It’s a question for the ages, do I need a bathtub in my bathroom remodel? Will I reduce the value of my home if I don’t have one? The answer to this question depends on who you ask. Traditionally a full bathroom, especially the master bathroom includes a big bathtub or Jacuzzi feature. As we move into the future, fewer homeowners are embracing the big tub in the room. They are looking for smaller, more decorative free-standing tubs so they can install larger custom showers. Custom meaning special shower heads, steam rooms, body sprays, and other features. Some are opting out of a tub in their bathroom remodels. Let’s take a look at today’s growing “no more tub” trend. 
Today’s generations of homeowners are realizing that a bathtub that is not being used that much is taking up space that could be used for other functional uses. They would rather opt into some luxurious features in the shower.
A spa bath could be replaced by multiple special shower heads with rain features and fragrance options. Shower stalls also feature convenient seating, in the place of a bathtub.
Baby boomers are finding that getting in and out of a deep tub is difficult and at times not safe for them. To meet this need, demand for walk-in showers/tubs is growing.
If your local market includes an older demographic, then showers are preferred over bathtubs. Bathtubs support aging in place. In this case, go for a large, shower with walk-in door options if possible, to make access easier.
Consider including a built-in shower seat and handheld shower head. Some showers are wheelchair accessible, so the bathroom space needs to be large enough for a wheelchair to roll in and out of. This is a newer phenomenon making the traditional tub a thing of the past.
A bathtub takes up a lot of space in a bathroom. Many times it just simply gets in the way!
Today’s homeowner would rather enjoy more space for a larger shower with additional features like a built-in seating area, and more shower features. Plus with the additional space, they can increase the size of the counter area, add a seating area, or even enjoy more storage space.
Today’s newer homes usually include more than one full bathroom. If this is the case, since there are other tubs in the home, homeowners are deciding to increase the size of the Master Bathroom by removing the bathtub and updating the shower or closet space without decreasing the value of the home. Younger families appreciate homes with bathtubs for their children.
Yes, today’s busier lifestyles may or may not be here to stay. Just like fashion, interior design and home trends fluctuate throughout the generations. Currently, potential buyers are looking for luxurious oversized bathrooms with larger showers and trendy designs. It’s probably a good prediction that the big, bold bright colors and designs that are popular today will not be the look of the future. Some expert realtors, contractors, and interior designers recommend sticking with the tried and true neutral styling that will never go out of fashion. Boring? Yes to some but valuable to others.
And then there is the ever-changing technology that is transforming our homes, even our bathrooms into smart homes. It doesn’t matter what the space looks like, with just one click of a button or statement to our artificial intelligent best friend, Alexa, the shower is turned on, the lights are dimmed and music is playing for us. Who knows what the next big thing in tech will be.
The key to enjoying your bathroom, whether to have a bathtub or no bathtub, is as personal as your preference to shower or take a bath. Create a home that makes you and your family happy. If you are flipping a house or planning to sell your home, consult your realtor or contractor for their advice. The larger shower with all the special features will probably remain the hot selling feature for now and into the near future. But having a bathtub is not a bad idea. Families with young children enjoy taking relaxing baths before turning into bed, so not having a bathtub in the home could send them shopping elsewhere.
When re-designing any bathroom in your home, and considering putting your house on the market, think about your lifestyle preference and not the trends. You should enjoy your home, not design it for someone else. But, even if you do not take a bath or need a bathtub, it makes logical sense to have one bathtub in the home.
Do you have more questions about your bathroom remodel? At Columbus Bath Design, we’re always happy to assist you. Give us a call today!
Trying to surprise your mom is a tough proposition–especially when you’re looking at a remodeling project. You know that she’ll be quickly frustrated by a half-done room that’s difficult or impossible to use, so surprising her while she’s away is one of the most effective ways to get that remodeling project taken care of. If you’re planning a one-day remodeling project, however, make sure that you’re appropriately prepared for the process.
Step One: Create a Plan
If you’re going to finish your remodeling project in a day, you need to know exactly what you want to do. Work closely with your contractor as you discuss details like color scheme, how much remodeling you really need to do, and other key attributes of the project. The better prepared you are, the more likely you’ll be able to complete your project effectively.
Step Two: Let Your Contractor Evaluate the Space
There’s nothing worse than diving in with a project that’s supposed to take a single day, only to find significant problems with your home that will lead to more difficulty. Bring your contractor in when Mom’s not home and let them take a look at the space. They may be able to predict issues like mold behind the walls, uneven surfaces, or tile problems before they start the project, allowing you to assess whether or not you can really complete that project in a day.
