Should I bother getting an ensuite or manage with one bathroom for four people?

[Soihaveagoat]

We are in a nice three bed semi. We have two kids aged 14 and 6. The house has one bathroom with a bath, shower and toilet and a separate room with a toilet and sink only.

At the moment we have an informal bathroom rota on my work days. I go in first then husband then teen son. Six yr old doesn't shower on a morning just has a bath on a night a few times a week.

Our bedroom is large so we thought we could add an ensuite to it thinking that it will get tight for bathroom use when the youngest starts wanting a shower on a morning as well as the rest of us. Had a few quotes for a nice bathroom with obviously a stud wall built, fully tiled, black fittings for around £4500.

My husband says this is a waste of money. We already have two toilets and we will manage the shower situation. Eldest isn't planning to go to uni so we are not expecting him to move out at 18.

Does anyone have any experience of living as a family of four who all need showers on a morning? I grew up with three bathrooms between five of us so I've never had to think of this before.

@CiderWithLizzie that does sound more complicated, I can see why with all those adjustments your bill would be hefty, but goodness isn't building work expensive. And with the cost of materials increasing so much now too, it isn't going to get cheaper.

We had 2 adults and 4 teenagers in a house with one bathroom and separate toilet and managed just fine. £4500 is very cheap for a new bathroom. Do not tile your shower use shower boards, no nasty grout and less chance of leaks if fitted correctly.

I grew up in a house of 5, only one bathroom. I wouldn’t bother with the en-suite - more to clean!

I posted on here back when the op originally asked. In fact, I've had a downstairs shower room extension built since then!

Did you make a decision @Soihaveagoat ?

Me too

I hate ensuites. I hate lying in bed and can hear and smell how someone has a poop. It even puts me off hotel holidays. It's never a 'romatic' experience for me 😅I also don't like the condensation and the noise of the extractor fan. Now I get that most people seem not to share my dislike, but I would either prefer to get a rota incl. evenings or turn your downstairs toilet into a wet room - your sink could go on top of the toilet (2 in 1 models) and you squeeze in a shower where your sink currently is.

My en-suite has a massive window so no weird loud Dan sound you speak of. The entrance is nowhere near the bed and you can't smell anything from the bedroom. I guess it depends on the house/size/layout. I can't imagine sharing a bathroom with kids. I like, no love my space. Own basin. No one else's spit in it. Bath I can luxuriate in for as long as I like. Other people's grime? Yuck. No thanks.

I'd go for an en suite, you haven't got enough bathrooms for 4 people. It will change your life for the better.

Agree, definitely keep the extra loo as well. 2 bathrooms and 3 loos is doable with 4 of you.

Go for the ensuite!
can you add a floor plan? I like floor plans!
Also if you don’t have a utility room, can you turn your old toilet into a utility room and stack your washing/tumble dryer in there? Always made more sense to me having them upstairs and no carrying washing up and down the stairs

We were a family of four and put an extra shower room in, no one used it, they preferred the family bathroom.

I wouldn’t bother.

I grew up in a family of 5 with one bathroom and downstairs loo. Only became an issue when we all simultaneously went down with the shits from food poisoning 🥴 bathroom rota wise it was fine. We all just naturally took turns and didn't take the piss either 🤔

We are moving for extra bathrooms (and for bigger bedrooms for the teens!!)
Our 1970’s house has a tiny bathroom and the bathroom rota wasn’t working!!! We’ve managed for 19 years but it’s a pain as onto 1 toilet. Can’t wait into new house with a house bathroom, downstairs cloakroom and an en suite (we will think we are on holiday!!!)

I grew up in a really old 4 bed house with 4 toilets. Even my London flat had 2 bathrooms.

Bought a house with 3. And added another one. 😂

Our family is pretty much exactly as you describe. We have moved from a 3 bed semi with 1 bathroom + a downstairs toilet to a 4 bed with Bathroom + En suite + Downstairs toilet.

Its been brilliant. The ensuite is ours and lovely to never have to worry about needing a shower or privacy. Its a lovely size too. Bathroom is huge and the two adult size DC use it as theirs. Never a crossed word about timings and if me or my partner fancy a pamper time in the bath etc its there if we need it.

For 4 adults living in one house the ensuite has made a huge difference.

Definitely a vote for an en suite. It is not a waste of money. Firstly, it will make your lives easier and secondly, it makes your house more desirable and increases value. I would not buy a house without a second shower unless there was room to put one in and it was priced so that it was feasible to pay for a new ensuite.

The only thing that would change that is if the work meant taking away space for a bath. Do not do that! A shower downstairs could work, but is definitely less desirable.

We had 1 bathroom between 5 and particularly the teenage years saw endless squabbling about it. There was nothing fine about it.

What was the outcome 6 months later?

I'm a single parent with teens and love extra bathrooms. I would get the en-suite
My kids have full length mirrors in their rooms where some grooming and preparation can occur but it's great not having to argue about bathroom use.

I definitely agree with the issue with teens. My youngest DS has an extensive skin regime and the time he spends in the bathroom is a nightmare!! I am really looking forward to having our own en suite

I personally hate ensuites.

We have 1 bathroom , toilet is separate , 4 adults and sometimes an extra or two.
Never had any issues.

We had one bathroom between 8 then my parent put a shower in a freezing cold extension and no one wanted to use it - so the squabbles continued

Sounds like a good layout in your case. We are lucky to each have our own bathroom, and no kids are allowed in 'my' bathroom, but they are all across the corridor fr. I keep refusing connecting doors.