One of the most significant factors in your bathroom remodel is choosing between a shower or a tub. This choice will impact the design, layout, and the budget of your bathroom remodel, making it a crucial component. With several similarities between the two fixtures, it can be challenging to choose between them. These similarities include:
Multiple Materials – Each fixture is available in affordable and high-end materials. Tub materials include everything from acrylic to enamel-coated cast iron. Shower materials include fiberglass as well as a more expensive natural stone.
Variety of Styles – You can purchase showers as stalls with enclosed doors or with curtains as well as walk-ins without curtains or doors. Tubs come in standard, freestanding, walk-in, whirlpool, claw-foot, and soaking styles.
Therapeutic Options – You can purchase tubs with built-in jets that provide massaging blasts of water. You can also buy showers that have a waterfall or rainfall showerheads for a soothing experience.
Aside from their similarities, there are far more differences between the two, along with the pros and cons of each depending on your needs. Before making your decision, be sure to learn more about their difference to ensure you find the right fixture for your lifestyle.
Compared to tubs, the standard shower stall or walk-in shower will only take up around nine square feet of space. The average tub will take up about 13 square feet when installed. If your bathroom is on the smaller side, a shower will be your best option for making the most of your space.
Saving money on a remodel is vital for many homeowners. You can expect a tub to cost anywhere from $400 to around $8,000 installed. For a shower, you can expect to pay about $450 to $10,000. If you are looking to save money, you can opt for a standard style shower or tub. If you want something more high-end, you can have a whirlpool tub installed for around $4,500 or a walk-in shower for about $6,000.
If you have a family member in the home who is elderly or those who have a mobility impairment, a tub can be challenging to use. If you install a shower instead, they will only have to open the door or curtain to enter the shower. If you opt for a curb-less walk-in shower, they will only need to step or glide into the shower. You can also equip your shower with various accessories such as benches and grab bars to make them more accessible and safer to use.
A full bathroom is categorized as a bathroom with a tub. Many home buyers are looking for a home with at least one full bath. Equipping your home with a tub may attract home buyers who are married or single and those who have children or are expecting since tubs make it easier to bathe children.
While there is no concrete proof that a tub will increase or decrease your home’s return on investment, it is something to consider during your remodel.
At Kitchen & Bath Galleria, we will use our Inspired By You Design Process to help you create a bathroom that perfectly fits in with your lifestyle, needs, and your budget! Contact us today to learn more about our bathroom remodeling services in Latrobe.
Greg is the owner of Kitchen & Bath and has been providing designing and building services since 1986. With that much experience, he's become an expert in several types of home renovations.
