Bathroom Remodel - Ditching a Tub for a Shower?

[Alexandra316]

Hello all! We are going to be remodelling the bathroom in our primary Airbnb space in March, and we are thinking of getting rid of the bathtub and replacing it with a walk-in shower only. Have you done this, or do you have an Airbnb apartment that only has a shower? I've stayed in them, and I personally like it. Our bathtub is nothing to write home about, and we don't really get many families staying, so I don't think it's ever used as a tub. Most of our guests are adults who are visitng the area for winery tours or weddings. Our secondary Airbnb also has a walk-in shower, but there are two bathrooms and the other one has a tub so it's less of a concern.

I'd love any feedback: is this a bad idea? Is this a good idea? Would it put you off staying with us?

Here are a couple of pics to give an idea of what it's like now.

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Alexandra316 - if you take out that drop ceiling and put up new green board (which I whole-heartedly suggest), you will probably get back the inches you need. 

[Alexandra316]

@Alice-and-Jeff0 Sadly not: there is no room at all above it. We are removing it, though. I don't know what kind of monster puts a drop ceiling in a bathroom in the first place, but there you go!

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Alexandra316 - After I posted it occurred to me that the non-standard might be the width, not the height, but it sounds like it is the height that's non-standard.  If that's the case, not knowing enough about Canadian Building laws and permits, you may be in a pickle to replace the tub because it would require you to bring the standard up to current code because you will be removing a feature that needs new plumbing work.  That's the way it would work in the states.  I don't want to rain on your parade, so hopefully I am wrong.  In the States, you wouldn't be able to get a permit to do the new plumbing work without it in most areas.  

[Alexandra316]

@Alice-and-Jeff0 We don't have to get inspections for retrofits of existing spaces, thankfully, if you're just replacing exactly what's there. The building inspector in our area is extremely lax, even for new construction: before we moved in, the previous owners (who are now friends) built a kind of garage building at the back of the property (basically a second house - it's heated, cooled, insulated, has running water, etc). The building inspector said, "Well, your place is on my way home, so I'll just look out my car window to see how it looks." Obviously very diligient about his job.

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Alexandra316 - that's good to know.  Here, by removing the tub and installing a new shower pan, moving the knobs, removing the spigot, and moving the drain - all which you'll need to do to have only a shower - would not be considered a retrofit.  Also, because of all the new plumbing, copper sautering/pvc joining, and drain water flow, not to mention any structural issues with removing the cast tub, plus the fact that it's a rental and not your personal home would require city permits and inspections.  Glad to hear that it's not the case there!  

[Paul154]

I'm currently doing a tub to shower conversion.

I'm very excited to minimize my cleaning efforts.

I'm also going to use a curtain - Glass showers doors are a time waster and must always be perfectly clear.

Please understand, I am not going for the luxury client. My clientele are more budget priced people who need clean digs.  

Time and effort = money.  Bathtubs are money losers for me.

[Dawn162]

Here is another point of view.  If and when you decide to sell the property, you are narrowing the scope of buyers.  Families with children absolutely need a bathtub.  For the airbnb, I wouldn't be to worried about keeping the tub.  With it gone, you can put in a nice shower and make the room look bigger.  Here are photos of my renovated bathroom.  There was a bath tub prior to renovation.  Because this is my main household, I wanted a jetted tub.  So now someone else can benefit.  FYI;  we are on a well pump, so we don't have to worry about the water bill.  The tub has a heater, so you don't strain the hot water heater.

[Alexandra316]

@Dawn162 I really like your tile: I love that lantern shape. Your bathroom looks great!

[Dawn162]

Thank you for the compliment.  I am so happy with how the bathroom turned out.  I haven't even has a chance to take a bath.  First guest checks out on Sunday and I plan on jumping in that tub and enjoying a soothing soak with the jets.

Hubby doesn't know, so he will be surprised when I asked for a tv up in the corner.  Then I can watch tv while I am soaking.   If that won't be allowed, then a built in sound system, of some sort.  (Nothing expensive) It will be on my xmas list.  

