Kids' bathroom: would I regret a tub/shower combo unit?

9 months ago

Building a new house and need to pick tubs for the kids' bathrooms. It seems like everything I'm seeing is a tub with tiled shower walls. My current house has single units and it just seems so much simpler. No grout to clean, built-in shelves, cheaper. There will be shower curtains so it's not like the tile would be on display except when you're actually in the tub/shower. Two kids are in college and the next two are 9-11 so they'll get heavy use for a few years and then sporadic. This is our "forever home" (I know everyone says that) and not concerned about resale.

Is there a reason I'm not thinking of not to go with a one-piece unit? And recommendations on which brand?

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Comments (14)

Lyn Nielson
9 months ago
I would do a one piece. Kohler.
auntthelma
9 months ago
We have an inn with 9 bathrooms. we did the one piece, or whole wall in all of our bathrooms. much easier to clean.
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Do you have grand-kids, or are you expecting any near your guest bedrooms? If so, do consider having tubs (at least a small 5 foot inexpensive one) for baths. You won't regret that, especially for resale. As for your Master Bath, ask a realtor friend and they will likely tell you it's 'best' for re-sale for a 5-piece Master too, but if you'd much rather have the extra-large shower than a smaller shower and tub, then go for the larger shower and forget the tub. We have an oversized shower (dual heads, etc) and absolutely love it. We have a big jacuzzi tub too and it's nice but doesn't get a whole lot of use. Our overall bathroom is quite large, but if I were limited on space, the tub would be the first to go or at least downsize. As you age, you will probably find a better use for a walk-in shower with things you can add in your later remodel (hand-held rails, bench, etc) than a tub that is hard to step into.
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I would also recommend the tub/shower combo as it provides flexibility. Our kids are grown, but I cannot imagine having young kids without a tub available in their bath. Prior to our first build, we looked at pre-existing homes. One home immediately was a "no" as the kids bath only had a shower. I could not imagine trying to bathe our kids in the giant jetted tub in the master bath. As some one else said, sometimes older kids need to soak sore muscles. My S often would soak at the beginning of his sports season when workouts were tougher. I also think nothing feels better than a hot, steamy bath when one has a head cold. It doesn't need to be ugly. We also did the tub/shower combo with a tile surround in each of the secondary baths. There are some more attractive surrounds out there now.
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Our hall bath is set up like yours without a wall between the tub and toilet I did not plan this it was how it was put in in the twenties. You will need a two piece curve bar with a ceiling mount bar. I find two shower curtains with an opening in the middle of the front of the tub the best for keeping water from splashing out with my kids, oldest is 9. I have a cheap Costco railhead/ hand held combo which when aimed properly is never an issue. Pardon my bath it is nearly a hundred years old and shows it age. :( toilet at end of tub with curtain only Shower head combo which has worked well in ours Shower curtain set up that after much trial and error works with the kids unsupervised. Without the curtain my toilet would be wet so you will need something there I believe, either glass panel with glass doors or two curtains and wait for doors. i actually prefer curtains to glass for bathing small children and I also prefer curtain to glass for kids and guest who most likely will skip the squeegee process.
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If you want a tub and use a tub, then get a tub. As others have posted, you should have an excellent walk in shower - preferably with a bench - because that will almost certainly be needed at some point. My understanding is that if you want a whirlpool sensation, then the air tubs are the way to go since they don't have the interior pipes that get disgusting. You should probably get a tub that has a comfortable ledge so that you can more safely get in and out of the tub by sitting on the ledge and swing your legs in and out. Some of the tubs you have posted are more difficult and potentially dangerous so you have to balance yourself by having your leg go up and over the edge of the tub and that creates a lot of potential for a catastrophic fall. Presumably you are not considering resale as you plan to stay in this place for the foreseeable future so you should do exactly what you want. I remodeled with an view to aging in place and I removed the tub in the master and have a luxurious walk in shower - no tub at all as the second bathroom only has a smaller shower. ETA And you might want to rethink the large marble on the floor because that can be extremely slippery and hazardous if you or your feet are the least bit damp. I don't think that honed makes the surface of marble less slippery than polished as my counter is honed and it is slick and would be slippery when wet. As far as I can tell honed is more of a cosmetic choice as I wanted a softer look in the master bathroom. You should make sure that the COF is high enough so that the tiles aren't a slip hazard OR have a floor with smaller tiles so that your feet have something to adhere to. I had a tub/shower combination in my master and it was very slippery - when I remodeled I rented an apartment with 12" x 12" marble tiles in the bathroom and they were extremely slippery as well - I felt I was courting death or serious injury whenever I took a shower.
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PRO
Lomo
9 months ago
One piece units are cheesy awful wearing fiberglass. Multi piece snap lock acrylic units can fit through your doors after framing, and are a ton nicer. Look at Sterling by Kohler. Or look at other 3rd party acrylic wall panels with a separate tub chosen for it’s attributes.

