Are bathtubs in the master bathroom over-rated???

16 years ago

I would like to redo my master bathroom and was wondering how may of you out there have done away with your bathtub to gain a larger shower??? I am really not a bathtub type person, in fact I have only used our large garden tub twice since we bought our house 3 years ago.

I know that doing away with the tub could hurt the resale value of the house, but in my opinion I would love to have a great shower instead, large enough so that two could fit in it. Right now I have a stall type shower, that only fits one person mostly what you see in most homes in our price range. Do you think that this is a bad move??? My guest bathroom has a tub so there will be one in the house. If you have done away with your tub I would really love to see your before and afters please....

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Comments (13)

jamesk
16 years ago
As long as you have a bathtub in another bathroom in the house, there's no reason that you'd have to have one in the master bathroom. It wouldn't necessarily affect the value of your house, either. Many, many houses don't have bathtubs in the master bath.

There are, of course, a few buyers who wouldn't consider a house without a tub in the master bath -- but there are also buyers who wouldn't consider a house without a double vanity, or walk-in closets, or a dining room -- or any number of other things.

On the other hand, a large, nicely designed and detailed shower would probably be percieved as a step up from a shower over a tub. Besides, I suspect there way more potential buyers like you who never use a tub, than there are buyers who would require one.

My advice is don't worry about the next owner. It's your home now. Have it the way you want it. If a subsequent owner doesn't like it -- they can change it.

Just my two cents.
galinphilly
16 years ago
I would never consider a house without a tub in the master bath. I think a lot of people feel this way and you will negatively affect resale value.
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amy_d-r
16 years ago
I think you should do the shower, as long as you do it right with multiple showerheads, nice tilework, built-in niches or shelves for your stuff, glass enclosure, etc. I've read in several magazines that more and more people are opting for luxury showers in the place of tubs because it's something that adds a spa experience to every day (unlike a tub, which most people only use a few times a year).
paddytc
16 years ago
I agree with amy d-r. As long as you don't skimp on the master shower it will be just fine. Just make your shower big enough for two and a natural soothing feel. Paddytc
johnmari
16 years ago
As long as there is a GOOD tub somewhere else in the house, go for it. A puny little 12" deep tub/shower module ain't gonna cut it.
monicakm_gw
16 years ago
I'm a tub person 110% I don't think it would hurt the resale value if you did as the posters ahead of me suggested. I won't buy it tho! (lol)
Monica
mpwdmom
16 years ago
Whatever tub you DO have in the house, I'd make sure it is a nice cast iron. We wouldn't consider a house with only a single acrylic tub.
Susan ~
igloochic
16 years ago
We debated on the issue quite a bit and finally added a 40x40 round tub (it's undermounted in a square setting). It's 32" deep and built for one. You get a very elegant tub, but the smaller footprint in the room allows for a larger shower. Just a thought. I'm not going to bath daily (I have a baby and would like to, but know reality won't allow it) but when I want a bath, I want a deep soak.

We have a 32x32 shower now. Making that larger was our TOP priority. We'd have given up the tub in a heartbeat if it meant the shower had to stay small (which a normal size tub would have meant).
pharaoh
16 years ago
What I have been hearing is that there should be at least ONE tub somewhere in the house.

NOT necessarily in the master bath.

The shower in the masterbath is really the focus nowadays. A luxurious, two-person shower with seating, niches, body sprays, face shower head, monsoon shower head, glass enclosure is what people want and ohhh about.
oruboris
16 years ago
You don't want or need it, as 2 baths in 3 years proves.

You may loose a few bucks at resale, but you are saving a few now.
runninginplace
16 years ago
I got rid of the tub in my master bath when I remodeled last year and put a nice shower into the footprint. I LOVE it! As others have said, as long as you have a tub in one bathroom I really don't think it will hurt resale.

And, something to keep in mind is that as the huge cohort of baby boomers ages, many will prefer showers as a better, safer bathing alternative. It's a lot easier to get into a shower than a bathtub for someone with mobility or medical issues. I know when my inlaws were house shopping one priority was a shower-only bathroom for my FIL, who had a history of not only stroke/balance trouble but bad knees. He needed to be able to step right in, and a lot of other folks are going to be thinking along those lines as all of us perma-young boomers age :).

I say go for it.

Ann
quip
16 years ago
With another tub in the house, go for the big fabulous shower you want. Plenty of buyers will love it; others will miss the tub. But your pool of buyers should be large enough that resale won't suffer. And, most importantly, you get what you want while you live there.
compumom
16 years ago
We struggled with the same question. I have to say that many of us grew up in homes with only one tub and it was just fine. Most often it's the kids who use the tub, so if it's in a secondary bathroom, that should be okay. If the new owners want a tub, they can remodel or add-on!

Are bathtubs in the master bathroom over-rated???

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jamesk

galinphilly

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