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Original poster

Family of 5 - do we NEED 2 showers?

79 replies

SueGeneris · 02/11/2017 19:33

Or just two loos?

We definitely need two loos. We currently have one upstairs bathroom with a decent enough shower. We're in the process of getting Builders to put in a downstairs loo and shower room but tbh I think I would prefer to have it as a downstairs loo with space for the washer and dryer. It's an existing room (old pantry) so there's only room for a 760 x 800 shower. There is not enough room for loo, shower and appliances. Washer and dryer are currently in the utility which is an old scullery that we intend to convert into a 'garden room' (it's at the very back of the house beyond the kitchen) and it would be much more convenient to have the washer dryer in the pantry/intended downstairs loo as it's more central in the house and I am using them several times a day. If we get them out of the old scullery it will make redesigning that easier as we won't have to fit them in.

Kids are currently small but my feeling is compared to the number of occasions two people will want to shower at the same time (and we need to check pressure will be good enough to handle that) is miniscule compared to the number of times we're doing laundry. DH primarily wants the downstairs shower so he can shower around 10pm twice a week after training without waking the kids but tbh using the upstairs bathroom doesn't wake them anyway.

So I'm wondering if there's anything I'm missing before I try to persuade him to use the intended shower space for appliances. As long as there's a decent sink, loo, mirror and shaving point etc in there, is a second shower REALLY worth it?

Sorry this was unnecessarily long for a post about showers!

OP posts:
nightshade · 02/11/2017 22:40

I have two showers...electric downstairs. .hubby useso it..instant hot water and beside utility for dirty clothes...also great for the dog..

Upstairs power shower linked into heating...for me!!..

We never and couldn't use both at same time...

Piewraith · 02/11/2017 22:40

I grew up in a family of five with two showers. It was good to have one for parents and one for kids, in terms of having our stuff there and cleaning, but we could never use them at the same time because of water temp and pressure issues.

LostInMess · 02/11/2017 22:43

6 of us, 4 DC aged 2-10.

We have two showers. I am already pondering where we can fit a third in.

You really need two!

CanIBuffalo · 02/11/2017 22:43

5 here. 2 showers are a godsend but make sure your water pressure/combi boiler are up to the job. No one likes a tepid trickle.

FucksakeCuntingFuckingTwats · 02/11/2017 22:46

Five here, one shows and two Loos works for us. My girls have a shower at night and do their hair. Son is only 4 so still baths at night. Husband gets a shower after he gets in from work as he's a tradesman. I'm only one in shower in morning.

doodle01 · 02/11/2017 22:47

Shower def

SingingMySong · 02/11/2017 23:19

Our 2nd shower gets loads of use now that our children are a bit older, and I think once they need to shower in the morning like us, it will seem indispensable.

Of course it's only a "nice to have" really. But so is the dishwasher and I'd not give that up lightly now!!

Xmasbaby11 · 02/11/2017 23:23

Second shower! Although we are a family of 4 and no-one showers in the morning - it's just nice having two bathrooms. The dc are 3 and 5 so things will change as they get Older!

Giraffesarequitetall · 02/11/2017 23:26

Another one who’d get a second shower.

We have two teens and have three showers. Our kids shower at least once a day, often twice. Not enough water pressure for all 3 to go at the same time though so only two really get used. Also have four toilets but that is rather excessive, two or theee are great.

TittyGolightly · 02/11/2017 23:27

There’s DH, me and our 7 year old here. We have 3 showers and 4 toilets! Definitely have as many as you can.

DeadDoorpost · 02/11/2017 23:32

Growing up, 8 kids, 2 adults, 2 toilets and 1 shower. Worked fine.
Or sometimes just the 1 toilet and 1 shower depending in which house we lived in. 6 teenagers I might add, alongside 2 adults. We just used to let each other know when we were going to shower.

DilysMoon · 02/11/2017 23:36

We extended and had a downstairs loo and shower plus new bedroom, larger bedroom and utility. My favourite thing about it is the extra loo and shower. Things run so much more smoothly in the mornings and much easier after dsx2 sports to usher them in to the downstairs shower as soon as they get in the house.

Svalberg · 03/11/2017 08:53

It's not that 2 people will be showering at the same time, but the associated going to the loo, cleaning teeth, shaving etc. that means the bathroom is out of use for anyone else. And with 4 or more people that's a lot of time that the bathroom is occupied! A washing machine & tumble drier stacked in a garden room won't take up much space.

