Second bathroom...pick an option, any option...

[dameofdilemma]

I'm desperate for a second bathroom so dp and I can shower at the same time instead of jostling each other out of the bathroom.

Dd is only 6 so not really, truly desperate yet but will be when she's older...

Its a 4 bed semi, we haven't converted into the loft (we don't need the extra space).
We use the 4th bed as a study and as dp and I both work from home sometimes we do need this.
The spare room also gets used regularly by (very lovely and welcome) MiL.

The main bedroom is a good size but an en-suite would be a squeeze and would be adjoining the next door house (and nowhere near the existing bathroom) so not sure how that would work pipes wise..

What would be the most cost effective way of putting in a second shower room? Doesn't need to be big or fancy but would need to be an electric shower as we have a combi boiler and no water tank.

1. Ensuite to main bedroom (nowhere near other bathroom or external wall)
2. Ground floor extension - downstairs shower (could also make into utility)
3. Loft conversion (seems overkill....we don't need another bedroom...cost gazillions)

Pick a number, any number....

Could you sort of do both: convert the study to en suite, and do a downstairs extension to incorporate new study & utility?

Could you divide the existing bathroom
Into two smaller bathrooms?

Could you convert the study into a second bathroom and then take a bit of the master bedroom for the study instead of En suite?

You could do a small-footprint two storey extension, so you could get a utility room (and maybe a loo?) downstairs, and knock through to have an en-suite on one of the rooms upstairs. Two storey extensions are usually 1.5x the cost of the same footprint 1 storey, so it would probably not work out that different to a larger floor space downstairs.

I think you need to take some time out to think about what you really want.

Initially you said

I'm desperate for a second bathroom so dp and I can shower at the same time instead of jostling each other out of the bathroom

After a few questions you’ve said...

there is no rationale reason right now for my wanting a second bathroom, completely admit that! But when dd is a teenager I don't want to constantly be nagging her to hurry up in the bathroom in the morning

Either it’s an issue now (with just you and DH) and needs sorting ASAP, or it isn’t, and as DD is only 6, there’s no masssive hurry.

I understand that you don’t want to add a large amount to the mortgage because you want more freedom career wise, but if you are thinking about when DD is teenager then it seems like you’re planning to be there 10 years at least, so you need to think it through properly, not just find the cheapest quick fix. You want it to be a lovely home that you all enjoy living in, not one where at least one person is using a bathroom that’s not comfortable or convenient to their bedroom. If you spend money wisely now, you’re less likely to need to move when DD is a teenager. None of you are going to want to traipse downstairs to use a shower down there. Resentment will build.

If it was me I’d either make do with what you have or go up into the loft. I think you putting in a downstairs bathroom is a waste of money and putting anything half decent upstairs will compromise the space that’s well used.

Just my penny’s worth ‍🤷🏻‍♀️😊

I think I would invest in the loft conversion, it would really future proof your house as either you can have it as a lovely master bedroom or dd could have it when she is a teenager and wants her own space. It will probably add more value in the long term (if you are not over extending compared to the values on your road) and would improve the way you live your life, there is a lot to be said for comfort in a home and traipsing downstairs to have a shower is not one of them.

Could you put a larger shower in current bathroom and both of you use it together?

Not sure that would save time @CatFem - it certainly wouldn't in our house, DH might get ideas 😂

Convert the loft/attic and make the footprint of this new room a guest room (perhaps with a fold out couch bed rather than an actual bed) as there may be planning rules/regulations that might be required if the room is to be a bedroom (fire protection etc.) that you could get around if it was a den space/study for example. Then put a shower room/wet room to one end of this new place and there is your second bathroom.
For our 3 bed s/d in Ireland I've received quotes of €20k for an attic conversion without an ensuite (but would include the moving of the water tank and associated plumbing). You may need a pumped electric shower in it but you should be able to convert the loft for a lot less than £60k

I think that you need someone to come in and look at the space.
It may be possible (for example) to move a wall sideways and create some space and then convert current bathroom plus extra space into 2 bathrooms.

Downstairs shower room would be my last resort option, as I hate downstairs bathrooms, but definitely easier than loft.

So much depends on size of bedrooms. Could spare room or study be smaller? (loose the space to a bathroom)

You don't have an immediate problem, you think you will have a bathroom problem when your child is a teenager. Ages away.

So no rush to do a crappy bodge job with a downstairs extension (that you will NEVER get for £20k anyway).

I would suck up the cost and do a nice loft extension. Preferably a nice full width dormer extension with a bathroom and big master bedroom.

Or a cheaper velux only bedroom only option and convert the study to a 2nd bathroom.

Or just not worry about it. Three people - one shower and a second loo shouldn't be an issue if you do hair/makeup in your bedrooms.

We sometimes kick ourselves for not putting in a shower downstairs when we had the opportunity - its much cheaper and less faff that a loft conversion. It would have made life so much easier with a mountain biking, rugby playing, dog owning family - no mud being tracked up the stairs etc.

With a family house that has more than 3 bedrooms, a 2nd bathroom is what I would expect.

We planned a very small downstairs utility with loo. Then we realised we could fit a decent size shower in there 100x50 cm.
It's been very successful and well used.

Very interesting thread

As its something we are thinking of

Moving downstairs loo into unused garage space and adding a shower or extending the bedroom by about 4 ft to put an en suite in without losing bedroom space

Its what would get us a better return eventually...though im not sure it would make that much difference moneywise

Anyway...its really interesting hearing what other people have done

People seem to like en suites when they house hunt...

Not got the roof space for a loft conversion