Shower or bath? opinions please?

[jaky cakes]

Not surf related I know & apologise but I could really do with some valued opinions from you guys/gals.
I'm 3 years into a 2 year project of restoring / extending an old mill cottage, and the end is almost in sight. I've turned a 2 bed - 1 bath detatched cottage with gardens, into a 4 bed - 2 bath detatched cottage, which, due to health reasons, will now be selling when finished - to buy somewhere smaller and get away from having to work shifts!



Currently have large family bathroom comprising full size corner bath and serperate doulble walk in shower, and now building an en-suite to master bedroom. But don't know wether to fit en-suite with another bath with shower over it - or forget the bath and install another double walk in shower. This decision will not add value - but looking for the most saleable option for future buyer.

My question to you all is this:


If you had / have a family and were in the market to buy a family home (ie 4 bed 2 bath), what would be your preferences on the bathroom set up?

Personaly I prefer proper big showers, but the missus likes her baths - but not having any family ourselves - we're not sure how a family would use the house.
Sorry for rambling on, and not being surf related - but could really do with some input from both male and female prospectives.
Thanks in advance.

[MattF]

Personally, children wise, I'd say bath and shower combined, if you want to fit a shower. Especially if you're going to be aiming at people with young children. I think the in thing at the moment are showers, however. Bl00dy fashion.

[charvell]

Hi

I would also install bath/shower that way the kids/guests can use the house bathroom, where as for a bit of privacy the parents use the en suite, and trust me your champagne gets rather watered down in a shower when your sharing it.

Donna (charvels mrs)

[Tallyman]

I've had a house with family bathroom and ensuite shower room (no loo). I think you will find that two baths may be too much. Most families can happily use the main bathroom with decent sized bath and shower over or, if big enough, a separate shower as well. With ensuite you are probably better with a separate shower as that tends to get used by the parents to get ready in the morning whilst the kids use the main bathroom.

Another thing is that as one gets older, it can become harder to be able to climb into a bath, whereas as shower is usually easy to get into.

Personally I'd go for a shower in the ensuite. I'd also put a loo and basin in there as well and, if you've space, how about a bidet as well. It's also a good idea to have at least two loos in a family house, so if you don't have a downstairs cloakroom, go for the second on in the ensuite. We find that very handy when the family visit as it can be a real pain having to wait for the loo if one of the daughters is in the shower.

[scotty]

in my opinion, for what it's worth.

as you say its not going to add any value, and as someone else says, most people are happy to use the famliy bathroom.

options

1;; bath with mixer taps with the shower thingy that sits on top of taps.
2;; bath only, but run a cable in the partition for a shower if someone want to add one at a later date they can.
3;; shower only, which in a ensuit is the norm.
4;; what ever is the cheapes and easyist for you and get it on the market quicker.

my 2 bobs worth

cheers scotty

[AndyLala]

People always remember bathrooms and kitchens... And they are always the most expensive bits of the house.

As you already have a main bathroom with a bath and a nice double shower... that'd cater for the 'family' needs...

Put in a nice shower in the en suite. put in some nice tiles too, either the same decor as the main bathroom, or do it real different (just not too wacky). Leave an impression...

[Bogus]

Double ( 1200mm min) shower in the ensuite. One bath is enough in a house. Ours gets used only occasionally. We all use the showers daily and the bath for the occasional soak after a hard day. I think you will find that most people shower much more than they bathe if a shower is available. I would also say that when a house is advertised as having an en suite bathroom, most people dont actually expect a bath in there, their expectations will be saying shower room. I think that a shower above a bath is a compromise and should only happen when space dictates.

Bogus

[logey79]

just for the en suite, don't forget the hooks in the ceiling...

[plumb bob]

I'd go for the large shower option, as said before one bath is enough for 4 bed house.

Kids can use bathroom, master bed ensuite is for the parents, who wont have time for baths and if they do they can use main bath.

Also large shower in ensuit I think more usefull/saleable.

[openback]

my two bobs worth, as long as ther is one good bath in the family bathroom for a good soak after a long days cold wet off roading, a shower in the ensuite should be fine for grabbing a shower before work, going out etc. and showers can be fine as long as the bubbly stays in the bedroom! just make sure any grab rails are FIRMLY attached to the walls!

[Chillitt]

you can have a shower in a bath, but you cant have a bath in a shower! if there is a tub there, its one less thing for a buyer to baulk at. and use cheap tiles, with expensive (fired earth et al) feature tiles...

[MattF]

just for the en suite, don't forget the hooks in the ceiling...

Tut.

[logey79]

Tut.

i knew there would be a few on here who have done enough trips to amsterdam to know what i was on about.

as expected, you, the comic book perv, are the first to get it!

[MattF]

i knew there would be a few on here who have done enough trips to amsterdam to know what i was on about.

as expected, you, the comic book perv, are the first to get it!

Bugger. I've never been to Amsterdam. That means I'm just a natural born perv.

[Gizmo]

bath/shower as my parents friends tried to sell their house with only the shower in one room and the house didnt sell as families are looking for baths to help with children.