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Building a Home

No Bath Tub on First Floor?

15 years ago

What do you think about not having a bathtub on the first floor? In the beginning I was considering a claw foot tub for the master. Now when reality sets in I realize that my master closet is not large enough for my husband's things and mine. If I use the tub space, I could have a his and a hers wic. If I do not put the tub in (both of us take showers) what will that do to the value of our home if we should decide to resale? Let me know what you think???

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Comments (3)

western_pa_luann
15 years ago
No one in my neighborhood has a bath tub on the first floor.
I don't see it as a problem, unless the houses in YOUR area have them...
lindybarts
15 years ago
I think there are two separate questions here. First, the question of whether you need a bathtub in the Master. It's come up a few times on this forum and people are divided. Most say they don't use a tub but realtors say you can't call it a full bath without one. (It's a 3/4 bath) I would never buy a home without a Master Bath Tub. But I'm a huge bath lover. Many other posters didn't think it was a negative at all.

The second debate within your question is whether to have the Master Bedroom on the main floor. This is another personal choice and what makes sense for your family. I like the Master upstairs because my kids are still young and I want to be on the same floor. It also gives me feeling of security I guess. Maybe it's a false sense but I just don't like sleeping on the ground floor. For those who plan to stay in their homes until retirement, a main floor Master is probably a better idea.

We don't have a tub OR a shower on our main floor.
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Thanks, dabunch. I'm trying to think through all of this. Our doorways are all going to be wide enough for a wheelchair to come through straight on. If we add a shallow ramp, a wheelchair will be able to get from the front porch or garage into the house, then all around the LR/DR/kitchen, into the MBR and the master bathroom. A wheelchair will not be able to go into the master closet, but I don't forsee either of us living alone if we are in a wheelchair. I was at the cabinetmaker's shop yesterday at the same time a woman in a wheelchair was there planning her kitchen. So many things I would never have thought of...like the microwave not only lowered, but also not over a cabinet. Well, as Bette Davis so famously said, "getting old isn't for sissies." We're not old yet, but we are hoping to be. So we are planning for it.
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sallen2008
Original Author
15 years ago
We recently lost two parents who lived until their 80's. Both had difficulty moving in their own home the last 10 years. Like most of us it was very important to them that they stay at home as long as they could. They were forced to add on a bedroom, a bathroom, and a laundry room. After this experience I would never have a home that did not at least have an office area or another room with a bathroom that could be used as a bedroom should it be needed in older age, if not before. I have admired many of the discussions where many are now building doorways, hallways, etc. so that they are handicap accessible. I image with an aging society, these items add value to any home.

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