5 ms·

As someone about to undertake a master bath renovation, “to bath or not to bath” has been a huge and difficult decision. A soaking tub like the article discusse

As someone about to undertake a master bath renovation, “to bath or not to bath” has been a huge and difficult decision. A soaking tub like the article discusses is less on the radar than a more compact version, and the decision boils down to resale and what a family with kids wants (vs a personal spa amenity). The tub is winning based on informal surveying of opinion from real estate agents, builders and lots of parents. For context, we’re in an urban enviro where space is at a premium. Probably a no brainer in a larger home.

cortesoft 7y ago
I can't imagine not having a bath. I don't take one that often, but I really like having the option. Also, we need it for the kids.
- vidanay 7y ago
  It's convenient, but not mandatory for kids. We simply showered with the baby until age three or four and he's taken his own showers since then (supervised until age 6 or so)
philjohn 7y ago
From the UK here, but you are at a significant disadvantage when selling a family home if there is no bath.
- carterehsmith 7y ago
  I wonder, "just how significant"? In this case, shower can be converted back to the bathtub, for not too much money/time. Besides, once the house is sold, usually some interior changes are made by seller and/or buyer, e.g. new paint inside, new appliances, furniture etc, which all takes time and money and converting the shower would be just one more thing to do, and a relatively cheap one, too.
  - philjohn 7y ago
    It's just one of those things - people expect a family home to contain a family bathroom, with a bath. Yes, you can put one in for not a massive amount of money, but that's money that the buyer will want to knock off, or they'll just go for the myriad of other houses that DO have a bath.
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
> Probably a no brainer in a larger home My first home, a two up, two down terrace - guessing around 500-700 sq feet, it was tiny - had a bath, partly as I would not have bought anything without. There's not much in the UK without anyway. I've always liked shower for mornings and refreshing, bath for unwinding and relieving aching muscles with a long soak, so if limited space shower over the bath would be our compromise. Was much easier - and probably much cheaper - with the kids, as they reused the water, or shared when younger, and mum or I could go in last - assuming they hadn't come in caked in mud. :)

cortesoft 7y ago

I can't imagine not having a bath. I don't take one that often, but I really like having the option. Also, we need it for the kids.

vidanay 7y ago
It's convenient, but not mandatory for kids. We simply showered with the baby until age three or four and he's taken his own showers since then (supervised until age 6 or so)

philjohn 7y ago

From the UK here, but you are at a significant disadvantage when selling a family home if there is no bath.

carterehsmith 7y ago
I wonder, "just how significant"? In this case, shower can be converted back to the bathtub, for not too much money/time. Besides, once the house is sold, usually some interior changes are made by seller and/or buyer, e.g. new paint inside, new appliances, furniture etc, which all takes time and money and converting the shower would be just one more thing to do, and a relatively cheap one, too.
- philjohn 7y ago
  It's just one of those things - people expect a family home to contain a family bathroom, with a bath. Yes, you can put one in for not a massive amount of money, but that's money that the buyer will want to knock off, or they'll just go for the myriad of other houses that DO have a bath.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

> Probably a no brainer in a larger home My first home, a two up, two down terrace - guessing around 500-700 sq feet, it was tiny - had a bath, partly as I would not have bought anything without. There's not much in the UK without anyway. I've always liked shower for mornings and refreshing, bath for unwinding and relieving aching muscles with a long soak, so if limited space shower over the bath would be our compromise. Was much easier - and probably much cheaper - with the kids, as they reused the water, or shared when younger, and mum or I could go in last - assuming they hadn't come in caked in mud. :)