[Rebecca181]

@Lizzie Thank you for inviting me to contribute! I am a self-taught interior designer and I had a lot of fun making over the beach cottage we currrently rent out to guests. @Alexandra316 - My answer is based on seeing the size of your bathroom. It has a lot of great potential, but unless you can knock out a wall somewhere near the tub, it will be difficult for you to put in the kind of grand 'soaking' jacuzzi-style tub that certain people seek out when vacationing. My recommendation is that you go with a shower, but make it a shower surround (this is what I have in my two Master En Suites); I suggest you go as high end as you can, but not so much that it is out of place in the rest of your home. Big shower heads with massage features are always a hit; and shower heads that allow for a good amount of water pressure, and that allow for very tall people or very short people to use easily (a contractor can also help advise you on this.)

You have enough room there to make a really wonderful space. If you haven't already, do lots of searches on google and pininterest and see what other people have done with smaller bathroom spaces. Offer at least one special amenity in this bathroom (could be the high end shower head; high end shampoo / conditioner / body wash dispenser with first class products) and definitely plush towels and a generous supply of toiletries; and few will miss having the bath. 

I am able to attract the 'bath-loving' guest even though I do not have baths in my bathrooms by offering a hot tub. Hot Tubs need to be carefully maintained and can be a bit of a pain but I get many bookings specifically because of it (I cater to solos, couples, and small groups and people celebrating special occasions). 

In my bathrooms, I also carried over the nautical-theme that is in the rest of my beach cottage; I am includng a photo of one of the Master suite bathrooms I designed and made over with the shower surround. As you can see, the glass doors are frosted, so they allow for a lighter feel to the room, but are very easy to clean without the pressure to make sure the doors are 'crystal clear'.

I'd love to see your bathroom when it is finished, and to hear about your progress on this thread!

[Sarah977]

indoor/outdoor showershower floor done in pool tiles

[Alexandra316]

Wow @Sarah0 that's really nice. I like the iridescent tile.

[J-Renato0]

Hi @Lizzie @Alexandra316

Giving my opinion here!

I would say, keep the bath/shower combo.
On a daily basis, I take only a shower. Anyway  I think it is good to find a bath after a long and tiring flight! 🙂 . It is just an extra amenity.

Moreover, I would not say that having a bathtub is a necessary condition to attract families. Shower box is enough.

Advantages of having the bath/shower combo:
Easier to clean, because it does have squared angles and it is very smooth.
Notice that hotels such as Hilton and Marriott have bathtub in all bathroom. Why? It is esier to clean! The mold between tiles usually appears very close to the ground. By having a bathtub that has no right angles (the junctions are curved) and are very smooth, they avoid mold and the difficulty to remove it. The cleaners can do the cleaning in a second.
The other advantage is that, the guest has two options, the shower and the bathtub.
Disadvantage: More water consume if the renter/guest use the bathtub everyday. But it is not usual.

Anyway I have to say that, I did not practice what I have just preached!
When I renovated the bathroom of one of my properties I decided to remove the old bathtub made of iron.To replace the old one for a brand new one, it would be somewhat expensive, considering costs with materials and workers. There was also technicall details involved that would demand more money at that moment. Anyway, maybe some day, I may have a bathtub installed in that bathroom again.

[Ben205]

@Alexandra316A shower and a bath is much preferable to a bath with an over shower. I would never choose to use that - just always feels a bit odd.

Anyway, why I've posted again is to say, the thing that makes our bathroom is probably not the shower (or basin or toilet) but the choice of heating. We went for an infra-red Heatscope ceiling heater. Not cheap, but almost instant heat and a great feeling when you step out the shower on a cool day.

Check them out, and if you can afford one, I'd really recommend it (have put one in at home, too!).

[Alexandra316]

@Ben205 I have encountered those quite a few times in England, but never here. I don't know why that is: they are nice. Excellent when you get out of the shower, as you say.