This will be the biggest decision to make during your bathroom makeover - not only does it impact your budget but the choice also will completely change the look and layout of the space depending on what you choose, if not both. Assuming you don’t have the square footage or funds to invest in both, you’ll have to pick one. Would you replace the tub with a modernized shower stall? Or will you make room to go from a shower to a bathtub? Some similarities are:
Both are sold in many different styles. Bathtubs are available in standard, claw-foot, freestanding, soaking, whirlpool, and walk-in varieties. Showers come as stalls enclosed with doors or curtains and walk-in showers without doors or curtains.
Both come in multiple materials. Baths can be made in a range of materials, from affordable acrylic to high-end enamel-coated cast iron. Showers are available in anything material from fiberglass to natural stone.
Both offer therapeutic water flow options. Whirlpool tubs feature built-in jets that release massaging blasts of water into the tub, while showers can be equipped with rainfall or waterfall shower heads that release water soothingly.
There are also a lot of differences between bathtubs and showers. Recognizing them will assure that you won’t pour money down the drain on something that doesn’t suit your needs. Keep reading to get an idea of the benefits and drawbacks of these bathroom staples.
Showers offer more space
A standard shower stall or walk-in shower only takes up about nine square feet on average, whereas a standard-sized tub occupies roughly 13 square feet. If you have a smaller-than-average bathroom (normally about 30 to 35 square feet) a shower is the clear winner. If you have an average-sized full bathroom (40 to 50 square feet), a shower would take up less than a quarter of floor space while a tub would use up a third of the bathroom. By replacing a tub with a shower, the space you save with shower could be used towards larger, more luxurious additions like a walk-in steam shower or bathroom storage features like a double vanity.
BHG
Bathtubs are more affordable to install
A tub will cost anywhere from $400 to $8,000, installed, whereas a shower ranges from $450 to $10,000. Standard bathtubs and shower stalls are at the low end, while whirlpool tubs and walk-in showers tend to be more expensive. You can have a whirlpool tub installed for an average of $4,500, less than three-fourths of what you’d pay for a walk-in shower, priced at $6,000 on average.
Showers tend to use less water
You use about 2 gallons of water per minute in a shower with a low-flow showerhead on average, which amounts to about 17 gallons for an average shower time. This means that if you can keep your showers under 15 minutes, your water consumption, and your overall water bill, will generally be lower with a shower than a bath, which consumes anywhere from 25 to 40 gallons of water in a standard tub or 80 to 100 gallons in a whirlpool tub.
Baths still hold resale value
About 50% of home buyers are opposed to a master bathroom with only a shower stall. A “full bathroom” means one with a tub, and that’s what continues to attract the majority of both single and married home buyers, as well as parents who have children.
Showers are more accessible
Family members who are elderly or have mobility impairments may find it challenging to climb in and out of a traditional tub. To enter and exit a shower they need only open the door or curtain or, in the case of curbless walk-in showers, simply step or glide in. Features and furnishings such as grab bars on the walls and benches also make showers more user-friendly.
Regardless of which pros and cons stick out to you here, consider the style that you really love. Modern and chic? Consider an all glass rainfall shower that can help the space appear bigger. Leaning towards a boho farmhouse look? A stand alone, clawfoot tub with white tiling can bring this vision to life.
Decoist
When you are remodeling your bathroom, bedroom, or any space in your home, your preferences are what matters! If you are having trouble deciding between a shower, bathtub, cabinets, flooring, or any home renovation, remember to contact our team at Surfaces PCB! Our interior designers will assist in finding the most attractive cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and more to deliver you the quality, functional space of your dreams. You can also visit our 12,000 square foot showroom in Panama City Beach to shop our extensive products.