Step Three: Prioritize
When you’re working on a remodeling project, things often fail to go exactly according to plan. Those tiles you just had to have for the bathroom walls will fail to stick, or the vanity will come apart as you’re trying to take it out, or you’ll discover that an unexpectedly wet day makes it take twice as long as usual for the paint to dry. By creating a priority list, you’ll be able to decide what pieces of the project can wait until another day if you need to finish up fast.
Step Four: Prepare
In order to truly remodel a space in a single day, you need to be prepared. All of the items you need should be purchased ahead of time, from new mirrors to towel bars. The last thing you need to do is spend your day running back and forth to your local store. Make sure that you’ve chosen materials that work well together and that will effectively fit into your space in order to streamline the remodeling process.
Step Five: Stick With It
A one-day remodeling project is not the time to decide that you want to turn your original ideas upside down. Instead, make sure that you’re willing to live with your original plan–and more importantly, that Mom will be! Last-minute changes can extend the time necessary to complete the project, leaving you with a half-finished room when Mom gets home.
Choosing the right contractor is critical to ensuring a smooth remodeling project, especially if you want to do it in a single day. Carefully preparing and letting the contractor know what you’re doing, however, will ensure a smooth process that will result in a great surprise when Mom comes home.
For independent seniors, a few simple home modifications geared toward safety and comfort can make all the difference. In honor of National Bath Safety Month, we would like to tell you about improving the quality and safety of a bathroom by installing a walk-in tub. This type of tub offers many advantages over a typical bathtub or shower stall. Here’s a look at some of the benefits of a walk-in tub for seniors seeking greater safety and independence.
The walk-in design makes it much more comfortable and convenient for individuals with mobility issues to bathe safely. With a typical tub, one has to step inside of it, which can be a real challenge for many. The walk-in style has a door that can be easily opened, and a person does not need to step or lift their legs to enter. For seniors seeking more convenience in the bathroom, this type of tub is ideal. It reduces the risk of injury while seeking a relaxing bath. 
Another great benefit of a walk-in tub is the hydrotherapy it provides. This soothes the muscles and aids in stress relief. It’s a great way to relax and unwind with a bath while knowing that it’s both safe and comfortable. There are a variety of health issues with physical symptoms that can be soothed by hydrotherapy, including arthritis, diabetes, and more. A warm bath can provide both physical and emotional relief from the pain and discomfort these types of conditions cause.
For aging individuals and their loved ones, a safer environment in the home becomes an important focus. There are so many ways to make a home safe for seniors, and especially the bathroom. A walk-in tub reduces the risk of slipping or falling when entering or exiting the bath. They also come with grab bars that make moving in and out of the tub easier. Falls are common among senior citizens, and they can cause many other health issues and complications. Take the worry out of bathing with a safer bathroom. A walk-in tub is a smart, simple way to transform the bathroom and give seniors and their families peace of mind.
When seeking practical modifications to allow a senior to maintain their current level of independence and stay in their home, walk-in tubs are an affordable option. This is especially true when you consider the real value that they provide to individuals with mobility issues. It’s an affordable way to upgrade the bathroom and create a comfortable space.
Finally, walk-in tubs aren’t only beneficial and necessary for senior citizens. A walk-in tub provides all of the same benefits to the whole family. This includes households with children , and those with family members who have mobility issues, illnesses, or disabilities. For seniors who live in a home with loved ones of various ages, it still makes sense to install this type of bathtub for the enhanced safety and comfort. Everyone can benefit from the hydrotherapy that a walk-in tub can offer.
If you’re interested in converting to a walk-in tub or making other changes to your bathroom, contact us today. We can talk about your bathroom remodeling needs and discuss your options.
Many homeowners are eliminating at least one bathtub in their homes. Although tubs are luxurious places to relax, many people find that taking showers fits better into their daily lives. Stepping over outdated tub walls is another consideration, especially as one ages. If this sounds like your situation, a tub to shower conversion may be the type of renovation you need.
Converting your tub into a shower takes careful consideration before you begin the process. For most bathrooms, a dream shower can fit into the footprint of an outdated bathtub. Here are some remodel tips to ensure that you get the shower conversion that’s right for your space.
Measure everything precisely down to 1/8 inch and write it down. Most tubes are 60 inches wide, an ideal width, but depth can be a problem. You’ll need at least 32 to 34 inches from the wall to the shower door. You’ll also need a finished ceiling height of at least 80 inches and a minimum interior space of 30 by 30 inches. If the toilet is located adjacent, make sure there will be a minimum of 15 inches between it and the location of the shower door. Consider a doorless shower if you don’t have the minimum clearance.
Once you have determined the existing space is large enough, four other elements will need to be addressed: plumbing, shower pan, wallboard and tile.
