To Incorporate a Bathroom Tub or Not........Poll

[Maymybonneliveforever]

I'm redoing my bathroom in the basement and want to add a thermostatic shower system which will include a rain can, body sprays, hand held etc. I prefer not to add a tub and plan on moving in maybe 10 years, so resale will eventually come into consideration. We already have a tub in the second floor so a second isn't absolutely necessary unless the next owners plan on having an in-law suit or similar.....if you know what I mean. If I add a tub to the new design I will have to change the layout as they're a different size then what I was planning on having so I'm asking for advice. Personally I like the look of shower only. The basement is presently used as an entertainment and guest accomidation floor. We frequently have friends sleep over, since it's better to drive home sober the next day.

Would you change the design at an additional cost and take away from my plan for larger shower only bathroom?

Please add your vote to the poll.

[hitman_24]

You have to decide if resale is a main influence.
Personally would go with the tub as its dual purpose. It is only a basement after all.
Depending on how entailed and costly the layout change would be, you may be better off leaving it as a shower! As chances are you won't recoup anything significant by having a tub instead of a shower

[Narutard]

I vote shower only. I faced the same problem earlier and found adding a tub to be way more costly - cost of tub, faucets, rejigging the plumbing, rough in of tub etc. I opted for a double vanity and a large shower box with bench instead. Also, you already have a bathroom with a tub so I think u ae good value wise.

[Offspring22]

I plan on no tub in my basement. I want a walk in shower that will be easier to bathe my future dog in. I already have 2 tubs (main bath and ensuite).

[althetrainer]

We already have two full size tubs so if we added a bathroom we would do just a shower. But... if we only got one tub (and considered selling the house in the future) we would definitely add one more to make it more appealing to potential buyers. If I were looking for a house to buy I would definitely want to have two tubs, one on each level. It's not necessary for us to have two but it's always nice to have an option.

[Mars2012]

I think the shower-only would be the better idea. Most people take showers these days anyway, and if there's a choice of taking a bath upstairs or in the basement, I'd choose upper floor.

[Maymybonneliveforever]

Personally I don't need a second tub in the house and the only reason I'm considering it now is for resale value. When I build the bathroom 25 years ago I didn't know the proper way to waterproof and didn't care about body sprays etc. so it's time to redo it and I know this time it will last for many more years.

I'm going to estimate that there would probably be a 30-35% chance that the next homeowner may add a rental unit in the basement and another 15% chance it may become either an in-law suite or a 5th bedroom so that adds up to a 50% chance a tub maybe required since I would want a tub if there was a bedroom in the basement.

I'll estimate that adding a tub will cost approximately $500.00 more in material alone since the floor will have to be opened up, new piping material, walls will have to be moved and tube waste & drain assembly etc. will have to be purchased. As for the labour well I'll be doing that so it will add maybe another 20-25 hrs. to the build.

In the end, as mentioned I'd prefer a shower only but I'm at a point in my life where I now have to consider resale so I'll return to review addition posts.

Thanks everyone for your vote as well as posts and think of it this way, if it were your house, would you want a tub in the basement now or in the future?

[Owbist]

I only have a shower stall in my basement and it is great. Another thought you may consider with a shower only many of we older folks cannot spring over the side of a bathtub :)

I am also a believer in doing renos for my own comfort - but staying conservative enough to be accepted as the norm when it is time to sell.

[aqnd]

Why the second thoughts and all this BS about resale all the time.
Surely if you like it there are others out there who think just like you?
Its your house, you're living in it. Do what you like and don't worry about what an unknown future buyer wants.

What if your top potential buyer wanted no tub and walk in showers on all floors? There's two sides to everything.
As said, most people these days lean towards showers vs bath, so I wouldn't be putting in a second bath to appease this high and mighty unknown buyer who has such power over you ;)

[Maymybonneliveforever]

I only have a shower stall in my basement and it is great. Another thought you may consider with a shower only many of we older folks cannot spring over the side of a bathtub :)At present itls also a shower only and it's worked out great for the past 25 years but I don't plan on staying for another 25 more. The only reason we would be moving is due to this home being way to large, therefore I doubt most elderly people would purchase a 2500 sq. ft. home for their retirement years so I didn't consider "we older folks cannot spring over the side of a bathtub"
Why the second thoughts and all this BS about resale all the time.
Surely if you like it there are others out there who think just like you?
It’s your house, you're living in it. Do what you like and don't worry about what an unknown future buyer wants. At what point in time do you start to consider resale value, maybe once you've lived in a home for maybe 35 years and a light comes on in your head and think, maybe it's time to move since this house is way too big. Or do you believe you will live in your present home till it's time for you to be buried? When I installed the basement bathroom 25 years ago I had your thoughts in mind, "who cares about resale, now the second time around I'm be foolish not to consider it since I've enjoyed it my way for the first 25 years. Now it time to enjoy it a bit more but maybe with a twist. I always believe a wise person is one that keeps an open mind.
What if your top potential buyer wanted no tub and walk in showers on all floors? There are two sides to everything.
As said, most people these days lean towards showers vs bath, so I wouldn't be putting in a second bath to appease this high and mighty unknown buyer who has such power over you ;)I see you like to play the devil's advocate and I would agree with you only if the potential buyer don't want to add a rental or in-law suite your scenario doesn't take that into account at all.
At the moment the basement bathroom would be the fourth bathroom therefore it would be used more for guest, but I plan on making it a dream bathroom regardless of whether I never use it. I would still install rain cans, body sprays, hand held, granite tops, glass shower doors etc. I'm still getting it my way, only trying to decide whether to go tub........or tubless.

