ᐅ Is a second bathroom with a shower useful?

Created on: 3 Jul 2016 20:12
M
Madira
Hello,

for a while now, we have been considering whether adding a second shower bathroom makes sense or not.
Currently, we are two adults and a nearly 6-year-old child.

On the ground floor (GF), we have a small guest toilet without a shower.
On the upper floor (UF), there is the main bathroom with both a shower and a bathtub. The bedroom and a child’s room will also be on this floor for now.
In the attic floor (AF), we could install an additional shower bathroom.
This floor currently houses the office/guest room (14m² (150 sq ft)) as well as another child’s room (17m² (183 sq ft)), potentially for another child in the future.

We are building a semi-detached house with a developer and cannot decide yet.

Our current pros and cons list:

Pros:
- A dedicated shower for guests on the same floor
- When the child gets older and possibly moves upstairs or has visitors, there would be a private area there
- If our family eventually grows to four (one adult plus two school-age children who would need to leave the house at the same time), there would be an additional bathroom so no one has to wait. Besides, there is still the guest toilet.

Cons:
- Additional costs that could probably be better allocated elsewhere
- In my youth, there was only one bathroom with a bathtub for everyone, and it worked fine
- When we visited others, we often didn’t have a private shower bathroom either, which didn’t bother us at all
- We currently have a very small bathroom with only a shower, and so far there have been no problems, even with guests.

Another factor, if we decide on another shower bathroom, besides the price, is the level of completion. There are three options:
1. Installation of supply lines for hot and cold water, including ventilation preparation
2. Shower bathroom preparation (requires option 1), including wall construction, electrical outlets, and lighting
3. Final completion (requires options 1 and 2), including shower tray (likely shower screen too), sink, and toilet

Tiling would be extra as well.

We considered selecting only the supply line installation initially and then building the walls later.
However, the question would be how lighting and electricity would be handled then.
Also, the entire attic floor would need to be altered and renewed later.

Or rather choose options 1 and 2 now and complete the final finishing later.

Perhaps others here have additional pros or cons to share.

Thank you.
S
Steffi33
4 Jul 2016 22:29
Until a few years ago, there were four of us living in the house. We always found our two bathrooms (with only one shower) very convenient. However, we never missed having a second shower. In the mornings, hardly anyone showered here. During the day or evening, the shower was usually free. Besides, we were all very active in sports and always showered at the club. Best regards, Steffi33.
D
Doc.Schnaggls
5 Jul 2016 09:23
Hello,

If I were you, I would have the bathroom in the attic fully completed right away.

As others have mentioned, it is very likely that it will only remain at the preparation stage otherwise.

If you do manage to get around to finishing it later, you will have a construction site in the house again with the usual side effects (noise, dust, “chaos,” etc.).

We really appreciate having a second bathroom that can also be used by guests – it may be a matter of certain expectations or even “luxury,” but for me, a bathroom that I don’t have to share with guests is a comfort feature I’m not willing to give up.

With current interest rates, a loan of EUR 10,000.00 (about USD 11,000) more isn’t too painful either…

Best regards,

Dirk
L
Legurit
5 Jul 2016 09:45
To put it in numbers and follow the good practice of major electrical supply stores: €10,000 at 1.7% means a monthly additional cost (interest) of only an incredible €14! Unfortunately, you also have to pay it back afterwards (which is the case even if you do it later).
Musketier5 Jul 2016 12:43
However, if the repayment then extends the term, the 10,000€ quickly turn into 20,000€.
L
Legurit
5 Jul 2016 12:51
Maybe not 20, but gladly 15, assuming you pay off the 10,000 € at the end after 20 years.
Musketier5 Jul 2016 13:10
It might be that, under the current interest rate conditions, a 20-year repayment period no longer fits.
With my 2.9% interest rate and 2% initial repayment, 10,000 euros more or less had the effect of around 25,000 euros.