Existing water feeds will need reconfiguration to support a new diverter and trim. Tub drains are generally only 1-1/2 inches in diameter while most building codes require shower drains to be 2 inches, thus requiring new piping. The shower pan must be poured to achieve adequate sloping to the drain. Installation of a seamless waterproof membrane between the pan and floor tile is recommended to prevent seepage from to the floor below.
Crucial bathroom tips in a tub to shower conversion involve the wallboard and tile. Although one-piece acrylic systems are touted by some as the ideal solution, these are often placed over existing walls, which can harbor mold and eventual rot. Make sure that mold-resistant backer board is placed behind tile, which needs to be installed at least to the height of the showerhead. The joints between all tiles will need grouting and sealing to further retard mold growth behind the tile.
If you have a bathtub in your bathroom, then you have the space for a walk-in shower.
So many of us use our bathtubs to shower. Converting that tub to a shower just makes sense. A tub to shower conversion is a cost effective way to remodel your bathroom and maximize your space. A standard sized bathtub (5 feet) takes up more space than people realize and provides a nice space to install an amazing shower.
Plumbing
Good news! Your plumbing will not have to be replaced. Bathtubs typically have right or left drains and a shower pan can be installed with a right or left drain as well. Once the shower pan is installed and leveled, they are sloped so they drain properly.
Acrylic Shower Walls
There are 22 different options when it comes to acrylic shower wall systems. They are installed from floor to ceiling and have lots of options for plumbing fixtures – hand held and shower head. The acrylic we use is easy to clean. We use a 4-layer high-molecular acrylic that is the most durable, chemical resistant acrylic available. It also has the added benefit of Microban, which is the same ingredient that Colgate puts into their toothpaste to kill gingivitis. So, not only is it safe to ingest, but it also kills bacteria on contact between cleanings.
With tub to shower conversions, we are able to take out an old bathtub and install a new walk-in shower with plumbing, walls, fixtures and accessories in just one day.
Stop dreaming about the pictures in magazines with amazing showers with multiple shower heads, body sprays, and benches…now you know that you have the space in your own bathroom to create a shower like this too!
You can learn more about tub to shower conversions by visiting our Shower Units page or by visiting our bathroom remodeling showroom in Columbus, Ohio.
If you’re considering a bathroom remodel and thinking of upgrading your standard tub to a shower, you might be flipping through magazines, clicking on links, checking out movies and TV shows and wondering if you too can step into one of those luxurious bathing areas in your own home. You know the kind, a beautiful bench, dual shower heads and body sprays. Here at Columbus Bath Design in Columbus, OH, we can make your dream shower space a reality…in less time and for less cost than you might think.
Will I Get Soaked On Price?
Absolutely not! There are many reasons why Columbus Bath Design is a leader in bathroom remodeling, and affordability is one of them. This is your dream bathroom and we want you to fall in love with it. Cost should not be a concern. We have numerous options that can fit just about any budget, thus ensuring you spend less…and get more. Our expert remodelers can often finish the tub-to-shower conversion in a day, which reduces your overall cost as well. We make sure you spend your money where it belongs, on your home.
Space…the Bathroom Frontier
Wondering of you have enough space for a tub-to-shower conversion? You’re not alone. And the answer is – YES! If you have a tub, you have enough space for a luxury shower. We encourage all of our loyal customers and potential customers to stop by our showroom and check out the remodeling options available. Bench seat or a corner seat? We even have floor-to-ceiling wall systems and a variety of shower bases ranging from standard to custom-fit that can help maximize your bathroom space. Talk about a Columbus Bath Design advantage!
Our Products and Our Business are Built to Last
Our showers are constructed of high molecular acrylic, fiberglass reinforced and insulated during manufacturing. And our installers set the shower bases in constructional foam ensuring there is no give enabling a lifetime warranty against cracking and staining. Because we’ve been a part of the Columbus business community for over fifteen years, you can be sure we’ll be here to back up that warranty and meet all of your needs in the years to come.
Out With the Old…In With the YOU
We want your new shower to reflect your personality and meet your specific needs. In addition to our showroom of showers, we also have a wide variety of options for you to choose. Grab bars, rain shower heads, handheld shower units, barrier-free shower bases…oh, and how would you like to step into your new Columbus Bath Design shower with the water temperature preset? With our range of thermostatic shower valves, you can! Just imagine, you’ll never need to feel the icy chill of a cold shower splash or jump out of the way of a hot blast of water. Your shower, your preset temperature, your comfort. It’s all waiting for you at Columbus Bath Design.
So what are you waiting for? Check out this link for a free in-home estimate, or stop by our showroom and see for yourself how we can convert your tired tub into a beautiful Columbus Bath Design shower.
Contact Columbus Bath Design today to start designing your dream bathroom. We look forward to exceeding your expectations.
