Bathtub decision

[pinkytoe]

I could be very frugal and overlook the dingy upstairs 1960s bathtub but it gets to me every time I use it. Totally functional but it was re-surfaced at some point and the enamel is starting to come off in places so the original pinky fleshy color shows through the white. There was also a shower door with a track that we removed and all that paint came off too. Since we haven't had any luck finding an abode back in TX, I guess we're here for a while longer and I would like to do something with the tub. Three options - 1) have it resurfaced one more time 2) have a new tub installed or 3) gut and replace with walk-in shower and I guess 4) clean it up as best I can and leave it alone. Thoughts?

[Simplemind]

We are looking to splurge and replace ours with a walk-in shower. I'm very attracted to the built ins they have. DH is just recovering from his second broken foot that required surgery and he would have loved something that was easier to get in and out of. We never ever use the tub anymore.

[Teacher Terry]

Make sure you have one bathtub in the house for resale purposes. In my last house we put in 2 walk in showers and loved them. We also put in a tub we never used.

[iris lilies]

Make sure you have one bathtub in the house for resale purposes. In my last house we put in 2 walk in showers and loved them. We also put in a tub we never used.
Yeah, this is what we are doing. We have tiny bathrooms in Hermann that offer space for one or the other, tub or walk-in shower. Our city house has room for both in the big bathroom.

So in Hermann we will have one walkin Shower and one bathtub.

[pinkytoe]

Upstairs will stay a bathtub but if we ever do a walk in shower it would be in the walk-out basement bathroom.

[catherine]

If you have two bathrooms, I think one with a walk-in and one with a tub/shower combo would be best. If you can re-porcelain the tub inexpensively, that might suffice, but my gut feel is to replace the tub with a standard contractor-grade tub which should be pretty cheap. You will probably eventually be selling your house when the market breaks, and it will be worth it to have a decent tub in there.

SIDEBAR/UPDATE: If you all recall, I was debating on removing my clawfoot tub last year and turning it into a walk-in, leaving us with an indoor shower and an outdoor shower, but no tub. We managed to keep the clawfoot by putting up 3 grab bars, getting a medical stool for getting into the tub, and adding an adjustable slide-bar shower head as well as shower curtains.

It's safe, very functional, and I get to have my tub. I am SO glad. I still love soaking in the tub and the way we've done it, it's like a little cave of serenity in there.

Plus, DH's mobility has actually improved considerably. He's lost 50 lbs, and is much more active--he was out standing all day in the lake water this weekend repairing the propeller on his boat. So I'm not as worried about him now, and he's very happy with our tub/shower.

[jp1]

Do you like taking baths? Or do you prefer showers. We’re planning to replace the monster size tub in our master at some point with a nice walk in shower. Neither of us takes baths and the hall bath will still have a tub for resale. If either of us enjoyed baths we would probably keep the bathtub since it’s in good shape although we would have a monster size water bill to match it if we bathed in it very often.

[catherine]

Do you like taking baths? Or do you prefer showers. We’re planning to replace the monster size tub in our master at some point with a nice walk in shower. Neither of us takes baths and the hall bath will still have a tub for resale. If either of us enjoyed baths we would probably keep the bathtub since it’s in good shape although we would have a monster size water bill to match it if we bathed in it very often.

I do like baths. And this tub is a traditional, slightly shorter, old clawfoot tub. I love it. I fit in it perfectly, and it's comfortable. I would not be thrilled with a big 80s jacuzzi-style tub. To me that's a horrible waste of water, and they're not attractive and probably very seldom used by the owners. If you don't like baths, I would definitely just CYA with something; changing the big tub to a large walk-in would probably make you a lot happier.

[iris lilies]

I do like baths. And this tub is a traditional, slightly shorter, old clawfoot tub. I love it. I fit in it perfectly, and it's comfortable. I would not be thrilled with a big 80s jacuzzi-style tub. To me that's a horrible waste of water, and they're not attractive and probably very seldom used by the owners. If you don't like baths, I would definitely just CYA with something; changing the big tub to a large walk-in would probably make you a lot happier.


the giant jacuzzi style,tubs are awful indeed. We have one since we did our bathroom renovation in the early 90’s. Ugh, have NEVER used it.

[Simplemind]

We have a wonderful spa out on our deck. I sit in it every night before I go to bed. When we bought it people said we would use it at first and then it would sit there. 14 years later it still gets almost nightly use. I haven't sat inside in either of the tubs since we put the spa in. I would love a walk in shower in our bath off the master and I would leave the tub in the main bathroom. I would absolutely hate one of those huge bathroom spa monstrosities.

[Yppej]

Pinkytoe have you run the your money or your life analysis to see how much time you would have to work to pay for the work if you have it done?

[SteveinMN]

Over the years I've looked at resurfacing the enamel sinks/tubs in this house. What I've read is that it's an okay idea for tubs and bathroom sinks and a bad idea for kitchen sinks, which are far more likely to see hard or sharp items dropped into them or banged into them. Right now we're looking at replacing the main bath tub; 50 years of adults, kids, pets, and whoever knows what else was tossed in there to get washed. It's so scratched that it can't be kept clean any more. But it's enamel on cast iron and getting it out will be a bear, only to be replaced (budget) by something much less durable (or, to me, attractive).

pinkytoe, if you really plan to be out of that house within a few years, I'd consider resurfacing (after asking the resurfacing people if they can do it again). Cheaper than replacing the tub and you'll be out of there before it becomes an issue that someone else can spend money to deal with (they might want a deeper tub or a bath remodel or a different color; let them decide). Otherwise I'd go with a new white tub, avoid scratching it, and call it good.

[iris lilies]

My 96 year old bathtub in my condo is in fine shape. Amazing that some of them last this long.It is not a claw foot.

I grew up in Victorian or turn of the century houses with claw foot tubs.

[Tybee]

The clawfoots are so pretty, and all I can see now when I look at them is a potential broken hip.

My Savannah grandparents had one until they died, though, and they never broke a hip.