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Original poster

Considering removing second ensuite

34 replies

StarlitTrees · 04/09/2017 13:14

We are about to move into a house that has two ensuite bathrooms.
The second bedroom will belong to my 3 year old and he certainly doesn't need his own shower room! Even if he was older, it's just another bathroom to clean and I really don't feel it's necessary.
We are considering on ripping out the ensuite and just having it as storage/walk in wardrobe, or as a little study room with a desk for when he has homework when he's older.
We don't plan on moving again after this, so although I'm sure the property may lose a little value as a consequence, it's not really an issue to us.

Has anyone else done this? How much did it cost? It's a standard ensuite (shower cubicle, toilet and sink) with tiles up half the walls. I'm sure we could remove the tiles ourselves, it can't be that difficult surely.
Any thoughts?

OP posts:

5rivers7hills · 04/09/2017 13:22

Good idea. I'd rather have a nice big toy stoorage cupboard/walk in wardrobe than an en-suite for a childs rooms if oyu already have sufficient bathroom facilities.

Won't cost much reckon it sholdn't cost more than £1k - £1.5k - plumber to cap stuff off and you'll have to pay a plasterer to make good the walls after you've got the tiles off. Getting tiles off can be harder than you think. You'll also need flooring and skirting boards.

If I were you I would leave the plumbing fixings capped off rather than totally removed so that in the future it would be easy to put in a new en-suite if you ever desired.

Original poster

StarlitTrees · 04/09/2017 13:56

Yeah that's what we were thinking.
Plus, although we don't plan to move, if we did, we could say it has the Plumming to easily be made back into an ensuite.
I just don't understand these houses nowadays that are being built with two ensuites.
I'm sure some people think they're great, but surely the majority of people would rather have more space/storage?
It's a four bed house with a downstairs wc, a bathroom and two ensuites, so we can all go toilet at the same time!!

OP posts:

Orangebird69 · 04/09/2017 14:00

I like a second ensuite. It's nice for guests to have their own bathroom. I stay at my dbros a fair bit. They have a guest ensuite - which is fab because the family bathroom is always full of his dds bath/hair/toys/slime paraphernalia.

Kr1stina · 04/09/2017 14:10

Don't do it. He will use an en suite far more than a desk.

I assume he uses the loo now. He may start using a shower when they are about 5. He's not going to get a serious amount of homework until he's a teenager.

Most small children do their reading / 10 spelling words at the kitchen table while a parent cooks the tea, not in a cupboard off their bedroom .

If a desk still matters that much to you son when he's a teenager, you can get a loft bed with a desk underneath.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 04/09/2017 14:16

Being the owner of some nearly teens I would go for the ensuite! Don't underestimate their need to spend ages in the bathroom at the most inconvenient time. Would he want to work in a room without (I am guessing) natural light? Maybe leave it a few months before deciding.

Kr1stina · 04/09/2017 14:27

Too right, should we stay. It will confine the overpowering smell of Lynx to one room.

JoJoSM2 · 04/09/2017 17:30

I'm not sure if you'll be able to do it on a 1.5k budget. You'll probably need a skip (costs a pretty penny to hire) or a matching carpet (again, might be a few hundred as you'll need to pay for extra metres due to rolls being larger). Also, if you use it for storage, it'll be a few hindered to kit it out with shelves and drawers etc.

Personally, I'd keep it an en suite unless you're completely stuck for storage with mess everywhere. Or give yourselves a walk-in wardrobe if it's next door to your room 😉

5rivers7hills · 04/09/2017 17:39

They have a guest ensuite - which is fab because the family bathroom is always full of his dds bath/hair/toys/slime paraphernalia.

It is possible to have a clean and tidy family bathroom...!

You'll probably need a skip (costs a pretty penny to hire) or a matching carpet

Don't HAVE to have skip hire. It is only one en-suite. If they are looking to do it on a budget they can take stuff to the tip in the back of their car.

Don't have to have matching carpet - it will be separated by a door and i'm not convinced your walk in wardrobe NEEDS matching carpet.

Bluntness100 · 04/09/2017 17:43

I agree don't do it. When he is a little older he will love having his own bathroom. My daughter always has. She's had her own en suite in two houses now and since she was about 13.

And now she's at uni, if guests stay in her room when she's not there, they also love having the en suite in there. Especially older guests or ones with less mobility.

Keep it, in a few years it will be worth its weight in gold.

Orangebird69 · 04/09/2017 17:44

Blimey 5rivers, no need to be so touchy. This is social media, opinions may differ from time to time...

Ttbb · 04/09/2017 17:48

I would keep it. Nothing less appealing than sharing a bathroom than a teenage boy

Original poster

StarlitTrees · 04/09/2017 18:36

Thanks for all your opinions and how it works in your houses.

To give a bit more info it does have a window in the ensuite.
We also will have our own ensuite so that will be mine and DH space, won't have to share a bathroom with the boys.

