If you want to convert an existing room into a new bathroom or add new fixtures in place, the costs for installing a shower average between $815 and $930. A tub will cost you anywhere from $1,100 to $1,800.
It is cheaper to install showers looking at the amount of labor and materials needed during installation. One of the reasons why homeowners prefer a shower to a bathtub is that it helps you save more on monthly bills such as water and electricity.
A bath costs more. Generally, taking a shower uses less water than a full bath. A standard showerhead flows at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute. This means that a ten minute shower only uses 25 gallons of water. A full bath can use up to 70 gallons of water.
According to a recent survey, only 23 percent of homeowners actually use their bathtubs on a regular basis. This means that the vast majority of bathrooms have tubs that just take up space. If you aren't using your bathtub, you can have it removed and give yourself a bigger and more comfortable bathroom.
A bathtub requires a lot of water and it may consume a larger percentage of energy to heat up the water. Not only will you spend on the costs of energy but also a large amount of water goes to waste. A shower is usually turned on and off when needed which saves the energy costs since less water is spent on bathing.
The short answer is, it depends. Understanding the potential buyer of your home is key. If your neighborhood attracts many young families, removing the tub could indeed lower your home's resale value. However, there are situations where this might not be a significant concern.
They're more hygienic. The constant flow of clean water from a lovely powerful shower rinses everything straight down the drain rather than leaving you sitting in a puddle of grime-infused water- yuck!
According to recent data, homes with at least one tub tend to sell for more money than those with showers – and the difference can be quite pronounced in some parts of the country. Keep in mind, though, that this is just one factor among many that you'll need to consider when making this decision.
Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
What Is the Lifespan of a Bathtub? Bathtubs typically last 10-30 years, depending on the material used. Modern, low-cost acrylic and fiberglass tubs will survive for 10-15 years. Although a porcelain-enameled cast-iron tub will survive far longer, it will need to be refinished every 5-15 years.
More Space: A walk-in shower is especially beneficial for small bathrooms. If your bathroom feels cramped, ditching the bathtub in favor of a walk-in shower can give you the feel of extra space! Easy to Clean: Walk-in showers are easy to clean.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Take short showers rather than a bath or reduce the number of baths you take each month. A four minute shower uses about 8 gallons of water, while a full bath uses about 50 gallons of water. If you bathe, fill bathtub ½ full. You can save 18 to 25 gallons per bath.
Though upgrading your tub to a shower could arguably be seen as a “pro” for better resale value, replacing your only tub is not as versatile for every type of homeowner. More difficult to bathe children and pets. Bathtubs can be a must-have for smaller children or pets.
Once a fixture of most bathrooms and the picture of relaxation after a long day, tubs are becoming more endangered in a fast-paced world with no time for long soaks. A growing group of homeowners lean more toward standalone showers, especially if they are empty-nesters or don't have young children.
Prefabricated shower kits are often more affordable than sourcing individual components separately. These kits provide a convenient and budget-friendly solution, as they are designed to work together seamlessly while minimizing costs.
Although not as popular among adults, bathtubs are still the most effective way to bathe young kids and pets. For young families, a bathtub is practically a necessity. Most children younger than 8 have a difficult time using a shower. In addition, baths are much more efficient when cleaning up multiple kids at once.
There is no code that requires a bathtub in a residential home.
Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
The next thing you need to consider is how much you want to spend on your bathroom. Tubs are generally cheaper to install, ranging between $400 and $8000. Meanwhile, a shower ranges between $450 to $10,000 to install. Naturally, this will strongly depend on what kind of bathtub or shower you want.
Bathroom Updates for Resale Value
Removing your only tub to install a walk-in shower can make your home's value take a hit because most prospective homebuyers, especially families with small kids, want at least one bathtub.
In larger properties with multiple bathrooms, the absence of a tub in just one of the rooms might not be as detrimental. But if you just have the one bathroom, which is the norm for many homes, removing the only bathtub could significantly diminish the home's appeal to certain buyers.
Having said that, we should point out that the profile of any prospective buyer and the area are going to play a big role here. The key takeaway is there's no definitive proof of any significant difference between a bath and a shower when it comes to resale value.
Showers may be better at cleaning you than a bath can be, but that does not mean that a beautiful bath time isn't good for you too. Baths can help to exfoliate your skin, stimulate your nervous system and are great at helping you to relax.
Are Showers More Popular Than Baths? The UK is Officially A Shower Nation. According to our recent survey, in 2024 the UK is officially a shower nation after almost 3 in 5 Brits (59%) revealed they prefer taking a shower over having a bath, with some more strongly than others.