[goofball]

I'm doing a tub in the basement, I figure it would be good for when resale (extra tub in the house) and we can have friends with young children stay over and they have the whole basement to stay in. The tub would allow them to bathe young children in there.
I can't recall seeing any show on TV or heard of anyone complain about having an extra shower-tub in the house somewhere. It can come in handy, especially if you only have 1 tub in the house now.

[dirtmover]

I see you like to play the devil's advocate and I would agree with you only if the potential buyer don't want to add a rental or in-law suite your scenario doesn't take that into account at all.


Is your basement already set up as a self contained suite including it's own kitchen? If not, your potential buyer is going to worry more about the lack of kitchen than whether there's a tub in the bathroom.

I think you need to be realistic about pandering to what you think may be desirable to a future buyer. Personally we couldn't care less if there's a tub in any of our bathrooms and, in fact, the only tub we do have is not even fully plumbed in :-0

[Manatus]

I would say bear in mind your time horizon... if you're saying moving in 10 years or more, that means whatever you do now is going to be 10 years old when the "new" person buys it. Is anyone really going to place a lot of value in a 10 year old tub that's all scratched, used, who knows what has happened to it (from the buyer's perspective)? Showers are comparatively cleaner and easier to maintain (especially if you get a nice tiled shower). There's nothing "dirty" about having a shower in an old shower. Even if I was a renter, there's no way I'd be laying down in someone else's 10 year old tub. If they really want a tub, they'll probably want to spend the money and get a new tub anyway and take the opportunity to refresh the bathroom (unless they hate their in-laws). We just bought a condo specifically because it wasn't up to date and we could make it the way we wanted... I wouldn't have wanted to spend more money to buy something that someone else wanted and used, and feel bad wanting to redo because it's not "that" old.

[jenlad]

For the most part, the only people that "need" a bathtub are young families with small children. Babies are not going have a bedroom in the basement, so they will easiy be able to use the bathtub on the upper level.
10 years is a long time, so do whatever works best for you.
Personally, for guests and even as a rental, I think a shower is the better option.

[Toukolou]

It's a basement, if you do it right I doubt it would be a deal breaker for any potential buyers. Based on some of your other posts, you like to do things right. I wouldn't worry about it too much. As someone else mentioned, I'd add one of those ledges if space permits so someone could sit on it if need be (in-law suite).

Jeez, rain can, body sprays, hand held...in a basement. Sounds pretty good to me.

[hitman_24]

Jeez, rain can, body sprays, hand held...in a basement. Sounds pretty good to me.

Op is obsessed with thermostatic shower setups

[Maymybonneliveforever]

Is anyone really going to place a lot of value in a 10 year old tub that's all scratched, used, who knows what has happened to it (from the buyer's perspective)? Showers are comparatively cleaner and easier to maintain (especially if you get a nice tiled shower). There's nothing "dirty" about having a shower in an old shower. Even if I was a renter, there's no way I'd be laying down in someone else's 10 year old tub. If they really want a tub, they'll probably want to spend the money and get a new tub anyway and take the opportunity to refresh the bathroom (unless they hate their in-laws).I redid the upstairs 30 year old bathrooms and the tubs were not really scratches and my wife does take care of the house, I highly doubt a new tub will be all scratched after 10 years considering it's our 4th bathroom and will probably only be used when we have guest over which will be maybe 10 times per year, so my calculation work out to 100 times before selling. Also, most homeowners don't rip out all the tubs in the house since "there's no way I'd be laying down in someone else's 10 year old tub", let's put it this way, hotels don't change their tubs every 10 years.

