The Pros: Showers Are Used More Frequently
Perhaps the best argument for converting your standard tub into a walk-in shower is a purely practical one: most Americans utilize their showers far more frequently than their tubs. While many homeowners are attracted to the idea of luxuriating in a steaming bath, the reality of a fast-paced, modern lifestyle is that showers are the preferred go-to option.
The Pros: Showers Take up Less Square Footage
Another reason many homeowners are making the change is that since tubs are often entirely unused, they end up hogging valuable space, whereas walk-in showers are a much more effective use of square footage. Even looking beyond their smaller footprint, walk-in showers often increase a visual feel of spaciousness because their doors are glass, which continues lines of sight to produce an open effect.
The Pros: Showers Are More Easily Accessible
Walk-in showers are also much more easily accessible than bathtubs, particularly for older or handicapped homeowners who may be tired of clambering over a bathtub wall to bathe.
The Pros: Showers Save Water
Because the average American takes 8-minute showers, showers also typically conserve more water than baths, which benefits the environment and lowers your utility bills. Since walk-in showers are attractive features for most home buyers, the conversion itself can also boost your home’s resale value.
The Pros: Converting Provides the Opportunity for Additional Remodeling
Finally, making the switch from a standard tub to a walk-in shower will allow you the opportunity to address bathroom upgrades you’ve wanted to make for years. Maybe you’re ready for new flooring with built-in heating, improved lighting, or a new HVAC system. Whatever the case, the tub-to-shower conversion offers you the perfect opportunity to upgrade surrounding features.
The Cons: Young Families Regularly Use Bathtubs
The only real con to converting your standard bathtub to a walk-in shower is that younger families use tubs regularly for bathing children. So if your home does not have a second bathtub, making the choice to convert to a walk-in shower can certainly hurt the resale value of your home.
Closing Thoughts
If your home has more than one bathtub, then converting one bathtub into a walk-in shower is a no-brainer since it will increase functionality, make your home more attractive to buyers, and save you space and money. If you only have one bathtub, you may want to consider your long-term goals: Is this your forever home, and would you prefer a walk-in shower to a bathtub? Do you plan to resell, and would it be wise to wait on a conversion? To explore the answers to these questions, contact J&J Construction to discuss your Naperville bathroom remodeling project.
