Ripping out en-suite

[Iminpatchinghell]

My en-suite has some problems with the fixtures leaking, it’s old and the whole lot needs ripping out. As does the main bathroom. I’m considering just ripping it out and not replacing it. Has anyone done this and missed it?
I’m thinking we can save the money and then replace our bigger main bathroom to a good standard in a couple of years time.
We’re a family of 3. No plans for more kids. No guest room and don’t have people to stay. It’s been years since someone stayed over.

If you have no plans (do you?) to convert the room into something else would it not be cheaper to fix whatever is leaking and leave as is?
If you are planning on selling having a function but old ensuite is better than a renovation room.

I love having an en-suite and wouldn’t consider a property without one. However if it’s not important to you, I’d advise ripping it out & putting in a walk-in-wardrobe instead. But I would leave the plumbing in place so that it’s easy to reinstall at a later date.

I hate ensuites and would rather have a larger bedroom.

If it's just a little ensuite taking out a chunk of the room get rid. I think the only en suites should be a decent size off of a large room, otherwise it's just like peeing in a cupboard next to the bed

I love our ensuite & would HATE sharing with the kids.

But it's your home - if you don't intend to move for 10+ years change it to how you want it & make it a selling feature that it's got the potential for an ensuite?

I hate en-suits. Not sure a 2 BR place needs it at all. Especially if rooms are not that big.

If course - it is nicer for a teenager to have an own bathroom. I don’t know how hold your child is and how urgent the fixing is. For now - I’d fix the leak, and once teen is off to uni (ot moves out) - would think about it again.

Some people like en-suits. Some don’t.
In a smallish place - with just 2BR - it’s not a must.

Do you have to rip it out? Can’t you just have it removed in a calm and orderly way?

The problem with the way round you’re thinking of, is that the en suite would be useful during renovating the other one. If you rip it out, then do the other one in a couple of years, you won’t have a bathroom while you do.

Is there any way to limp it through until you do the tear one, then rip it out?

I can’t stand en suites but some people seem to love them.

En-suites add value and although they are not popular on MN in real life they are . Even in a 2 bed house if you have a small bathroom and an en-suite with a walk in shower it gives flexibility / options .

Not a huge fan of en suites but for me no second bathroom would be a deal breaker, second bathroom being an en suite not so much. Thinking of saleability.

Renovate main bathroom (as another wiser poster noted, you'll need the en suite while that is going on). Then take a view on the en suite. If you keep it you don't have to renovate it straight away - you can wait and save up.

En-suit adding value is not a universal truth. In real life value depends on a lot of factors.
Location, size, target market, other offerings in the area.
When my partner was renovating his 2BR house in an area that mostly has couples (younger and older; occasionally with a child but they tend to move out to bigger properties) - real estate agents said that bigger bedrooms are more valuable. As is one nice separate bathroom.

And of course - it depends on your plans too. If you are planning to stay in the property for a long time and would prefer to have a larger bedroom - that is an important factor too.

Sounds like a good plan to get rid of your en-suite as they are expensive to replace.

How old is DC? I'd find queuing behind two people in the mornings annoying so would fix and keep it

Do you have a downstairs loo? I’d always want 2 toilets in a house if possible to allow for one being blocked, someone having d&v, visitors etc. but if you have one downstairs then no need for 2 upstairs as well.

I think that's god advice. It's very useful to have a 2nd loo when you're renovating.

Cannot imagine not having an en suite, wouldn’t look at a house without one

Thanks for the comments. To answer a few questions. Child is 5. Have a downstairs loo, plus the main bathroom and the en-suite.

I need to make a decision on the en-suite sooner as I’m just fitting a wardrobe which will require re-carpeting the whole room, I don’t want to re-do it if I take out the en-suite.

Won’t be refurbing the main bathroom for a few years yet. My mum lives close by so we could wash there. Still would have the downstairs loo.

Also, the fixing in the en-suite would be a new shower tray, door, relaying the flooring as it’s rotting, and new flooring. Not a cheap job unfortunately.

Also, no plans to move any time soon. I don’t have any plans for the space it would free up.

We’d remove the walls and have it part of the main room. I may put my desk there as I work from home.

If you have a downstairs loo too then the bigger bedroom will be way more useful than an ensuit surely?

Not done this but have NEVER owned a house with an ensuite. The only times I've had an ensuite has been in Uni accommodation!

When I was last house hunting, any that had tiny en suites in the bedrooms actually put me off.

Yes. Good idea. Am another one who finds en suites a waste of space. Stupid modern layouts with tiny rooms and 2.5 baths in a 2-3 bed house. A little office nook would be a great replacement.

Thanks everyone 😊

Another one here who thinks that en suites crammed into 2 -3 bed houses are not great. I reckon that a big wardrobe or an office nook would be better.