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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:
HidingBehindTheWallpaper · 05/09/2017 08:03

I see what a lot of people are saying about him needing a bathroom more when he is a teen. However that is 10 years away. In 10 years the existing bathroom suite might well need changing anyway. Therefore if you keep the plumbing it's no more hassle to put in a new bathroom in 10 years than it would be to change one on its last legs.

I also don't understand the obsession with bathrooms in modern houses. I had a friend who lived in a one bedroom flat with a family bathroom and an en suite shower room.

Twinkie1 · 05/09/2017 08:09

My kids 3-17 all have their own bathrooms as do DH and I. It's really not all that time consuming to clean a bathroom that a child will be using and when they get a bit older they can clean it themselves.

Is the bedroom that small that a wardrobe and a desk can't be fitted alongside the bed?

ninjapants · 05/09/2017 08:24

We have two ensuites, a bathroom and a downstairs toilet. The second ensuite is off the spare room, adjacent to our room. I wish it had been designed as a wardrobe for the master bedroom, I really don't see the need for another ensuite. We haven't changed it though as we made an upstairs box room/office into a walk in wardrobe. When DS is older maybe he'll move into the ensuite bedroom, in the meantime we minimally use that shower room in order to cut down on cleaning time.
Unless you need the space for storage, I'd leave it as it is and just use it, or the main bathroom, minimally.

Snowglobes · 05/09/2017 08:46

I agree that you'll probably want the ensuite when he's older. If you need the storage (dumping area) now then change it as I totally understand how it'll be an unused room for the next few years. I'm pretty sure you'll be changing it back to an ensuite in a few years time, but if plumbing is capped then it won't be a big deal. For what it's worth in our rental we have 4 bathrooms all containing showers and 2 with baths. My 3 DC love it!!!

SummerKelly · 05/09/2017 09:46

I have an en suite in the type of house people don't expect en suites (Victorian terrace). I wish it wasn't there because it's taken much needed space from the second bedroom so I'm also wondering about the costs of removal. We have a toilet downstairs and can't shower at the same time anyway because of water pressure.

pinkdelight · 05/09/2017 09:58

When I see kids' rooms with en suites, all I can think is that they're ideal for teens to have a crafty fag in. Maybe that's just me...

StealthNinjaMum · 05/09/2017 10:08

Another one who would keep the extra toilet. I have 5 and hate the housework but when dd goes through puberty she'll have a private space. Younger dd has a family bathroom to herself too and will get some privacy too.

At this stage my house is full of big toys but as dds get older that will be less of a problem and we'll need less storage. You might find you don't need the storage space.

I would also be put off buying a house if an ensuite had been taken away. I would just see it as hassle to put one back in again.

ujerneyson · 05/09/2017 10:08

I think you are mad, sorry. A second en-suite will be a total asset ones he's older. If you don't want to clean it just don't use it at the moment but definitely don't get rid of it.

NewDaddie · 05/09/2017 10:09

I don't have either (walk in wardrobe or 2nd ensuite). I'm jealous.

If it was possible to annex the 2nd bathroom to the master bedroom so it had both walk in and ensuite I think dw and I would want do that.

The LO's get all our love and attention they don't need their own shower.

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