I am considering taking the bath out and having one of these self-contained shower units. A friend has just installed one, and its all singing and dancing.It has a phone/radio etc.But are they any good? Are they just the latest gimmick? I like the concept of the shower, easy access etc. Any info much appreciated.thanks.

I could never do without a bath.  I have a tiny bathroom so opted for a small bath (only 120cm long), with shower over and folding shower screen, when I redid my bathroom to give a bit more space.

You need to think of resale too, as most people with children would prefer to have a bath.  If it is a shower in addition to a bath then go for it.  Personally I dislike showers, because I like a good soak :)

We are thinking about doing the same as we rarely get time to have a bath and if we did there is one in the upstairs unsuite.

I am not sure about the self contained one but we were thinking about a wet room. That way it would be easier to shower the girls after a very muddy walk in the winter and probably alot easier to clean :-)

Wet rooms should only be constructed downstairs, unless your upstairs floor is made of concrete. I've read it's impossible to guarantee water-tightness upstairs otherwise!

Showers are all very well, but a bath is so much more relaxing!

I hear what you are saying, and have thought about this, but it is a case of having to...I wouldnt do it, as I use to like a bath too.
These units seem to fit the purpose for me but I am still cautious.They dont seem to have a brand as such, and my friend paid 2000 pounds to have one and installation.
However they fetch 500 on Ebay for the same unit. I hate to waste money on something that is not going to be what I thought!

The bathroom is downstairs here luckily as we have a converted Dorma Bungalow :-)

It is when you can get time to relax in bath ! It is very rarely it happens :-)

Our next door neighbours, elderly couple, took their bath out and had a shower put in......their house lost money, the estate agent told them if they had left the bath, no matter what condition they would have got more for it when they sold it.

I personally love a soak in the bath, although it doesn't happen that often having 3 teenage daughters.....lol.

Here I have to wait until everyone is in bed or have a bath when they are out to get some peace :D

hubby fancies one of those in the en suite

we're lucky, we have a downstairs shower room which I intend converting into a larger shower area so we can get the dogs in, as well as a large bathroom upstairs, which I want to put a large whirlpool bath like in our last house....but I rarely get chance for a soak..it's usually when everyone else has gone to bed...

Hi ponk,

TBH I agree with most others that a bath is an advantage - whether for a relaxing soak, soothing away aches & pains, inhaling steam and clearing the sinus when we have colds/flu etc OR if selling up :)  Most folks may prefer a daily morning shower for work, school etc but I've not met anyone yet who has not regretted removing their bath altogether.

Re the units you're referring to - personally I think they are far too gimmicky, decidedly unattractive and unlikely to retain (if they've yet achieved) popularity.  They will almost certainly date quickly and be just as much a tell tale sign of one hit wonder fashion as wallpaper borders are now - except MUCH more expensive to put right!  Think of the horror of the avocado suites still unearthed in 70's and 80's properties - IMO the whirlpool baths and OTT shower units are headed for the same end although probably sooner rather than later :)

Re wet rooms - wouldn't have one if paid to.  Again, a fashionable "must have" but not in the least practical unless you live alone or everyone has their own en suite :)  One wet room, two adults, a child and a family pet (or 2,3,4 LOL) all traipsing in one after t'other onto a wet floor.  The only one enjoying the benefit of the more comfortable oprtion (i.e. starting off with a DRY floor) is the one first in!  So OH has his shower, comes out and goes off to get dried & dressed.  Kids go on - bare feet just out of bed on a now COLD wet floor or wear slippers and get them wet instead?  Mum eventually gets in after everyone else is done and floor is cold, wet, room too steamed up to utilise mirror, too uncomfortable to hang about applying any body lotion, moisturiser, make-up etc.  Dog(s) pop in to say hi - wet paws then resurface in the bedroom.  As with all the (human) feet before them, there's a trail of wet footprints whether on carpets, wood flooring, laminate etc or alternatively a row of slippers (but not for the dogs!) drying off under a radiator.  Not that glamorous a scene now is it????

Nope, if you want to have a really stylish bathroom go for something understated - there are some fabulous baths out there nowadays (whether free standing or shaped for a shower area which look fab when with an attractive plain glass screen ).  Have a separate walk in shower if space permits but an over bath one is a better option than ditching the bath entirely :) 

What I'd strongly recommend is that you buy the most expensive fittings you can afford for taps, shower heads, valves, soap dispensers, towel rails, toilet roll holder etc and even a very plain and inexpensive suite can be transformed into something that looks a million dollars :) and ensure you go for tiling that is not too much of a "fashion" statement - otherwise we're back to the avocado scenario again LOL.

HTH, kind regards,
Teri

If you're doing up the bathroom and getting the dogs into the bath is an issue what about considering a walk in bath??? they are designed for old people so you can swing open the panel and close it like a door then sit in the bath and soak. Not sure how it works with humans as you need to get in before you fill it up but with dogs it would be perfect and would mean you dont lose value etc. Not sure how much these baths cost though-probably a lot.
Im not a great fan of the wet rooms. Traditional showers can be a little restrictive but 1 1/2 showers (i.e half a size bigger) are really quite spacious. Showering in a wet room reminds me of communal showers like at the swimming pool and also, you can feel every draft.

We took the bath out at our old house, never regretted it once until we came to sell it.. So many people said oh, its a "shower room" not a bath room.. It made the room alot bigger & we did have lovely big corner shower put in but it still affected it when trying to sell.. We were the first time family type home so young kids etc.. :) Must admit, now we have a house with a large bathroom & a bath again I have used it alot more :) :)

You can get some of the steam showers that are also mini baths - although obviously they are walk in so I have no idea how you fill them etc etc.

If you are friendly with any tradesmen you can get them MILES cheaper if they can get to a trade place called Stax (OH can get steam cabinets from about £550, and famous bath selling places charge around £1700 for the same thing, excluding fitting!) - along with fiitings for the rest of your bathroom if required.

My grandparents have a wet room upstairs as they were finding it incredibly difficult to get into their ancient bath that had sides sooooo high it was unbelieveable.  The Council fit and paid for it and they have had no problems with it for the eight or so years it has been in.  I have heard horror stories about them though so do be careful and do your research as JG said.