For the most part, the only people that "need" a bathtub are young families with small children. Babies are not going have a bedroom in the basement, so they will easiy be able to use the bathtub on the upper level.
Personally, for guests and even as a rental, I think a shower is the better option.Elderly people are also using tubs since they find they tend to be a bit unstable in a wet floor environment. Also my consideration isn't for my guest it's for future buyers. Also my hesitation was regarding new homeowners adding a rental suite in the basement, future renters wouldn’t be able to use the tub upstairs since the basement would be self contained.
Jeez, rain can, body sprays, hand held...in a basement. Sounds pretty good to me.All the other bathrooms have them, so why not the basement?
Op is obsessed with thermostatic shower setupsAfter I tried my first one, I believe I was spoiled, yes thermostatic is more than increased gpm to support extra fixture, we like the fact there is better control in the way it maintains temperature as well as volume control. Obsessed..............hmmm, don't know, but I do know once I went thermostatic, I'd never go back to pressure balance.

Thanks for everyone's reply and it would appear that shower only may just be the winner.

[gnuman]

I'm in the middle of a bathroom reno where the previous owner had a custom made shower crappily done in the upstairs bathroom. Had to take it off and start over I decided to keep a shower only. The only bathtub there is in my house is the jacuzzi tub in the basement bathroom which is huge it also has a standing shower as well.

[Manatus]

I redid the upstairs 30 year old bathrooms and the tubs were not really scratches and my wife does take care of the house, I highly doubt a new tub will be all scratched after 10 years considering it's our 4th bathroom and will probably only be used when we have guest over which will be maybe 10 times per year, so my calculation work out to 100 times before selling. Also, most homeowners don't rip out all the tubs in the house since "there's no way I'd be laying down in someone else's 10 year old tub", let's put it this way, hotels don't change their tubs every 10 years.

I'm sure you take great care of your fixtures, but even if the tub looks great, it's the buyer's perception. I'm just saying that it's not uncommon for 10-years-old anything to be considered "old". Most people buy houses/condos that are newer than that even if they are previously lived in. Something like a tub is where you're going to see it the most (in terms of perception). Yes, hotels don't change their tubs with every guest, but a good hotel has renovations every so often and at the least has professional staff to make everything look new after each guest, plus it's just a hotel - not like you're living with it. Either way, I know for us, we wouldn't be using a 10 year old tub in a house we purchase. In fact anything 10 years old in the house would start getting considered for the chopping block. Bottom line I guess is I think if you were planning to move in the next couple years, it's something that you'd think about. For 10 years or more I don't think it should be a major factor in your decision making, especially since it's not really a major expense, I mean a few thousand bucks out of the cost of a house is nothing really, especially if you factor in the benefits of being able to get it done new and the way you want.

And really, that's kind of the point I was trying to make... lots of people don't really "want" a 10 year old tub, but at the same time it's not super old, and if you kept it in good condition then it's a waste to replace it.

[Maymybonneliveforever]

I mean a few thousand bucks out of the cost of a house is nothing really, especially if you factor in the benefits of being able to get it done new and the way you want.I had to laugh when you said a few thousand bucks and I don't mean that in an offensive way. The thermostatic system material alone with the body sprays, rain can, hand held, diverter valve in Tuscan Bronze will cost a couple thousand bucks. I haven't included the granite vanity, glass shower doors, led rgb lighting, sound system. If this were a few thousand dollar bathroom basement reno, I wouldn't have wasted everyone's time by starting this thread. The bathrooms I did upstairs, the material list retailed at close to $15,000.00 each. Luckily I bought everything on sale and in the States.

Price out a 3/4" 12 gpm Tuscan Bronze thermostatic complete system in Pfister, Grohe, Hansgrohe, Kohler and you'll quickly find out it adds up to thousands material alone. It ends up being about a 15 piece kit, but then I've gone off topic.

Below is a Pfister Tuscan Bronze 1.6 gpm thermostatic body spray, each one list price is around $180.00, multiply that by 4, and that's just the body sprays. That's when this forum helps in geting deals. Out of the manfuctures listed above, Pfister is probably the lowest priced.

http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/Pfister/015-hf0y-sq-c1?$ProductDetailLarge$

[Manatus]

I had to laugh when you said a few thousand bucks and I don't mean that in an offensive way. The thermostatic system material alone with the body sprays, rain can, hand held, diverter valve alone in Tuscan Bronze will cost a couple thousand bucks. I haven't included the granite vanity, glass shower doors, led rgb lighting, sound system. If this were a few thousand dollar bathroom basement reno, I wouldn't have wasted everyone's time by starting this thread. The bathrooms I did upstairs, the material list retailed at close to $15,000.00 each. Luckily I bought everything on sale and in the States.

Price out a 3/4" 12 gpm Tuscan Bronze thermostatic complete system in Pfister, Grohe, Hansgrohe, Kohler and you'll quickly find out it adds up to thousands material alone. It ends up being about a 20 piece kit, but then I've gone off topic.

Well in that case you're right... that does sound like a major undertaking. All I can say then is I hope you get many years of enjoyment out of whatever you choose, and also that I hope one day I can get something that awesome. :)