There are certain things in a home that often indicate when the home was built. For example, if your home has a telephone nook or cabinet, it was probably constructed during the late 1920s/early 1930s. Kitchens with a cooktop and separate wall oven became popular in the 1960s.
Once indoor plumbing became common after World War II so did built-in bathtubs. Since most homes of that era only had one bathroom, then every home had a bathtub. During the 1970s and 80s as homes increased in size so did the number of full baths. Since the beginning of the 21st century consumer preference is turning toward walk-in showers rather than bathtubs.
Pros and Cons of a Bathtub
But I have a shower in my bathtub. Why would I want to get rid of the tub part?
Cons:
- Let’s face it, bathtubs are a pain to clean.
- Bathtubs take up a lot of floor space.
- Bathtubs are hard for senior citizens and those with certain physical disabilities to navigate.
- A bath uses a lot more water than a quick shower.
Pros:
- It’s much easier to bath small children and dogs in a bathtub.
- Certain health concerns are helped by soaking in a warm bath.
- Some homeowners appreciate the aesthetics a bathtub offers.
- A bathtub can always be used for extra storage.
What About Resale Value?
There is a lot of thought surrounding replacing a full-size bathtub with a shower, so again, let’s do the pros and cons.
Cons:
- How long are you planning on living in your home? If you’re going to sell within the next five to ten years, then not having a tub might limit your potential buyer pool. But if you see this as your “forever” home then don’t worry about future consequences.
- Young families with children probably won’t be interested in purchasing your home since, as mentioned before, kids are easier to bath in a contained area.
- No matter how nice and fancy the shower, some high-end homebuyers will insist on also having a tub simply for aesthetics.
Pros:
- As long as there is still one bathtub in the home removing the other one(s) and replacing with showers or extra storage should not be a factor when it comes to putting your home on the market.
- While you may lose out on the young family demographic, you might just end up with the over 55 age group. Climbing in and out of a tub can become more difficult as you age, while a shower, especially a curbless shower, allows easier assess.
- Take out the tub and create the shower of your dreams complete with waterfall showerheads, body jets and bult-in benches and shelving. Then when you do decide to sell if not having a tub becomes a stumbling block, offer a tub installation credit.
Bottom line: it’s your home and if replacing a seldom or never used bathtub with a shower complete with all the amenities will make you happy, and your life easier, then go for it!
Ready to get started on your new shower? As a licensed South Carolina Residential Home Builder and General Contractor, Closing Contractor will take the guesswork and worry out of your bathroom remodeling project. Simply contact us today by filling out our secure online form, calling us at 864-326-2640 or emailing us at contact@closingcontractor.com.
