waxed lyrical about the benefits of sliding into a hot tub with a bath bomb, some lit candles and with Kenny G on in the background.
I very much doubt that even most of the people getting themselves worked up about bathtubs would pass on a decent house without a bath. The percentage of households with kids between the ages of 3 and 5 is insignificant.
Suppose double sinks is a must as well. Must be nice to have enough money to be picky.
It must be nice to have enough money to not need to be picky about what you get in exchange for the best part of a million dollars, or more.
Its a first world issue. If choose to bypass a house due a shower tub then upto you.
I have a bath shower. It's ok after a few years. But I would prefer a shower. When with the kids ….can always use a hand shower in a small tub like when we travelled. Don't do it. Just put in a really nice shower and glass set up.
If they plan to have children or have some buyers will probably prefer bath/shower. Also good if you have a flight with the Mrs
We are waiting on a quote now for a bathroom reno expecting it be around 30k :(. 3br 1 toilet household currently, with 2 kids under 4. We are planning to pull out the bath tub to install a 2nd toilet and increase size of shower. 80% of time the kids sit at my feet in shower so not a huge deal. The 2nd toilet is more important!
Re showers over baths, ive never seen a good version that doesnt end up with water all over the floor (from hotels to my last 2 rentals).
'ive never seen a good version that doesnt end up with water all over the floor'
reminds me of the fashion for showers with single panel glass and no door - looks cool right ?
except - all the ones I've used have ended up with water all over the bathroom floor
one newly-renovated hotel in Germany like this - I had a shower - got out and saw water had flooded not only over the bathroom floor but also out onto and soaking the carpet outside. I called the hotel staff who needed ten towels to try to soak up the water. I emailed management who replied that this style was a decision of top management to make this style for all their hotels in Europe. I'd love to know how that works out for them.
one Oz plan I saw the other day - planned to have this facing a toilet - anyone love sitting on a wet toilet seat … ?
I've seen combos where the bath taps are at a perfect shin-hitting height for when you're standing up to use the shower. Would not recommend
we have a separate shower and bath - we use the bath rarely
but I wouldn't add a bath under a shower due to slip injury risk - one guy I knew came home drunk, slipped in the shower/bath, hit his head on the edge of the bath, and was off work for several months recovering from the head injury - not recommended
most baths even if they have a flat area with more friction, still have curved sides which if stepped on accidentally, can easily risk a dangerous injury.
A house needs a bath a unit/apartment not so much.
From a resale point of view a 3 plus bedroom or more house needs a bath a friend who is a real estate agent said a lot of families were not interested in bathless homes.
If you've done a long day of physical work a hot bath is great for the aches and pain many people dont know what their missing.
A shower over bath is not good from a safety point of view. So in the case of that renovation removal of bath over shower for just a big shower could be the best option stuff the tiny 900x900 cubicles though look at the 1200x900 or larger.
However as it's a 2 bedroom I wouldn't change it keep it just the shower/toilet in the bathroom. Your potential buyers are less likely to be families most likely singles,couples, or maybe ouples with first child.
Having said that our first house was a 2 bedroom with shower/toilet ended up bathing our small toddler in special bathbucket then in the laundry sink then shower before we bought our next house.
Can confirm you can still make scented bubbles in the shower, just put your mind to it
Shower baths are awesome. I don’t have one, but anytime you get to use one… put the plug in and then shower. You get to pretend you’re in a submarine that’s sprung a leak.
I changed my vote, this has convinced me 🌊
Never understood why people think kids need an adult size bathtub. Unless you want to bath 2 kids at the same time, a plastic tub from Kmart is fine.
It’s not uncommon for kids to have baths until they are 8 or so. Pretty comical to see a 6 or 7 year old in a plastic tub each night I guess.
If for yourself choose bath shower
It's godsend in regards to keeping it clean.
Since it's surrounded by fibreglass or whatever it is made off.
Which is so much easier to clean and keep clean.
Bath showers are terrible if used for just showering & only found in ragged tiny apartments in poverty suburbs.
If you can get in a seperate bath by moving the loo, do it. Lack of tub is a deal breaker in my opinion (no kids, I just like a good soak and don't want to climb over for the shower)
In theory, the bath-shower is more efficient.
In practice… a lot of us just (profanity) hate using them.
P.S. where's the option for just bath?
Another problem is that a shower bath will have less width than a regular shower. This is going to present issues for larger people.
Any Airbnb's with a shower over bath I'll not book. Being a little taller I've found that the shower head is usually around my neck height so i have to either duck and lean back or turn around.
The best shower I had was in an Airbnb with dual showerheads that were seperately controlled by individual mixer taps. Amazing.
A bath-shower will make it harder for those with mobility issues to use