But there is zero issues with well done tile with a modern grout either.
paristerri
9 months ago
I'm in agreement to go with no tub. My teens prefer showers so the tub would go unused. I'm in the process of building and all of our bathrooms will be walk in showers. There will be a stand alone tub in the master if anyone needs it. I also think the tub over shower setup is a fall risk. I've heard of more than one person slipping and falling while stepping up over the tub ledge to get out.
cevamal
Original Author
9 months ago
No tub is not an option. The downstairs baths (primary and guest) baths will not have tubs and I want a tub somewhere for future grandchildren, etc.

The kids have only ever showered in tub/shower combos (as have I until a primary bath remodel a couple of years ago) and it's been fine.

@Lomo thank you. I'd been on Kohler's site and hadn't found that line.

auntthelma do you have a brand to recommend?
T T
9 months ago
Have you considered cultured marble? They can be formed in large panels and you would only have caulk in the corners and bottom edges. Depending on the style, it can look nicer without costing nearly as much as tile.
Jennifer Hogan
9 months ago
When I was trying to figure out what to use around my tub in my guest room I went to the local plumbing supply. They showed me some newer, nicer, more stylish surrounds than the one piece Home Depot type white surround I have in my master bath.

Here is a blog that shows some alternative solutions.

https://blog.innovatebuildingsolutions.com/2021/03/23/9-smart-alternatives-ceramic-tile-shower-tub-walls/
richfield95
9 months ago
Im not sure if they make tub units, but my mom has a Maxx enclosure and its really held up well over the last 15 years
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
9 months ago
I love Maax for tub/ shower s they clean up well stand up well and are decently priced the bonus is you can do one piece if a new build so no chance of a leak anythere , I love mine and have used Maax for clients I actully prfer acrylic to tile for upkeep.
cevamal
Original Author
9 months ago
@ T T I have cultured marble as a bathroom counter and I hate it. Within months I'd managed to both scratch it and stain it with vinegar. I don't think that's a good route for us for the showers.

I'll look at the Maax enclosures, thanks.
T T
9 months ago
@cevamal yeah vinegar would stain/ damage many plastic/ acrylic surfaces, such as cultured marble. I would think that most alternatives to tile would also be succeptible to similar staining and scratching. One thing to note about cultured marble is that it can be wet sanded and buffed, similar to a car, in order to restore the finish. This assumes there are not deep scratches you can feel with your fingers.
aziline
9 months ago
We are finishing our basement and put in an acrylic surround for the kids bath. We also putting the light and fan on the same switch with a timer to make sure they use it since the tub and toilet are in a separate room from the sink. Tile is a giant PITA and I'd never do it in a shower again. We have cultured marble in the master bath.
cevamal
Original Author
9 months ago
Do you have an acrylic surround to recommend?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
9 months ago
Do not think of it as a "Kids' bathroom", think of it as "adult guests' bathroom".

Kids' bathroom: would I regret a tub/shower combo unit?

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Lyn Nielson

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Kids' bathroom: would I regret a tub/shower combo unit?

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