character home bathroom renovation

last year

Currently in a renovated heritage home that has 1 1/2 bathrooms.

Want to split the massive main floor full bathroom into a family bathroom and guest powder room.

I’d like to just have a walk in shower on the main floor.

We’d also like to install a shower upstairs in the 1/2 bath by using the closet and needed additional space from the adjacent bedroom.

How do I figure out if this is even feasible? And should homes have tubs?

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Comments (9)

millworkman
last year
last modified: last year
Pictures would help as context is key. Would you be hiring out or DIY? Do you have a tub in another bath? Who lives here? Any kids? If not any planned? Help us help you.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Do you have bedrooms on the main floor ? If not no need for a full bath IMO but we need a lot more info, IMO both kitchens and bathrooms should be up to date as far as use is concerened no matter how old the house we have different needs in 2023 that they had in 1905 for instance.
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I can't read the dimensions on this, so you'd have to sketch it out to see how the inches end up being allocated. I'd plan on bathroom fights. The kids are pretty close in age. I'd try moving things around a bit and see how it works out. Take the closet in the middle bedroom off that wall (we'll deal with it later). Put the toilet across from the tub with a small linen closet, maybe some hampers. Consider a sliding door (maybe frosted glass for light) between the sink are and tub area, which allows for two people to use it at once. Add a second sink area where the toilet was. Then take out the master toilet. Slide the closet over. Put the middle bedroom closet to the right of the new master closet location. Put the shower along the outer wall with the toilet next to it. Put a larger double vanity on the back of the closet wall. The vanity depicted looks a bit small for two people/sinks, but I can't read the size so hard to tell. Might have to make the closet a few inches shallower, hard to tell. If it were my home, the kids bath access issue and larger master vanity would be my "wants". Worth playing around on paper a bit, even if it just convinces you it isn't the right choice.
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Great! More feedback! I will look further into frameless glass doors. I'm a little overwhelmed with stuff to do on the house and elsewhere before moving that I'm having a hard time pinpointing exactly what to do with the bathroom and layout. There are a couple of limiting factors - a window and a radiator as well as the location of my drainpipe that are constraining. Essentially, my rectangular space has a toilet, door, window and radiator on one end leaving three walls on the other end: 5 and 1/2 feet on one side, 7 and 1/2 feet on the back and 7 feet on the other side. Can you picture it? We are thinking about a 3 by 4 shower on one side and a 48-60 inch lavatory on the other - is that a little cramped in the middle? Suggestions? I was looking at neo angle corner showers but the one that looked okay is Vigo and there is hardly any feedback on those. I also couldn't find a base for one that wasn't acrylic. I suppose we could build a base with a Kerdi system, but that will take a lot of research and work...
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Unlike others, there is no way I'd worry about the location unless I was forced to by a remodel, but that is what is happening so handwringing has to be done. As an aside, my understanding of cabinets around electrical panels is that they are OK as long as clearance requirements are met. That, of course, means that the cabinet is only for the electrical panel, for the most part. Putting a movable rack in front of the panel can't be a building code violation because it is not part of the building. It can be a violation of the stupid code, but I question even that if it can be moved aside with little to no effort. I, as others have expressed, think that putting an outdoor panel on the opposite side is going to be the least expensive solution. My assumption, having lived in several parts of the country, is that outdoor panels are more common in areas where slab homes are more common vs. full basements. If you can't put them in the basement, you put them outside. Nobody wants to take up finished living space with an electrical panel. In the areas that I have experienced, indoor panels have a much longer life than outdoor panels. I hate to see the outside, but it is not an easy choice. Getting an electrician experienced in this very kind of thing is going to tell you if that is the case. Some are more creative than others so cross your fingers. I'd certainly get more than one electrician in. It is very hard to say how much it will cost, but you are not rewiring the whole house. There are going to be, however, some surprises. If you put a new combo main panel/meter pan on the outside, for example, if the mast is not high enough to meet current electrical code, will it have to be raised and how much is that gonna cost?
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We were quoted something over 3k to replace an existing cast iron tub (porcelain has worn through in spots) in the EXACT SAME SPACE as existing, with tub surround, not tile, but ONLY if we did the demo AND we did the finish work ourselves. Also I did not find this contractor to be very credible as one of the very-young pair that came out to do the estimate tried to convince me that the mildew on the caulk around the tub was actually *shudder* BLACK MOLD that was DEFINITELY ALL THROUGH the interior wall space and I would have to remediate that at additional cost. By them. Which they are neither competent nor licensed to do even if it were true. This kid also tried to convince me that the tile had been installed directly over wallboard (the home originally had plaster walls so it would have been over plaster not wallboard). He apparently failed to notice the one broken outside corner tile that has a chunk missing so you can clearly see the cement board behind it, LOL! In short, untrustworthy contractors wanted 25% of your entire budget just to put a tub and enclosure in. Forget any finish work whatsoever, and no demo at all. If you want to do it for that sort of money, you need to educate yourselves and do it yourself. Personally I'd live with it. I LOVE a great big tub! Certainly not useless to me! I'm sorry but 12k for what you want is not realistic even in GA. BTW, years ago, local JV schools used to offer classes to the public for all sorts of construction/finish work, mechanics, etc. I took lots of these classes. I don't know if they still do that, but were I you, I would check, and take as many as possible even if you decide to go with a contractor. Then you will know what questions to ask and have a better idea of how to evaluate the job before just signing a contract, even if you ultimately decide NOT to do any of the work yourself. JV - joint vocational schools. Sorry. That terminology is probably pretty opaque to people who don't already know what it means.
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la_la Girl
last year
One tub is ideal in a house as some home buyers won't consider a house without one (when we were looking for houses I required it bc I had babies/toddlers to bathe) - but if you're planning on being in this house for a long time then do what works best for you and your situation.

