Question of the Day, Friday, July 18

Winchester

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Good morning and Happy Friday! 


Rick and I were talking last night; he would like to start thinking about renovating our bathroom. The biggest issue is: Shower? Or tub?  We don't take baths; sometimes, it's all I can do to find time to take a shower, let alone have the luxury of a nice, long soak in the tub. He would like to take out the bathtub and install a shower. Just a shower. (Part of the reason is that, eventually, we will get the basement finished and get the bathroom installed down there. I would like to put in an old-fashioned claw foot tub in the basement bathroom for soaking.) While I agree with him that we don't take baths that often, I worry about the re-sale value of the house....not that we're going anywhere any time soon.

So, my question today is: Do you prefer a bath or a shower? Why? Would you buy a house with no bathtub in the main bath?
 

AbbysMom

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I take both baths and showers. I would also be concerned about the resale value. I don't like it when we stay at a place while on vacation and there is only a shower, even though I take showers and not just baths. :dk:
 

jcat

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I prefer a shower, but I really miss having a bathtub, even though it's something that would only be used a couple times a year. We took ours out when we moved in because the bathroom is so small.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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I prefer a shower, but I really miss having a bathtub, even though it's something that would only be used a couple times a year. We took ours out when we moved in because the bathroom is so small.
When we built our home, we put a one piece until with a tub and shower in the hall bath. The master bath has a shower because that is what we do. Neither of us has ever sat in the but. In fact, I don't think anyone has, but it is there. It is important to have one in the house I think because of folks who might have children need a tub.
 

peaches08

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I am one of those people that would refuse to buy a house if there wasn't at least one bathtub.  I take a tub bath at least once a week, sometimes more.  I usually shower, but I love relaxing in the tub too.
 

Draco

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I love my baths. I've turned down some co-ops because they don't have tubs.

I watch a lot of Home and Garden shows- and I find most potential buyers prefer a tub.
 
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pinkdagger

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For speed and convenience, showers.

I would want a bath tub just so I had the option to lie down and relax though, and I love bubble baths. Right now I use the tub to clean the bird cages, hahaha... since we're renting and they never do a GREAT cleaning of places between tenants (and I can't clean all the gunk off), I don't feel comfortable taking a bath in this tub. At my parents' house? Totally. The basement tub is a jacuzzi! I miss it.
 

alyssam

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To be honest I haven't taken a bath since I was a small child. I don't particularly like them!
 

larussa

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All I ever do is take showers, I honestly could not tell you when I took a bath last and I do have a huge soaker tub which I just stand in to take a shower
  I think most people take showers especially those who have jobs and don't have time to bathe in a tub.  As far as resale of your home, I don't know if it would make a difference but it very well could.

Would Rick build an enclosed shower??
 

mani

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My little cottage only has a shower.  After many years without a bath and absolutely no room in the bathroom to put one, I ended up buying a huge plastic tub at the hardware shop and put it in the laundry.. I actually fit in it!  So about once a week in winter I have wonderful epsom salt soaks and then empty the water on the garden, bucketful by bucketful, the the next day.
 

But I'd prefer to have only a shower than only a bath.. When I lived in London my home only had a bath and felt I could never really get clean.
 
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swampwitch

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When we built our home, we put a one piece until with a tub and shower in the hall bath. The master bath has a shower because that is what we do. Neither of us has ever sat in the but. In fact, I don't think anyone has, but it is there. It is important to have one in the house I think because of folks who might have children need a tub.
I was thinking the same thing, when our kid was young, not having a tub was a deal-breaker. But, if you aren't going anywhere for a long time, when you do sell the house, the new owners might need to renovate the bathroom again by then. Don't renovate for future unknown people. Make the bathroom something you will enjoy now.

I take showers because they are fast, but I love baths when I am not well. Our old bathtub is terrible, the back goes straight up so it's not comfortable to lean against, would really like a jacuzzi tub...
 
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monogodo

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My wife and I just bought a house last August. The Master Bath only has a shower. I love it. The second bathroom has a full tub. If we ever remodel it, we'd like to remove the tub from where it is, and install a claw foot tub in the bay window, so that she can have her soak baths with a view (of the privacy fence). We have no intention of ever moving, so we don't care about future owners. 
 

catsallaround

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I prefer having a tub for the litter boxes but I have only taken a few baths in last few years.  If you plan to be there long as possible I would do a shower if this is on the first floor.  Simply cause it is MUCH easier to help someone in to a shower and help them bathe if need be.  Lifting someones legs over the tub is very hard on the person once range of motion is gone or if demntia sets in.  I know bad things to think of but really...

I would buy a shower only house no issue.  With a child I would just buy a storage tote for a "bath"  would save some water and let the kid have a deeper bath:)  I think that goes to parenting style to.  Personally I have no issue being naked with my kid during a shower in first few years but I know some are against it at ANY age.  I would buy an adjustable shower head that slides up and down-great for kids and adults who want to or need to sit down on a shower chair.  
 

MoochNNoodles

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I would love a tub if I had a large enough one and the time for soaking.  The last time I tried to soak I had a back spasm while in there and almost couldn't get out!  Talk about getting the opposite of what you went in there for!  

Our house does not have a bath tub in the main bathroom; only the master bath.  That means the kids have to use my bathroom.  We've also had some minor plumbing issues because the other shower rarely gets used.  Basically; the valve that lets the hot water through gets stuck in position leaving our guests with only cold water to bathe...  It was a 10 minute fix the first time we had a plumber here to fix it.  DH tried to fix it himself the last time but he couldn't figure it out.  So our house sitter has to shower in our master bath.  On the up side; it's a perfect place for the clothes drying rack! 
  Also not having a tub there left room for an awesome size linen closet in that bathroom. 


For resale sake a tub is better; especially if you only have one bath on the level with your bedrooms.  If it's your master bath a shower is great!  My in-laws and my Grandparents have a large, walk in shower where there was once a tub.  After my Gram's strokes it was downright dangerous for her to get in the tub to shower.  Theirs has seats built right in; which now allow my Grandfather some extra safety as well.  My in-laws had a special seat for my husband's grandmother; who had broken a hip about 8 years prior to her passing last year.  Unfortunately she passed during the renovations to the bathroom; so she never benefited from the walk in shower.  They have a full bathroom with a tub in the basement.  It's a daylight basement and there are 2 bedrooms down there.  For my Grandparent's they only have the full bath upstairs and a powder room size bath in the basement.  I dread the day they sell their house; but I also worry we'll be re-renovating the bathroom to make it sale-able. 
 

denice

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I prefer showers but not having a tub would affect resale value.

My dream shower is one of the large ones with multiple jets that can be adjusted.
 

siamese mommy

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When I was single, I had an apartment with a garden tub in it.  I would take baths all the time, just soak for hours.  I sooooooo miss that tub!
 

andrya

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l love the bath! l could much easier deal with buying a house that had no shower, but it MUST have a tub.
 

catlover19

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I prefer to have showers because it's faster and uses less water. I do like to have baths sometimes and I would never buy a house without a bath tub.
 

peaches08

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I was thinking the same thing, when our kid was young, not having a tub was a deal-breaker. But, if you aren't going anywhere for a long time, when you do sell the house, the new owners might need to renovate the bathroom again by then. Don't renovate for future unknown people. Make the bathroom something you will enjoy now.

I take showers because they are fast, but I love baths when I am not well. Our old bathtub is terrible, the back goes straight up so it's not comfortable to lean against, would really like a jacuzzi tub...
That's a really good point.
 

fhicat

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Showers for me. I wouldn't know what to do with a bathtub. There's one in my apartment, but I just stand in it.
 
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