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Introduction to bathrooms—full, half and more
Buying guides

Introduction to bathrooms—full, half and more

Posted by Rebecca Doody in Buying guides | 1 year ago 5 min read

Introduction

The number of bathrooms is just as important as bedrooms when it comes to choosing a home. Whilst bathrooms are a daily necessity, we rarely put much thought into them. Wondering about things like the difference between a full and half-bath is so common. Being able to distinguish between the different types of bathrooms is important as your choice will be determined by your lifestyle. Though costly, adding a bathroom to your home can be well worth the investment as it can add value to your property and is also a great selling point for future buyers.

Mode freestanding contemporary bath 1700 x 770

Full bathroom

A full bathroom consists of all of the following: a toilet, sink, shower, and, most importantly, a bathtub. Other features like a makeup station, bidet or linen closet are popular among homeowners but are not strictly required for a bathroom to be classified as a full bathroom.

Three quarter bath

A three-quarter bath would have everything in a full bathroom but a bathtub. In other words, it has a toilet, sink, and shower. A three-quarter bath is the perfect budget option for those who prefer a quick shower to a long soak. Most potential buyers want the master bedroom to come with a full bathroom, so if your master bathroom only has a three-quarter bath, you can consider upgrading it to a full one. Some older homes dating before the 1950s may have bathtubs but no showers. These are the easiest to convert to a full bath, requiring only the installation of a shower head, which costs about $400, including material and labour, for more budget options.

Half-bathroom

A half-bathroom consists of only two components, a sink and a toilet. Half baths usually function as the guest bathroom. In a multi-level house, the half-bath is usually located on the ground floor. Other than guests, a half-bathroom or cloakroom is also convenient for those who do not want to walk all the way to the bathroom upstairs or in the master bedroom. A half-bath increases the resale value of your house by 2.9% on average, which is about $9000. In fact, adding a cloakroom is arguably one of the best investments in home improvement, as it has the most bang for the buck.

Orchard Derwent round compact close coupled toilet with luxury slim soft close seat

Quarter-bathroom

Quarter bathrooms are rarer as they consists of only one element, which is either a toilet or shower. Lone showers are the most common in houses with pools and are used for a quick rinse before or after swimming.

Reasons to add a bathroom

The main reason many homeowners add a bathroom is to improve the livability of their homes. After all, who wants to fight for the bathroom with other harried family members as everyone rushes to get ready for work or school? It also gives you the privacy and space to fully relax and indulge in a long shower or ten-step skincare routine without worrying about inconveniencing other family members. An additional bathroom also greatly improves accessibility, especially in multi-storeyed houses. Installing additional accessibility fixtures to the bathroom, such as handrails and non-slip floors, will certainly benefit the less able-bodied members of the household and guests. It also decreases the risk of injury caused by tripping on the stairs while getting to the bathroom on a different floor.

Adler bathroom furniture

Costs of remodelling

Adding a new bathroom from scratch or remodelling an existing bathroom is a costly endeavour. However, it is a worthy investment as it will greatly increase the property value of your house and, if you are not planning on moving any time soon, improve the quality of your current home life. To make the most out of your budget, it is important to have a rough estimate of all the expenses.

On average, installing a new full or three-quarter bathroom from scratch costs $5,000. The cost ranges from $20,000 for those on a tight budget to $90,000 for those willing to splurge on a luxurious, spa-like bathroom. As a rule of thumb, the closer your new or remodelled bathroom is to existing plumbing and water pipes, the lower the labour costs are.

A half-bath is a lot less taxing on the wallet while still greatly enhancing the convenience and privacy of your living space. Converting an existing area, usually a small storage room or closet, into a half bath costs as low as $5000. The price can go up to $15,000, but it nonetheless remains a relatively inexpensive option as compared to three-quarter and full bathrooms. The cost of this kind of conversion includes the material and labour costs of installing tiles and flooring, electrical wiring and plumbing fixtures, toilet, and sink.

Building three quarters and full bathrooms have the additional cost of plumbing fixtures for a shower or bath.

If you want to enjoy a luxurious soak in the tub without forking out the hefty sum of cash needed to build a full bathroom, you can consider renovating your three-quarter bath into a full one.

Clarity collection

Conclusion

Whether you are planning on selling your house or have already settled down in your forever home, adding a bathroom or remodelling your current one can greatly benefit you and your family. Be it increasing the property value or improving the liability of your home, investing in your bathroom is definitely worth the admittedly high expense.


More modern bathroom ideas

At Victoria Plum, we’re full of fresh modern bathroom ideas, so why not check out further inspirational bathrooms on our blog? If you’re interested in a specific style, our Get the Look style guides are a great place to start.

Shop bathroom suites

Author, Rebecca Doody

Posted by Rebecca Doody in Buying guides | 1 year ago

Originally from Somerset, Rebecca is our resident copywriter who takes care of all things product related. Rebecca loves the modern interior style with both neutral and bold influences to create a statement look.

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