Walk-in Shower vs. Bathtub: What Should You Invest In

So, what’s better, a shower cubicle or a bathtub? You see, this is a long-disputed argument, one which ultimately comes down to one thing, and that’s your preference. However, there are still a lot of factors involved in selecting either of the two options. These primarily include your bathroom design, space, usage, affordability, maintenance, etc. While a lot of people will swear by the comfort and opulence of a bathtub, others will almost spontaneously agree that nothing beats the functionality and ease of a walk-in shower enclosure.

The aim of this article isn’t solely helping you decide what’s the better option. Rather, it’s helping you decide which option will ultimately be better for you in light of comfortability, ease of maintenance, and functionality. So here goes…

Adequate Space in your Bathroom

When it comes to installing a shower enclosure or a bathtub, it will mostly come down to one thing, and that’s the amount of available space in your bathroom. Now while we can all agree that a shower enclosure will take up considerably more space than a bathtub, it’s important to understand the ‘type’ of space it takes.

For example, bathtubs will take up plenty of horizontal space, which can be an issue. On the other hand, shower cubicles will take up vertical space, which is in our opinion, a much better option. A bathtub won’t add any aesthetic value or functionality in an already small bathroom, whereas a shower cubicle would be a perfect fit in line with the design and space of the room.

Functionality Over Aesthetics

Apart from the space in your bathroom, another important consideration is the people using either of the fixtures. You see, one of the best advantages of a walk in shower enclosure is the fact that it’s safe to use for people with mobility issues.

This means it’s going to be easier for seniors living with you. Modern shower cubicles come with a slew of safety features such as non-slip flooring, bars, and a seat/bench. This can make it simpler for seniors or other people with mobility complications to access the enclosure and take a comfortable bath.

Moreover, all these features are built-in seamlessly. This means you won’t have to step over and into the enclosure. Today’s shower enclosures are designed to extend to the bathroom tiles and the surrounding walls. All you have to do is open the door to the enclosure, step in, sit down, and enjoy a nice, warm bath.

However, depending on the frequency of usage, you’ll have to be mindful of maintaining the silicone or rubber that’s installed directly under the shower enclosure door. As soon as you see material wear and tear, have it promptly replaced.

A bathtub, on the other hand is a slightly better option than a walk in enclosure if you have kids. While managing kid showers in the enclosure isn’t difficult, a bathtub is a wonderful option if you have small children and want to bathe them all at once.

Aesthetics are also Important

There’s no doubt, shower cubicles have a pretty nice aesthetic vibe thanks to their modern fiberglass deign. It’s important to understand that aesthetics play an instrumental role, especially if you decide to sell your house. Showers are a preferred option for most young people and potential buyers.

However, it’s also important to consider that walk in showers come in plenty of design variants and at different price points. This means, the higher the price range the most aesthetically pleasing the design and overall build quality. Cheaper or budget shower enclosures aren’t that pleasing to look at. So, if you want more opulence with the right functionality, you’ll probably have to invest in something like a Turkish bath, which is basically a freestanding shower enclosure that comes with a nice, glossy matte finish.

Looking at the Health Advantages of Shower Enclosures and Bathtubs

When it comes to health benefits, there’s really no denying that a bathtub is going to help relieve a lot of stress and tension in your muscles, provide relaxation after a long day at work, and is better to heal sore muscles and improve injury recovery. In addition, you could also opt for modern bathtubs that come with built-in water jets, providing a more spa-like experience.

Purely from a psychological perspective, it’s been long known that the acoustics created by running water can be a source of mental calmness. That’s why baths have been used for more than a millennium. The waterjets in modern bathtubs are known to help provide rejuvenating effects for the skin, making it softer. Plus, these bathtubs are also great for improving your mood too.

In addition, you can also add a lot of healing and anti-aging or detoxification soaps in the water for enhanced skin hydration. Bath salts are also popularly used by athletes to improve injury recovery and are known to minimize inflammation.

Sure, showering also comes with all these health benefits but to a smaller extent. You can’t exactly keep your body soaked in water. However, the waterjets designed in shower handles are also known to help improve your body’s oxytocin levels, reduce inflammation, and help with sinus issues.

Shower Cubicles vs. Bathtubs – How Much Maintenance are you Looking at?

It doesn’t matter if you opt for a shower enclosure or a bathtub, both fixtures will need to be promptly maintained for prolonged functionality. However, bathtubs can be overly annoying to clean and maintain. That’s because they accumulate a lot of dead skin, hair, and grime. This can be especially irritating to clean if you don’t use the bathtub for extended periods.

Plus, you’re also going to have to clean all the dust build-up on the surface of the bathtub. Enamel chipping is another issue, and as soon as you see it, it’s better to call in a plumber to repair the fixture. Keep in mind, enamel chips can be injurious to health.

On the other hand, a shower enclosure isn’t that difficult to maintain because it’ll probably be used every day. Sure, there’s going to be a lot of water splashing on the glass enclosure, which is going to form water spots and stains. But they’re easier to clean with a glass cleaning detergent.

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it – a no non-sense comparison of a shower enclosures and bathtubs. Like we stated earlier, it all comes down to user preference. However, it’s also a question of budget and functionality. And in terms of both these factors, we believe a shower cubicle will be the best option for homeowners.