AnneElliott · 03/11/2017 08:55

Yes I would have 2 showers.

Fabellini · 03/11/2017 08:57

Agree with Svalberg above, two teenage ds here spend an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom. I don't dwell on what might be going on, but they leave it relatively clean and tidy, so it's fine.
But...it would be a pain if we didn't have another shower!

SilverSpot · 03/11/2017 09:00

Second shower - but get a hot water system that can cope with running two at the same time.

Hulababy · 03/11/2017 09:06

We have 2 showers for 3 of us (me, dh and 15y Dd) We all like a shower in a morning - couldn't start the day without one tbh! So, as we all leave for work and school at the same time we have two running at the same time every day. We would struggle with one - well, we'd have to start the day earlier every day at least.

averythinline · 03/11/2017 09:06

We have been round this loop a few times as its taken us 10 years to make up our minds! we've gone for the shower...however DS now almost teen...
Going for decent electric shower....as not sure the pressure can ever take 2 showers...

Could you not set up the plumbing /drainage so you could easily change to a shower in the future- ? with a smaller amount f work

you will need to do some for the washing machine anyway so do appliances now then change to shower if you want later as your DC are young?

stonecircle · 03/11/2017 09:11

Family of 5 here - now all adults. We have a family bathroom which has a large shower (no bath), an ensuite in our room which has a bath/shower and a downstairs loo.

The ensuite tends only to be used for the toilet if the other 2 are occupied and the shower on the rare occasions the main one has been out of action (eg being replaced).

Our water pressure isn’t up to 2 showers working at once. But the other reason is that it’s easier to always use one bathroom (which naturally tends to be the biggest) because that’s where you tend to leave your toothbrush, toiletries etc.

It’s ever been an issue for us - either when dcs were all going to school or now when they’re all home from university.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 03/11/2017 09:15

2 showers... we have three children, all quite sporty and there are often two showers going at once.. Sometimes is DH and I after a Saturday morning run before we head out to the kids sporting activities. DS is 13, DD is 11 and has just started needing to wash more frequently than a twice weekly bath. DS2 hasnt reached that stage yet but it won't be long. As for location of the shower, downstairs is a pain and my washing machine and condensing dryer (also constantly on the go!!) are stacked, under the stairs which is awkward but it works.

WillowWeeping · 03/11/2017 09:17

An additional shower without a question.

I'd serriously think about converting the box bedroom - we're about to convert a bedroom into another en suite and walk in wardrobe. I think these things are priorities over an extra box/office room theses days but if that's really not an option for you then a downstairs shower would be a good alternative option.

Do not estimate how long DC want to spend in bathrooms - and how quickly a bathroom that's being used by 5 can get grubby.

steppemum · 03/11/2017 09:28

we are family of 5, kids are 15, 12 and 10.

We have 2 showers, but we rarely if ever use 2 at the same time.
However, one is in an ensuite and I would be really reluctant to lose my ensuite!
My kids leave early to school, so they always shower at night, one after the other. They never use my shower even if one is waiting for the 15 year old to take 3 hours in the shower.

In fatc I don't know any of their friends who morning shower, they all seem to shower in the evening. Ds also showers when he come sin from football practice/match, so even at weekends he rarely wnats to use the shower first thing.
Dh is a runner, and works from home, he usually runs at lunchtime and showers afterwards.
So I am not with the whole consensus of 5 people trying to shower at once.

But in the mornings, when dh is shaving I am really glad we have 2 bathrooms.

In your circumstances, I don't think I would put in a downstairs shower. I would never use, it, and I don't think my kids would.
Having the laundry room where it is convenient for me would be more important, but I'm not conviinced I would want it in downstairs loo, as I like to have somewhere to hang the washing.

SchoolNightWine · 03/11/2017 09:30

What about getting all the plumbing in for the shower, but not actually put the shower, base, screen etc in yet. You could then use the space for the appliances now while you don’t need the extra shower, but it’s not such a big job to sort the shower in a few years. You then might have more space elsewhere for the appliances as will have got rid of all the clutter that goes with young kids!

anonymousbird · 03/11/2017 09:35

100% second shower! Not a luxury, a necessity!

SoupDragon · 03/11/2017 09:40

We have a downstairs shower and it is never used, despite there only being one upstairs.

If it were a second shower upstairs I would say you absolutely need one but as it is downstairs, I'm not sure. It never felt right showering in our downstairs one for some reason (I've only ever had an upstairs bathroom though so this may account for it)

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