I just keep thinking it's just another bathroom to keep clean.

My dad finds it hilarious that the house has four toilets. I grew up with just an upstairs bathroom, no ensuites and toilets. So this is still normal to them (they still live in that house).

We have lots of redecorating to be getting on with, plus laying carpets. So it's just a thought at the moment, certainly noting we will be doing within the next year probably.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 04/09/2017 18:43

No kid is going to work in a little cupboard room, even if it does have a window, because that's shit and claustrophobic.

Your dad will get over it and keeping it clean really isn't that big a deal, when he's old enough to make good use of it, he can do it himself.

WhereAmIGoingWhatAmIDoing · 04/09/2017 19:03

I don't understand why everyone insists you need a family bathroom and two ensuites? And, I assume a downstairs bathroom too? Seems a little excessive for 2 adults and 2 kids?

1 ensuite, 1 family bathroom, and 1 wc is usually enough unless you have a very large family

Anyway, OP do whatever you want/works for you.

WhoseGonnaDriveUHomePorkPie · 04/09/2017 19:07

I think removing the ensuite fittings (but keeping the capped off pipe work for if needed in future) is a fab idea. Have a hanging rail for clothes in there with drawers underneath and floor to ceiling shelves for storage of games, puzzles, boxes of lego etc. I wish I had the option to do that for my son but I don't even have one ensuite!
I really don't think it will cost too much. When we had a new bathroom the old one took less than an hour to remove! It won't get seen much so a cheap vinyl or carpet offcut would suffice. Do it! Your son can use the family bathroom and it'll be one less loo to clean.

Allwashedup · 04/09/2017 19:08

Hmm it's just me and my hubby in a large 4 bed, 4 bathroom (2 ensuite, 1 main, 1 downstairs wc) house...

Bluntness100 · 04/09/2017 19:13

I don't understand why everyone insists you need a family bathroom and two ensuites?

Well no one is insisting she NEEDS it, clearly she doesn't, no one does, read the thread, all that's being said is they are incredibly useful if you do have one, and she will be glad she has it as her kid gets older so ripping it out is a bit daft. Her son will thank her every day for it and think his own bathroom and privacy is way way better than some more storage.

LadyLovelace · 04/09/2017 19:15

Hmm, as the mother of teenagers, I'd say the more bathrooms the better. But I suppose it depends how many DC you have. My teenager and preteen fight over the family bathroom every sch morning.

WhereAmIGoingWhatAmIDoing · 04/09/2017 19:52

bluntness everyone seems to be insistent on so many bathrooms these days, especially on MN. I reckon it's a conspiracy, you are all either bathroom salespeople or married to one

I remember the good old days when we had one toilet outside

Sukitakeitoff · 04/09/2017 22:40

I reckon it depends on the room size partly - if it's small, rip out the en suite and make better use of the space. If it's big and there's already space for bed, drawers, wardrobe, desk, bookshelf etc then perhaps hold fire.

I grew up in a family of 5 with just one loo in the main bathroom so it certainly sounds excessive to me!

MyOtherProfile · 05/09/2017 05:08

We have the same as you OP. Two en suites, a family bathroom and a downstairs loo. My children are 9 and 11 now and I'm forever grateful for all the bathrooms.

You don't say how many children you have or how old any others are but as they get older they do take a long time in the bathroom.

What rooms do you have downstairs? We have a playroom so no toy storage needed upstairs as it's all in there.

And as a PP said the child probably won't want to do homework in a little room upstairs. Mine always want to do it close to everyone else.

MissBabbs · 05/09/2017 05:18

It's great for guests but you will have to clean it (and all the others) unless you have an unusually obliging DH

sandgrown · 05/09/2017 05:43

On holiday with our teenage DS who is just loving having his own bathroom . He usually has his dad moaning at him to hurry up!

NannyRed · 05/09/2017 05:59

He won't be a child forever, extra shower rooms and toilets are a bloody godsend when you have a teen in the home.

And if your son spills toothpaste all over the sink in his en suite and sometimes forgets to flush, then at least the family bathroom will always be pristine for guests.

A large walk in toy cupboard is going to end up being a dumping ground for every toy and when you do get around to bottoming it you'll find the lost shoe to the one you threw away 6months ago, the lost remote control to his favourite rc car that has been untouched since the remote was lost etc.

I'd definitely keep a shower and lavatory.

Original poster

StarlitTrees · 05/09/2017 07:51

Thanks for all your replies.

I see what you mean about doing his homework in what will essentially be a cupboard.
Also it becoming a dumping ground for toy storage. We do have a dining room that we are going to use as a playroom (have a small kitchen diner also) and a small room that's classed as a study downstairs, although it's small, there will be plenty of storage.

Just have the two kids, 3yo and 9mo. So I know our needs will change over the years, just don't see us needing three showers! Just ideas at the moment, im enjoying planning what I'm going to do with the house thanks all for the input.

OP posts:

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