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Tub size when used for shower too

10 years ago

Most tubs that are used for tub/shower combinations have a top basin width of a maximum of 23 - 24", even when it is a 66 L x 30 or 32 0r 34 W. That seems like it is too narrow when used for showering. We have a shower in our downstairs that is 28" x 60" and it has ample room, but 4" less in width seems like it might be difficult to turn around in it to wash/rinse my hair. It will have a curved shower curtain rather than a glass door, so maybe that will make it feel less cramped. Any ideas? I thought about just putting in a soaking tub in that space, but am afraid I won't use it enough for that single purpose.

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Comments (7)

DreamingoftheUP
10 years ago
I'm putting in a curved shower rod and believe it will be more than adequate based upon my experience with hotel tub/shower combos. I say "adequate" because it obviously is not a huge luxury shower, but I don't have room for that.
cat_mom
10 years ago
We put Toto 1525's (30" x 60") in our two main bathrooms, and use them for showering every day. We installed curved shower rods (one-piece Crescent Rods) over both of them (the one in the MB is mounted further in than I'd have preferred, but the bathroom size/depth dictated that). There is ample room to shower, turn around while showering, and even wipe the walls down with a microfiber cloth before stepping out of the tub(s).
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Thanks for all the replies! This is our first house, not our "forever" house. We are planning to finish the bath update so we can put our house on the market within the next 8-10 months. Then hopefully we'll be in our "forever" (or at least for a long time) house. :) The tub in the master is somekind of old, original cast iron tub. So I know it will be a pain in the butt for our GC to remove! I'm not much of a bath person except for occasionally, but my hubby likes to take them a little more than occasionally. Really this update is to make our home more attractive to potential buyers and hopefully secure us a fast sale. The master is one of the only things we haven't updated in our home, and we're not planning on spending a fortune. What I DON'T want to do is spend this amt of money period, and then wish I had done the tub. It's in really good condition, but it's so narrow and shallow. I wanted to potentially put in a deeper, wider one, but the walls are an issue. The non-plumbing side is my husband's closet, which is the same size as mine (not very big, but a "walk in," which is the plumbing side.) Moving a wall is an expense I'm not willing to undertake, so that's why I was wondering if we could hack into the wall just a bit where the tub is against my husband's closet. I havent talked about this with my GC yet. I'll do that this week. But y'all have seen that done?? Removing the tub and taking the time/money/effort to create a big walk-in shower is not what I wanted to do. We do have another tub in the hall bath, but not having a tub in the master might make someone not want our house. It's all about resale at this point! At the lowest remodel cost. :)
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Thanks, I will have to post the layout tomorrow bc it's an odd portion of the house with lots of angled walls and such. There is a closet on the other side that is a very strange shape and I'm having trouble figuring out what part of it is behind the shower wall. So if we were able to steal some space from that closet, how many inches would be sufficient? The article said minimum 30" for shower, but it seems like that would be really uncomfortable. Would 34" work? This is a kids' bathroom, but still, 30" seems so tiny.
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von4now
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for your replies and advise! This helps me feel more confident going in this direction.

And cat_mom, thanks for providing the brand/model of the tub you have installed. I will check that one out. I have been looking at the Kohler Bellwether, Kohler Archer, or Mirabelle Edenton thus far.

Any other bits of advise for tub/shower combinations? Did you tile the shower walls?
sjhockeyfan325
10 years ago
Can you visit a plumbing showroom (not Lowe's or Home Depot, their tubs and toilets tend to be hung up high, although they might have one or two on the floor). Even if you dont' see the particular models, you'll get a sense of the size. I've never found it to be a problem, and we have a shower in one bathroom and tub-shower with a regular-old tub in the other, and I used that one for months.
von4now
Original Author
10 years ago
I am going to show rooms this afternoon for that very reason.
I love this forum to help me problem-solve!
cat_mom
10 years ago
We tiled the tub surround walls, as well as the ceilings over the tubs. DH used Hardibacker, "spackled" over the screws and seams with thinset, and he applied three coats of Hydroban waterproofing membrane, prior to our tile installation (we used a professional tile installer).
kirkhall
10 years ago
We did a Kohler Expanse tub (curved front) to get that extra room, with a curved shower rod. I really like it!

Pay attention, when you are trying them in show rooms, not just the "width" but also how the bottoms are shaped. You don't to be standing on curved edges either--you want to be able to stand on a relatively flat surface.

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