Is It Better to Have a Bathtub or Shower?

The bathroom is one of the most essential parts of the house. It is a place where you do most self-care and hygiene activities like taking a bath, brushing your teeth, using the toilet, waxing, and shaving. For many, the bathroom where you can unwind and relieve stress. The typical American bathroom consists of a sink, mirror, toilet, and a place to take a bath. This can either be a bathtub or a shower. Each has its own pros and cons. As a result, homeowners, including future ones, are having a hard time choosing between a bathtub or a shower. To help you decide between these two, we made a list weighing their installation process, advantages, and disadvantages.

Is It Better to Have a Bathtub or Shower?

Bathtubs

A bathtub is a vessel for holding water. It puts a person into a seated position for them to take a bath. Usually, homeowners pick a material based on their bathroom’s theme or color. Some of the materials used in making bathtubs are fiberglass, porcelain, ceramic, acrylic, cultured marble, and stone resin. Depending on the material you choose, a bathtub’s price can vary greatly.

Installation

Installing a bathtub can be a tedious process. There are several factors to consider such as how much weight can the floor handle, the size of the bathtub, the location of water pipes, and even the type of flooring your bathroom has. If you want to have one installed, you have to make sure that you’ve accounted for these considerations.

How to Install a Bathtub

• Locate your house’s mainline
• Turn off the line at the bathroom. This is done to prevent any slipping accidents and to connect the bathtub’s line to the mainline. You may use a wrench to help you close the line’s valves.
• Remove surrounding tiles or drywall around it. Removing these makes it easier for you to access the room’s plumbing and install the bathtub.
• Check if the tub fits in the room’s alcove.
• Make sure that the tub’s drain lines directly to the P-trap.
• Install a ledger board. A ledger board helps support the weight of the bathtub even if it is full of water. Installing this reduces the amount of weight and stress the floor has to carry.
• Attach the drain to the tub and connect the overflow drain.
• Set the tub and make sure that it is level.
• Secure the placement of your bathtub.
• Connect the faucet to the water line and install other accessories.
• Connect the drain to the P-trap.
• Wait for 24 hours before opening it.

Pros and Cons of Having a Bathtub

Pros

1. A great place to relieve tension and stress
2. Easier to give children and pets a bath
3. Increase in property value

Cons

1. Tedious to install, especially when it is DIY
2. Takes a lot of space
3. Consumes larger volumes of water.

Showers

Showers are a type of bath where the person bathes under a spray of water. A standard shower consists of a showerhead and a nozzle. You take a bath in it in a standing-up position. Given its simplistic nature, manufacturers also offer more complex designs for showers. Some of these include showers that swivel, showers that can control the water’s temperature, and showers with spraying modes.

Like bathtubs, showers are also made from several materials like stainless steel, polished nickel, brushed chrome, oil-cupped bronze, and antique brass. Each material has different colors and looks, so choose one that matches your preferences.

Installation

Compared to bathtubs, installing showers is much easier to do. It is very straightforward, so installing it by yourself will not be too big of a problem.

How to install a shower:

• Determine what type of shower to install.
• Identify the location and measurement of your pipes. This is done to know the number of pipes you’ll be using when you install your shower.
• Clean the shower area and remove all dirt and debris
• Dry out the area to prevent damage to your subfloor.
• Place waterproof walls into your shower area.
• Make holes in the wall where you want to place your fixtures and where the pipes are located
• Set the shower pan and drain on the floor. Make sure to align the drain to your drain pipe.
• Ensure that the pan is leveled.
• Place shower panels in your shower area.
• Attach the shower components to the holes that you marked.
• Seal your shower area with a caulk.
• Let it sit for 24 hours.

Pros and Cons of Having a Shower

Pros

1. Less water is used
2. Consumes less energy to heat up your water
3. Takes minimal space

Cons

1. Hard to bathe children and pets in it
2. Requires routine cleaning
3. Water splashes everywhere

In conclusion, neither a bathtub nor a shower is better than the other. It mostly boils down to your personal needs and preferences. If you have children and pets, then you might want to try using a bathtub. If you’re someone who wants to save water, energy, and space, then a shower may be better for you. Considering their individual pros and cons as well as assessing how difficult they might be to install is a good way to know which option is best for you.

Additional Reading: Bathroom trends 2021 – 19 inspiring new looks for your bathroom

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