Tub or Shower? What Works Best in Today’s Bathroom Renovations

When choosing between a tub and a shower, your lifestyle, space constraints, and priorities are important considerations. Showers are low-maintenance and practical for busy people or small bathrooms, while a tub offers a relaxing experience and is family-friendly and convenient for young kids. Bathroom renovations come with practical considerations, personal preference, resale value, and the current trends of what’s popular in design. Let us help you choose the best fit for you and your home! Feel free to message us at Big Easy Renovations.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Before choosing a tub over a shower or the reverse, weigh the pros and cons of both features. Consider which option will best serve your home, its needs, and your interests overall, with consideration for short- and long-term needs. Each option has a role to play within function, aesthetics, and resale value, and understanding the differences will lead you to a better decision.

Benefits of Showers

Showers provide space savings, at only 9 square feet; they are a practical option for anyone redesigning a small bathroom. They tend to be a more modern and stylish option, with luxuries associated. Showers are also visually more appealing as a luxurious amenity within a frameless glass enclosure. Showers can also provide great accessibility options for seniors or disabled persons in their common household features, with options like grab bars and non-slip flooring. Low-flow showerheads are another amenity that is very attractive because of water conservation.

Drawbacks of Showers 

While showers can be friendly, environmentally friendly, and more convenient in bathing young children or pets, removing the bathtub may not suit families that need bath availability. Not having a bathtub may also hurt the resale value, as tens of buyers will desire a bathtub for their families.

Benefits of Bathtubs 

Bathtubs provide more design options in a family home that has small children and more accommodating households. A traditional bathtub will typically take about 13 square feet and provide a way to relax, while a whirlpool bathtub provides a relaxing and luxurious bathing option that uses 80–100 gallons of water in a bath. A bathtub is generally a good return on investment, as homes with bathtubs average about a 102% return on investment, making them a reasonable purchase for your home’s future resale.

Drawbacks of Bathtubs 

Bathtubs consume more space and typically consume more water when you take a bath compared to a shower. A standard bathtub uses approximately 70 gallons of water for each bath. If an older or disabled individual will be using the bathtub for bathing, then it will likely require some safety features such as grab bars, which will require more labor and materials in the remodel.

Factors Influencing Your Choice

If you are choosing a tub versus a shower in your remodel, many things affect your decision. Think about your lifestyle and practical needs. With these factors affecting your decision, you will have a good idea about the best backyard design for your lifestyle and space.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle Needs 

Review how you routinely spend each day and your comfort level with bathing. Showers are typically more convenient and utilize less time and water than filling a bathtub. However, if bathing relaxes you, you might consider carrying a tub. Many homeowners are also opting for showers that are larger than normal with rainfall heads and jets, thereby providing that feeling of a spa experience.

Evaluate Family Needs 

A bathtub is a must-have for families with early toddlers or children. A walk-in shower is a good choice for older adults and those challenged with mobility and safety, which sometimes can include grab bars. Having at least one tub during resale is a good idea for a neighborhood with younger families or where the property will be passed on to children in the future.

Evaluate Future Needs 

Create a bathroom that maximizes accessibility by considering barrier-free or wired showers for future accessibility needs. Barrier-free showers can maximize your limited space, making for a smart choice for small layouts and ensuring livability for years to come.

Evaluate Personal Selections

Weigh aesthetics and convenience against each other in design. A shower can represent a clean and modern asymmetrical design, while a tub can be designed for a traditional or upscale experience. 

Cost and Budget Analysis

Whether you’re deciding on a tub or shower for your bathroom remodel, knowing the cost impact is essential. Each choice carries unique cost factors, from upfront installation to years of maintenance.

Compare Installation and Long-Term Costs

The cost of installing your tub or shower will differ greatly based on the requirements. Installing a tub will often require the expense of additional plumbing and will add $1,000 to $5,000 to the cost of installation. Custom showers with additional plumbing, glass enclosures, or custom tiling are more expensive, which can increase the overall expense substantially. A mid-range remodel in a standard primary bathroom averages from $10,000 to $30,000 for the remodel itself and from $100 to $200 per square foot for remodel costs, so budgeting for these differences is warranted.

Consider Long-term Costs

You may also want to consider long-term costs, as they might include things like water use, maintenance, and others. Showers, in general, use less water than baths, which might lead to a lower utility bill in the long run, but high-end showers or shower systems like rain showers or multi-jets will counter that savings. Bathtubs, in general, are more durable but may need refinishing or re-glazing and will incur long-term costs. Bathroom remodels generate a 70% return on investment, so both options are valuable when done well.

Account for Material Choices

The quality of materials has a large impact on both your upfront cost and your future costs. For example, acrylic tubs are light and inexpensive, but they have a shorter lifespan than cast iron tubs, which are heavier and more expensive but can last for decades. The same applies to shower materials, as shower materials can vary from ceramic and porcelain tiles to various natural stones, which can vary in cost and maintenance. If you establish a 30% cushion in your budget’s upfront cost, it provides flexibility and safety to upgrade the quality of installed materials. 

Make Wise Choices By Consulting With Us!

Deciding between a tub and a shower is a matter of how you want to use the space and what fits in your budget. A tub may be a good option for soaking in a bath or for families with kids, while a shower may be more conducive to an efficient, compact design. If both are desired in one bath space, that is also achievable with hybrid units that limit design compromise. Please focus on other factors of usage and maintenance that can have significant weight on your decision-making. Environmental and fiscal factors will also contribute significantly to budget and design decisions, and the right fit will upgrade your enjoyment, comfort, and utility in and with your space. Contact us today to team up in the planning of your renovation so we can create a space that fits your specific needs. Whether upgrading or determining a kitchen, bathroom, or entire renovation, Big Easy Renovations would love to facilitate your dreams into a practical space.