6 Reasons to Upgrade Your Tub or Shower
Whether you’re bored with an outdated style or frustrated with dated fixtures, there are endless reasons to consider upgrading your tub or shower. Now, upgrade doesn’t necessarily mean replace—there are many small and not-so-small upgrades you can do to your existing tub or shower without breaking the bank. On the other hand, a full replacement is the best way to turn over a new leaf in your bathroom. Your budget, your home, and your plans for your future are all factors to consider when it comes to what sort of upgrades are right for you.
In this article, we’ve compiled thesix reasons to consider an upgrade of any size for your tub or shower.
1. Age
Nothing lasts forever—especially your tub or shower. When plumbing fixtures start to age, they’re more prone to malfunctions caused by everything from limescale buildup to general wear-and-tear. Here’s how years of use can show up in your tub or shower.
Showers
Hard water isn’t kind to showerheads and other fixtures. Over time, calcium buildup can cause clogs, which reduce water pressure. Upgrading to a new showerhead or system may feel like night and day.
Bathtubs
Some bathtub materials last longer than others. While a cast iron tub may be good for generations, a fiberglass tub typically only lasts for 10 to 15 years. Scratches, cracks, dents, and color fade are common. If your bathtub no longer serves its purpose of holding water without leaking, it’s probably time for an upgrade.
2. Use and Accessibility
Your bathroom may not be perfectly suited for its current and future use. For example, if you’re planning to age in your home, or to start a family, your needs as far as a bath and shower are going to be different. Upgrading your bathroom ensures that it’s ready for whatever life throws at it.
Walk-in showers or walk-in tubs are better for accessibility than standard tubs. They’re much easier to get in and out of, and can easily be enhanced with a place to sit or railings to enhance safety. This is why a walk-in shower or walk-in tub is preferred in homes with disabled or elderly people over a traditional tub and shower combo.
On the other hand, parents of babies and toddlers generally find it much easier to bathe their kids in a bath than in a shower. In this case, you may prefer a tub and shower combo or a soaker tub rather than a walk-in shower alone. No matter what your needs are, upgrading your shower or tub is an easy way to make sure they’re met.
3. Design
Style moves quickly in the world of interior design. What seemed like a trendy bathroom at the time may look dated in just a few years. Vinyl shower curtains, muted pastel tile, acrylic tub surrounds, and shiny brass fixtures were staples of bathroom style in decades past, but aren’t exactly groundbreaking now. If you haven’t updated the design of your shower or tub, you may be missing out on the latest and greatest design innovations.
As the focal point of your bathroom, the design of your shower or tub has a big impact on whether or not the room is on trend. Faded colors, chipped tiles, old fashioned fixtures, and antiquated décor can make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time whenever you walk into your bathroom.
Here are some modern touches that can bring your dated tub or shower into the present day:
- Multi-function showerheads, wall jets, rain showerheads, and steam showers
- Glass shower enclosures
- Shower shelving and benches
- Install a soaking tub
4. Fix Leaks, Cracks, and More
A leak of one drop per second can add up significantly—costing up to $1 a month on top of your regular bills. If your shower or tub has multiple leaks, you could be losing money fast. Leaks can also find their way beneath the support layer of the tub, creating a layer of mold and rot underneath the tub and on your flooring. In extreme cases, the continuous leaking can cause floor boards to weaken and even burst out from underneath the tub, causing the tub to cave in or collapse entirely.
Additionally, cracks in the surface of your shower or tub provide a perfect environment for dangerous black mold to grow. Removing black mold is a job in and of itself, and in many cases it may be better to just start over with a fresh mold-free bathroom.
Leaks and cracks can be addressed in a few different ways. Short term solutions include filling in the cracks with caulk or even duct tape. Reglazing or refinishing the tub can temporarily improve the appearance of the tub, and hide minor damage, but the only true long-term solution is to upgrade by replacing the tub entirely and starting fresh.
5. Water Conservation
The average American home uses 100 gallons of water per day, and it’s a fair assumption that most of this water usage occurs in the bathroom. Newer showerheads use less water but deliver the same great shower experience you expect. Showerheads with the EPA’s WaterSense label use 20% less water than regular showerheads. According to OWASA, a family of four can save up to $135 a year by reducing their water usage with a low-flow showerhead.
6. Resale value
Realtor.com points out that bathrooms are one of the main rooms in your home that can make or break a potential buyer’s first impression. Even if they love the rest of your house, an old cracked tub or outdated shower might send them running to the next listing.
However, this doesn’t mean you need to spring for a total remodel. Research shows that even a minor bathroom remodel can provide a significant return on investment. This means that even just refinishing your tub, installing a new showerhead, or replacing your shower doors can pay off in a big way.
Need an upgrade? The sky’s the limit
Dreaming of a bathroom design that’s all your own? Chas Roberts is your best bet when it comes to custom plumbing installations. If you can dream it, we can install it. Don’t believe it? Contact us and experience what sets Chas Roberts apart from the competition.
