We have a whirlpool tub in our house too, and agreed it's just a dust catcher. Large tiled showers with multiple jets are popular. The big tubs are for the spa feel.

I think as long as the bath is large enough so that if somebody wanted a tub and separate shower there would be room to remodel it to support it I think it is less of an issue. The problem comes when there is no space to do so for those that might want one. You can use that space for something else or a much larger shower.

Good points above. Also, if you're planning on living in it for any length of time whoever buys it may look at the bathroom as something they'll redo. Not that a 10 year old bathroom needs to be replaced, but at 10 years some people might consider that time to refresh. And maybe you'll sell to some other retirees who also see no use for a bathtub.

Get what you want. Don't worry about resale, which will be determined by many other things than whether there's a tub. Enjoy your retirement years with what *you* want.

I think as long as the bath is large enough so that if somebody wanted a tub and separate shower there would be room to remodel it to support it I think it is less of an issue. The problem comes when there is no space to do so for those that might want one. You can use that space for something else or a much larger shower.

If you really do not want a tub, don't put one in. We mostly shower, bad back here, there is no way I could lift my legs every night to get into a tub/shower combo; I'm thankful our old house didn't have it in the master and happy we have separate in our new house.

Have them configure the bathroom like a tub was going in, then instead of a tub, put some sort of seating, maybe a window seat type thing, this will give you storage. I would try to pick a toilet color that is easy to match in case a tub does need to be added. One never knows what can happen, look at what happened to my dad. Built a house, diagnosed with cancer 2 weeks before closing.

Oh roselvr, I am so sorry about your dad.....you are right, no one ever knows what will happen. On the very day a friend of mine closed on her house, she found that she had terminal cancer and didn't live long enough to hardly unpack anything. I had my first husband killed in a highway accident....so I know full well that we can't always know we have a tomorrow. Bless you, Phoggie

Hi Phoggie,

I'm in agreement with the previous posters: put what YOU want in the master bath. If you don't use a tub, don't put one in. A very significant percentage of the population has preferences similar to yours and doesn't want/need a tub in the master, so that shouldn't be a problem if/when the time comes for resale.

However, if you expect to have visitors with young children, it might be nice to have a tub in another bathroom somewhere in the house.

I hope you enjoy many happy years together in your retirement home!

If it were me and it was a retirement home I'd make sure the shower was wheelchair accessible, meaning I could wheel the chair right in let the occupant get out and onto a bench with good sturdy handbars. Homes with wheelchair access are going to be more and more important as the country ages. We're living longer but our bodies aren't always co=operating.

If you're planning for a tub anywhere in your house, think about cleaning it. We have a wide, garden tub. My knees complain when I kneel, and reaching the far side is a problem for me now at age 65. I expect it's only going to get worse.

Many NON-retirees want to remodel their master baths to eliminate the tub. They seldom use a tub. They are often cautioned to keep *A* tub in the house, in case they need it (sore muscles, etc.).

As for cleaning a tub--if it's a tub that's seldom used, you can probably dust it w/ a Swiffer stick or something. If someone visits you and uses it, then it'll be harder; you can ask them to swab it out for you.

You might talk w/ someone in health care about how likely it is you'd need a tub once you were *really* elderly, and whether simply being able to wheel a chair into the shower would be better anyway.

And, DO arrange it so that the tub you DO put in can be easily used by someone older--reinforce for grab bars, etc. Even if you're not wheelchair bound, you might like the extra help of grab bars, and an easy-to-get-out-of dimension. (I know *I* would, and I'm 48)

Our master bath has no tub and a large shower. I don't miss the tub and enjoy the huge space.

You all have been very helpful and I thank you. I was discussing this with my DD over the week-end and she said that her friends took out their tub in the MB and put the washer and dryer in there....sure is more convienent than going up and down those stairs!!!!.....so as for now, the tub is out....large shower (with grab bars and a bench in case I get wheel-chair bound) is what we have decided....and it saves $$$ also!!!
Thanks again....you all are so sweet to respond.

I bet you're going to like that bench, even if you never get to use a wheelchair!

I know that I love the curb cuts they put in on sidewalks everywhere, and all I have is a stroller or a luggage cart!

(don't forget grab bars in the downstairs tub, though--or even just reinforcement for them should you want to install them later. I can see you at an ever-so-slightly-creaky 85 wishing you could soak your sore legs from your weekend hike in a warm tub.)

When my mom was planning the purchase for her & dad's "from now until we're dead" house, it was important to her that the laundry, the kitchen, and the bedroom be all on the same level--no stairs in *her* old age!

talley~~
This house will all be on ONE level....and completely handicapped accessible. My DH is an architect so is drawing the plans and his former wife (before she died) was in a wheel chair...so he is making sure there are no steps at all...even to the front door.
I had a total hip replacement in Feb....so can appreciate the grab bars....have them in the present shower, as well as the bench and oh did I use them.
I know that I have two knees that are bone-on-bone also, so those will have to be replaced in the not-so-distant future...but putting it off as long as I can. That is the reason that I can not use the jetted tub we now have....those old knees just won't bend to get me out~~

phoggie,

I'm in agreement that for a retirement home, a bathtub is not necessary. I have alot of friends who love soaking in the tub, but I'm not one of them.

I'd love to pick your brain about hip replacement. I'm only 43 and having my right hip replaced in the fall. Dang osteoarthritis heredity. I've been told that I will be thrilled when it's all done, but I am a bit nervous about the surgery and recovery. Would it be possible for you to email me off list? You can email me through my profile.

Hi sparksals~~ for some reason, I couldn't find your personal email address.

Well....the surgery went well...PT did also, but the surgeon made a huge error selecting the proper size stem.
My leg turned out to be an inch LONGER than the other leg...therefore I have to wear these un-godly built-up shoes. And to make matters worse....the surgeon was so "sure" that the pain that I went in for in the outer part of the leg was being transferred from the hip....long story short.......hip gone, pain not!!!
A great website is www.bonesmart.com There you can read forums from others who are going to or have had this THR.
Good luck. I have OA in every joint in my body, so I can sympathize with you....and you are so young.

This house will all be on ONE level....and completely handicapped accessible. My DH is an architect so is drawing the plans and his former wife (before she died) was in a wheel chair...so he is making sure there are no steps at all...even to the front door.

Our house is all one level and it doesn't even have a step to the front door (or the other front door) either! The main reason we bought (overpaid) this house was its accessibility. My mother cannot walk up steps (we don't know if she has Parkinson's or some other condition but basically she can't walk very well) and we bought with the thought that she may have to move in with us one day (soon).

Although we're still relatively young (47 and 49), I love the one-level living. My knees are a lot happier. The only thing I discovered about having no front step is that leaves come into the house very very easily - I guess the step prevented this from happening.

FWIW, the master bathroom does not have a bathtub - it only has a shower. That really was not an issue when we saw the house.

phoggie, thank you so much for the website. I didn't know about that.

So, are you saying your surgeon mistakenly thought your hip needed replacing when it was another problem? That is one of my concerns. While I have OA in the hip, I also have alot of pain in my lower back. He tells me the lower back pain will go away when the hip is replaced b/c my back is doing the work for my hip.

sparksals~~~ Yes, that is exactly what I was saying. I'd get another opinion if I were you.....wish I had of. I have learned the hard way not to believe anything that someone "tells" me without proof. You might also check with a Pain Management doctor....I get shots in my back that really helps me WITHOUT that knife~~
Good luck~~