Where Will Tub to Shower Conversions Be 5 Years from Now?

The Question

One of the biggest questions we get asked during the design of a new master bath is whether or not they should remove their tub.  It always comes down to a personal preference of whether or not they use the tub or if a bigger shower is more important to them.  Houzz recently did a poll and found that 50 percent of homeowners will remove the tub and replace it with a shower.  We also see this happen not only in remodels but in new homes as well.  Most builders are giving people the option of a bigger shower in the master bath in replace of a tub.

Is Removing the Bathtub A Trend?

If it is, it's not one that's going away anytime soon.  Out of the thousands of customers that I have visited that wanted to remove their tub, they always tell me they never take a bath and use their tubs as showers.  I've talked to many realtors who state that as long as you have one bathtub in your home, your free to do as you wish everywhere else.  Most bathtubs are used by parents who have younger children.

The Benefit of Removing Your Tub and Replacing It With A Shower

The biggest benefit is safety.  I know to a younger person this may sound silly, but this includes you as well.  According to CDC 68% of falls in the home happen in the bathtub.  One of the most common ways these falls occur is the transition from the floor into the bathtub or vice versa.  By  converting the tub into a shower, you are lowering the threshold and making it a much safer step into the wet area.

You are increasing the size of your bathing area.  Bathtubs have more girth than showers so you will gain a couple of inches in  depth and width by removing them.  Also with bathtubs there is a much steeper slope to them which can make the tub feel shallow and limit standing space.  When you replace this with a shower, your standing space increases significantly.  If you noticed, most modern hotels only have showers in them to accommodate the needs of their customers, todays homes are no different.

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