One of the first questions in any bathroom remodel is whether to keep the tub or switch to a walk-in shower. There is no single right answer. It depends on who uses the room and how many bathrooms the home has. In our 900 N Garfield renovation in Loveland, we did both: a walk-in shower in the primary bath and a tub in the hall bath.
When a walk-in shower makes sense
- It is the primary bathroom and the adults in the home rarely take baths.
- You want easier access now or as you get older: no tub wall to step over.
- You want the room to feel larger. Clear glass and a single tile run open up the space.
The Garfield primary shower uses tall vertical white tile, a built-in bench, a window for natural light and a frameless glass panel instead of a full door. The bench and the window do a lot of work: one adds comfort, the other keeps the shower bright.
When to keep a tub
- Young kids use the bathroom.
- It is the only bathroom with a tub in the house. Many buyers expect at least one.
- Someone in the home enjoys a soak.
At Garfield the hall bath has a tub, so the home has one of each.
Vanity and storage
If two people get ready at the same time, a double vanity is worth the space. A wood vanity with a quartz top, like the one in this primary bath, adds warmth to an otherwise white room and holds up well to daily use. Pair each sink with its own mirror and light so both sides work.
Details that matter more than they seem
- Ventilation: a properly sized exhaust fan protects paint, grout and cabinets from moisture.
- Lighting: light the face at the mirror, not just the ceiling.
- Finishes: pick one metal finish, like brushed brass, and use it for faucets, lights and hardware.
- Waterproofing: what is behind the tile matters more than the tile itself.
Planning a bathroom remodel?
McWick remodels bathrooms in Loveland, Windsor and across Northern Colorado, from hall bath updates to full primary-suite remodels. See our bathroom remodeling services, or contact us at 970-342-8653 for a free estimate.