Shower or Bathtub? Make the Best Choice for Your Bathroom
Bathroom remodeling is one of the most common processes when it comes to home renovation. Bathrooms are pretty easy to remodel if you conduct a proper budget. Preferences are different and solely depend on the goal of remodeling. For instance, maybe you want to redesign or change your bathroom size. It’s important to explore all available options and choose the best one. For example, choose a shower or bathtub.
While designing a bathroom, most considerations around the look of your bathroom won’t significantly influence the space’s overall design. However, if you plan on installing a bathtub or a shower, the situation might get a different turn. Design plays a crucial role in both cases, especially when considering functionality, necessary requirements, and space. Besides, there is a big difference if you live alone, or with a big family, greatly influencing your choice. In any case, to help you decide, we’ll list the pros and cons of installing a shower or a bathtub in your bathroom.
Similarities
Both options are available in different styles and sizes. For instance, tubs are available in a claw-foot, standard, freestanding, whirlpool, or soaking. Showers usually come in two styles, with or without doors or curtains.
Each option comes in multiple materials, from very affordable styles like acrylic to high-end iron ones.
Both options offer different water flow options, while some of them are therapeutic. Whirlpool tubs release massaging blasts of water, while showers can be equipped with waterfall or rainfall showers.
If we put similarities aside, it’s important to accentuate their differences for you to understand which option will suit your needs best. Besides, each option has its distinctive features we will gladly explain in the following text.
Affordability
Tubs are way cheaper to install since the price goes from $400 to $8000. Installing a shower will cost from $400 to $10000. Just so you know, standard shower stalls and bathtubs are at the lower end, while walk-in showers and whirlpool tubs are more expensive. Installing a walk-in shower will surely cost you around $6000, which is way more expensive than installing a whirlpool tub is about $4500.
So, you can easily see that tubs are usually cheaper to install, which is crucial, especially when considering the mere functionality.
Space
It’s evident that showers take up less space when compared to installing bathtubs. A walk-in shower or a standard shower stall takes up only nine square feet on average while getting a standard-sized tub will take up around thirteen square feet. If you wonder what option would fit your bathroom best, take an example of a thirty-two square feet bathroom, meaning that a shower is the best choice for a space of this size.
However, if you have a bigger bathroom, like forty square feet, you can easily install a bathtub and have enough space left (two-thirds). But if you value your space and plan on using it efficiently, we recommend getting a shower again to have three-quarters of the space left.
If we compare these two options and want to use the space the best way possible, remember that showers take up less space.
Accessibility
Showers are way more accessible, which is one of the crucial factors if you have elderly members of your family. It will be easier for them to use the shower since bathtubs require more caution while using it. Why? Bathtubs can be challenging to climb in and out of. However, all you need to do to enter or exit the shower is to open the curtain or the door. Features like grab bars or benches will make the shower more user-friendly.
However, there are easy access tubs with a built-in bench or a door, but we must state that they are way more expensive and go for $5500.
Resale Value
Tubs are important for upholding a high resale value because most buyers consider a tub essential for considering a bathroom fully equipped. Why? For families, it’s way easier to bathe the children in a bath.
However, as we mentioned earlier, if you are a retiree or have an older individual in your family, bathtubs can be more dangerous, especially if you have a disabled member.
Again, you can easily fix this by installing some of the appliances to boost safety.
Water Usage
Did you know that showers use less water, especially if you keep them short? You’ll use around 2.1 gallons of water with a low-flow showerhead, which adds up to 17 gallons for an average nine-minute shower. What does this mean? If you keep your showers under 15 minutes, your water consumption and overall water bill will be way lower than if you use a bathtub.
Besides showers being directly cheaper, the water usage and your water bill will be lower, saving up money, which is another crucial factor, especially if you have a big family.
DIY Options
Although showers and tubs are available in multiple DIY options, we recommend hiring a professional service to help with the whole process, especially when it comes to bathtubs. However, although complicated, installing a shower by yourself is possible if you have prior experience on the subject. On the other hand, installing a bathtub by yourself can be very dangerous, so again, it’s best to hire professionals.
Summary
In general, bathroom remodeling can be tiring, especially if you plan on making big changes. That’s why it’s best to take a good look at all available options. So which option is better, showers or bathtubs?
There is no definite answer since we need to consider multiple factors. Besides, your preferences will significantly influence the decision. So, make sure to read our article a couple of times which will definitely help you make a decision – a shower or bathtub. Of course, you can always contact an experienced bathroom renovation service to help you with the 3D remodeling design and decision-making process.