If it were me, I would start with a plumbing estimate from a pro who has lots of experience/patience with older homes - if you're tearing into things it might be the ideal time to replace/upgrade pipes - they often can be very creative problem solvers (I worship the plumbing team we work with lol)
Sigrid
last year
Usually, families with kids like to have at least one tub. Probably not in the master bedroom. A house with no tub could reduce your resale value, but this will depend on location. If you are near a great school district or other area attractive to families with kids, it might be a problem. If your house could be marketed as good for seniors, a shower big enough to put a stool in might be a plus instead.
lharpie
last year
We added a half bath reconfiguring some closet soace. we just had contractor out to confirm feasibility and cost. we made design ourself though and didn’t use architect or designer. definitely keep one bath. shower bath for kids is fine.
kandrewspa
last year
Unless you have exceptional DIY skills, you need a GC. My husband is pretty good, but this is a bigger job than he would undertake. One of the advantages of a GC is that there are some great plumbers and other subs who will only work for GCs. Some of them aren't interested in working directly with homeowners. Also, if you are your own GC you have to know exactly what you want done, the order it needs to done in, and schedule everything yourself. Plus pull permits, schedule inspections, etc. If you have a day job it's just too much IMO. If you have the budget for it, also engage a NKBA certified bath designer for the best end result.
pricklypearcactus
last year
It sounds like you need to start looking for some general contractors to look at and bid the job for you. They should be able to let you know what can be done and give you a general idea of cost. Someone will need to evaluate structural issues (moving walls, supporting bathtubs, etc) and routing of plumbing. I do think it's nice to have at least one bath tub in the house. Whether it's for bathing kids or dogs or soaking something, it is nice to have. I do think a really small place can sometimes get away without (such as a 2 bedroom home). Keep in mind that a bathroom without a tub is a 3/4 bath. A bathroom with a tub and shower is a full bath. That can matter for resale and value.
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
You need a design plan from an interior designer who specializes in kitchens and baths to help you draw up the proposed layouts. Then you can have a contractor bid the job. Having a plan will make the bid far more accurate. And if you have multiple bids, they'll all be working from the same plan so it will be a better comparison for you.
User
last year
last modified: last year
Whether or not you can do this will depend on how much space you have. Bathrooms have code minimum spacings. Start with a measured diagram of the whole space, with windows, doors, plumbing locations, etc. Indicate the rooms around it, including closets, halls, and bedrooms. That is where you start space planning to see if this is even possible. After the design work has produced a concept, then you can talk to contractors about costs. The more you move, and alter, the more expensive this will be. https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/bathroom-addition?y=2023

character home bathroom renovation

Comments (9)

millworkman

Patricia Colwell Consulting

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