Who Actually Uses Your Only Bathroom?
Start with the people, not the fittings. Write down everyone who uses the bathroom in a normal week and how they wash. If nobody has taken a bath in a year, you already have part of your answer.
If the bath gets used, find out why. Is it for children, for a long soak after a day on your feet, or for rinsing muddy boots and washing the dog? Each of those has a different answer.
What if I Have Young Children?
Babies and toddlers are often easier to wash in a bath. Some families keep the bath for a few years, then convert it once the children can shower. Others choose a shower bath, which has a wider end to stand in, so one room does both jobs.
If you decide to keep a bath, a new one can still make the room feel fresh. Our bath installation page explains the sizes and shapes we fit.
What if Getting in and Out Is Getting Harder?
A high bath edge is a difficult step for some people. A low tray with a glass screen or a level wet room floor is usually easier to enter, and you can add a seat or a grab rail. Think about the next ten years, as well as today.
Our accessible bathrooms page and the guide to adaptation funding are a good place to start.
Not sure which suits your home?
How Much Space Do You Get Back?
A standard bath takes up a lot of room. A shower in the same space can leave you a bigger tray, space for a vanity, or a clearer walkway. In a small room that can change how the bathroom feels every day.
A compact bath is another route. It keeps the bath and frees up a little floor for storage. We measure the room, so we can tell you what really fits before you commit. Our small bathroom specialists page covers compact layouts.
What About the Next Owner?
People often worry that a home with no bath is harder to sell. We cannot promise what a buyer will want, because it depends on the buyer and the property. An estate agent who knows your street is the person to ask.
If you have a second bathroom or a bath you rarely use, losing one is easier to justify. If it is your only bath, think harder. Our guide to bathroom value goes into more detail.
Does One Cost More Than the Other?
Not in a simple way. We price both through our packages, which start from £4,699 for Essential, £6,499 for Mid-range and £8,999 for Premium, each covering design, supply and fitting. The figure depends on the products, the walls and the state of the floor and waste.
| Option | What to think about | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Keep and replace the bath | Fitting a new bath and screen. A shower bath can give you a shower as well. | Bath installation |
| Walk-in shower on a tray | A low tray and a glass screen in the old bath space. | Bath to shower conversion |
| Level wet room floor | A formed, waterproofed floor with no tray. Needs a floor that suits it. | Wet rooms |
New bathroom starting from £22 per week*. *Indicative starting figure. Finance subject to status, application and affordability. Terms apply. See the package details for what is included in each range.
Your written quote lists the products and the work, once we have seen the room. For worked figures on the shower route, read what a bath to walk-in shower costs.
What if the Home Is Rented Out?
If you are a landlord, think about who your tenants are likely to be. Families often look for a bath, and sharers or professionals often prefer a good shower. We cannot tell you which suits your let, but we can show you what each option involves in the room you have.
Can I Keep a Bath and Have a Shower?
Yes, in many rooms. A shower over the bath is the classic answer, and a shower bath improves on it with a wider standing area. In a larger room you might fit a separate tray and a bath.
The decision depends on the room, so we measure first. Our earlier comparison sets the two options side by side, and our bath to shower conversion and walk-in shower pages show the work involved.
A Quick Test for Your Household
Ask yourself these four questions:
- Did anyone use the bath in the last month?
- Will anyone in the house need a bath in the next few years?
- Is the bath edge already a worry for anyone?
- Would a bigger shower or more storage change how you use the room?
If the answers lean to no, no, yes, yes, a walk-in shower is probably the right call. If they lean the other way, a new bath or a shower bath is likely to suit you better. Mixed answers mean a conversation is worth having.
What Is the Next Step?
We cover all of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. We have no showroom. We come to your home, measure the room, check the floor and waste route, and show you both options in your own light. You then get a written quote. The phone line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.