I'm looking for some advice on a home remodel. We are renovating our master bath and are considering removing the bathtub completely. Neither my wife or I take baths so we personally won't mind and would enjoy the space for a killer dual shower and open area. However, I don't want to put a lot of money in a remodel that doesn't add value in the house or would make it unappealing to potential buyers. We have no plans to move anytime soon but know that there is a decent likelihood we eventually move for work or to upgrade.

What are your thoughts on a tubless master bathroom? Are we taking away value?

I'm a sucker for a big spa shower. Ideally, I'd like a tub, too. But if the size of the space is such that keeping the tub means that the shower will be small (or even standard sized), I'd rather have the big, nice shower.

Really make it luxury, though. Extra shower heads, all tile (no fiberglass pan), and no door, if you can make that work.

DannyDuberstein said:

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Mostly fine as long as you have a decent alternative tub in another bathroom (preferably on the same floor).

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Agreed. There's a certain percentage of folks that wouldn't consider it, but not enough in my opinion for you to skip making a change you'll enjoy. There's also going to be a group of folks just like you that will probably appreciate it.

Personally, a house w/o a master bath doesn't bother me. But, I agree with the other posters who suggest including some type of seating etc in a larger shower.

If the house is not large (#of sq ft, # of bedrooms) then having seating, grab bars and other features along those lines can appeal to a wider range of buyers (since empty nesters aren't as likely to buy a large large house. Just my opinion and that opinion is definitely market dependent.

I've recently seen a builder in DFW that makes the bathtub an optional upgrade. They claim to strive to build homes in a manner/layout that people actually use them, therefore they've stopped making a master bath tub the default.

Makes sense. We are about to do the same in the master bath. The other bathroom will still have a tib if the next owners need it. For us a nice shower with bench is more to our liking.

Design it so that next owner can easily add a tub if they want one. Run the plumbing lines, etc. This style is pretty popular these days:

https://goo.gl/images/TL3qdF

I am seeing more of this. As with any change against the perceived normal, you may limit your future perspective buyer pool (my lovely wife would never consider your house.)

I would say two things are really important.

1. Need a tub In the house (as said) preferably on the same floor.

2. If you do this, the resulting shower needs to be particularly kick ass, or don't bother.

I like a rain shower head...in combination with the separate fire hose type shower head you mentioned.

Built my home without a master tub, we do have a tub in the guest bathroom. So I'll echo what others have said about needing a tub somewhere on the floor since they come in handy for kids and pets!

It was a no brainer for us to remove the tub. 1970 house has a small master, which we actually did expand a bit. The option was a tub shower or a kick ass two person shower. There wasn't room for a tub and a shower in the layout without significant sacrifice elsewhere. We decided to go with a teak seat in our instead of something permanent, We like the usability better that way. Seat has been in the shower for several years now with no issues with only minimally upkeep for the wood.

We don't have plans to move anytime soon (ever if we can swing it), so that made it easy not to think about buyers. You'll lose some people, but I think most people will be ok with it. We have tub in the guest bath for kids.

As long as you have a bath on the same floor for kids, you're going to be fine IMO.

Is anyone not going to buy a great house because there's no tub in the master?

Just bought a home with an oversize shower with 7 heads and a bench. Plenty of room for shower beer that doesn't get sprayed on. No downstairs tub.

Now if only work would let me be home to use it.

Mmetag10 said:

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Just to be honest. If it doesnt have a bath tub in it my wife is going to turn around and walk out. Now we have bought enough and remodeled enough we know it can be fixed but if you take out the tub you are going to lose some people instantly.

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A tub in the master bath or just a tub in the house?

A tub in the master. We looked at one that had a tub across the hall and she vetoed it. Who wants to have to get dressed if theirs company or your kids to go next door and take a bath.

Ol Jock 99 said:

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Quote:

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Obviously, I'm in the minority, but you exclude a certain percentage of potential buyers if you don't have a master tub.

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I don't think you're the minority on this issue at all.

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I don't either. I wouldn't buy a house without a tub in the master either, and not just a tub, but a big, jetted, deep tub. I shower during the week but take a long soak at least once a week.

Now, I'd love to have both - a big tub and a big shower.

But I'd take this as a compromise...

RThorp said:

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Diggity said:

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Most people that end up remodeling ranch houses decide the space is better suited for a larger shower than a bad tub and a bad shower.

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This 100% was my reasoning. Plus would have had to remove the linen closet to make room for a bad shower + bad tub.

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Another one here. We have a 1970 ranch that had a tiny original master . Even after moving one wall, there still just isn't enough space for a nice tub and a decent size shower. So it was either a tub/shower combo, small tub/small shower or just making a really nice, spa-like shower. I'd be willing to put money down that I would attract more buyers than I'd lose by putting in the really nice shower.

Actually, I did put money down because that is exactly what we did with our remodel.

SoupNazi2001 said:

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The bench in the shower has another key purpose not being mentioned.

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Wife needs a place to put her hands for one, among other uses still.

Diggity said:

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I think some of you all aren't realizing that the tubs most of us are talking about are tiny little bathtubs, or even tub/shower combos.

While those might be OK for bathing the kiddos, no grown-ups are using these for a relaxing soak.

Most people that end up remodeling ranch houses decide the space is better suited for a larger shower than a bad tub and a bad shower.

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Well that's fair. That's not the market I'll ever be looking for, so don't listen to me.