Shower question, esp if you have a large family

[Seahorse]

I recently moved house and although most things are 'ok', there's a lot of scope for improvement.

At the moment, I'm looking at what to do with the former downstairs loo. At the mo it's completely empty. I definitely want the loo reinstating (plumbing all seems to be still there etc) and of course that means a basin too. But should I go for a shower as well?

I already have an ensuite shower, plus an 'over bath' one (that I shall probably have replaced with an electric one). Plus the bath itself, of course. However, I have four children, so in theory at least, there could be five people (plus guests on occasion) wanting to get clean at about the same time. My kids are still little though (all under 12) so we're not into the realms of going out on a friday night etc yet.

Can anyone with a similarly large family tell me whether they think a third shower is 'a fabulous idea' or 'probably a waste of money, really'? It's not just the money either - I think the space I have would make quite a generous cloakroom but a rather 'compact' shower room.

What to do

[tattieman]

You could turn it into a wet room but do you want visitors to your house walking into your shower aswell?
Is the room big enough that you could dry your self in it or would you have to go out of the room to do it?
Wet rooms are very popular in Italy and very simple to do.

[Comfreyfan]

My family have mostly moved out now, but when they all come home together it brings back memories of all fighting over the shower(s), and it doesn't get any easier as they get older! So my vote would be for another shower.

We have a similar small space which we've measured in all ways trying to fit in a shower cabinet. But after staying at a holiday cottage with one, I think a wet room may be the way to go (probably with a shower curtain though - OH gets as much water everywhere as the kids ever did!)

[Hilary B]

Wet room has advantages, but can be expensive to do properly, and of course, if you actually want to use a 'cloakroom' to store coats or similar, a wetroom cannot be 'dual purpose'. Just how big is the room? I have seen a viable shower-room 3ft by 6ft, with the door in the middle of the long side (handbasin opposite the door, and has to be a smaller-than-usual type), but that was tight!
Try it out on squared paper (draw the room to scale, and cut out scale shapes of fittings, then see how much space you would actually have left over). That is a good method for planning a fitted kitchen as well, or almost any room!

[Flummery]

If everyone wanted a shower at once (the danger with lots of showers!) will the water pressure be up to the job?

[Seahorse]

Wet room has advantages, but can be expensive to do properly, and of course, if you actually want to use a 'cloakroom' to store coats or similar, a wetroom cannot be 'dual purpose'. Just how big is the room? I have seen a viable shower-room 3ft by 6ft, with the door in the middle of the long side (handbasin opposite the door, and has to be a smaller-than-usual type), but that was tight!
Try it out on squared paper (draw the room to scale, and cut out scale shapes of fittings, then see how much space you would actually have left over). That is a good method for planning a fitted kitchen as well, or almost any room!

I'd looked at the wetroom idea but thought it might be too pricey to have done 'nicely'. The dimensions are a bit weird. In effect, I've got two very small rooms next to each other, with a connecting door (as well as the main door). The room where the original loo was is 5' x 4' 9". The room next to it (which is where the door off the corridor is too) is 5' x 3' 3". So, I could have (I think) either the loo and basin in the bigger one, no shower and coats/wellies/shelf space in the smaller room *or* loo and shower in the bigger room and basin in the smaller one but little or no space for 'stuff'. I could possibly knock them all into one big room (measuring about 5' x 8') but the adjoining wall is an original outside wall, so that would mean an RSJ and quite a bit more 'faff'.

I'm not sure if the above is very easy to visualise! I can upload a sketch if anyone is interested!

If everyone wanted a shower at once (the danger with lots of showers!) will the water pressure be up to the job?

Not thought of that Flum. How would I be able to find out

You could turn it into a wet room but do you want visitors to your house walking into your shower aswell?
Is the room big enough that you could dry your self in it or would you have to go out of the room to do it?
Wet rooms are very popular in Italy and very simple to do.

You mean like a 'shareable' wetroom? Might work! As above, you could just about get dried off within the room.

My family have mostly moved out now, but when they all come home together it brings back memories of all fighting over the shower(s), and it doesn't get any easier as they get older! So my vote would be for another shower.

Cheers, that's just the sort of useful info I need

[squashysu]

Go for the shower, we have 3, we moved here because of the toilet/shower situation even though the kids are 12 & 7!! The downstairs shower room is fab and has the addition of being an electric shower whilst the upstairs ones are run off the tank, so if ever the HW doesnt go on (because children press buttons) you can still have a shower.

Best thing ever I say! Nothing to lose, people will always like more bathrooms !

[zazen999]

I think having an additional shower does increase the house value as well, whereas a cloakroom doesn't.

[Flummery]

Not thought of that Flum. How would I be able to find out

Ask a plummer?

[Alice]

If everyone wanted a shower at once (the danger with lots of showers!) will the water pressure be up to the job?

You could check it out by turning in the shower, flush the toilet and turn on a tap and see what happens to the shower.

[Marthaclematis]

Why don't you get in touch with one of the Kitchen/bathroom specialists and ask them to come and have a look. You don't need to tell them that you're not going to use their services but they can tell you exactly what you can have and they will come up with a plan if you like. You can then either take their advice and ideas and then do it yourself or pay them to do it for you.

[Marthaclematis]

PS. We have a three storey house with an extra shower in the utility room on the ground floor. The family we bought from had two teenagers and said it was a godsend to them. We also have a loo down there and that really is necessary for a family with children.... its two floors up to the other one! Ours comes in very handy for guests as the guest bedroom is down there too.

[lynda66]

eeeee it's all so different to when, as kids, we all had one bath a week on a sunday, and i got to go in first cos i was littlest, and supposedly less dirty ...... and if my sister had really annoyed me i could wee in the bath water just before i got out

[Hilary B]

I'd looked at the wetroom idea but thought it might be too pricey to have done 'nicely'. The dimensions are a bit weird. In effect, I've got two very small rooms next to each other, with a connecting door (as well as the main door). The room where the original loo was is 5' x 4' 9". The room next to it (which is where the door off the corridor is too) is 5' x 3' 3". So, I could have (I think) either the loo and basin in the bigger one, no shower and coats/wellies/shelf space in the smaller room *or* loo and shower in the bigger room and basin in the smaller one but little or no space for 'stuff'. I could possibly knock them all into one big room (measuring about 5' x 8') but the adjoining wall is an original outside wall, so that would mean an RSJ and quite a bit more 'faff'.

I'm not sure if the above is very easy to visualise! I can upload a sketch if anyone is interested!

You might (with a bit of clever design) get loo, shower AND handbasin in the larger room, even if it meant having a 'caravan size' handbasin. That way you could still keep coats etc in the other bit. A sketch of layout/door position etc might make it easier to visualise.

[SarzWix]

Jez used to design bathrooms for a living, and it was amazing what could be squeezed into a small space! There are lots of things designed to fit these days - corner loos & tiny washbasins, all different shapes & sizes of showers. It really would be worth going to a bathroom design place, even if you don't go ahead & buy from them, just to get an idea of what's possible.
I'd definitely go for the shower if it can be done. I'm one of 4 girls and when we all wanted to get ready at the same time just having one bathroom was a nightmare We only have one now, and it's already getting difficult in a morning. Heaven knows how we'll cope when DD hits her teens