Bathrooms Continued: Bathtubs
In a recent blog, we discussed the importance of a property’s bathrooms, particularly if you’re an investor who’s just purchased a property you intend to sell. Whether you’re rehabbing a bargain property and flipping it, or making small upgrades to increase the longevity of a property you intend to hold and rent, in both cases the value of the property to either a buyer or a tenant will in some ways be affected by the layout, design, durability, and appeal of the bathrooms. When we discussed fixtures, bathtubs in particular deserve special attention. Replacing your bathtub is a relatively simple way to upgrade the look of a bathroom and should be a part of any major bathroom renovation, and obviously you’ll want to replace a tub that may be old, defective, or poorly constructed.
With a few exceptions, bathtubs come in a standard size for this very reason – ease of replacement. It’s extremely likely that in the home you purchase, you’ll find a standard bathtub, so unless you’re a builder and designing a bathroom from the ground up, you’ll more than likely be working with a standard size tub, which is five feet long, fourteen inches high, and three feet wide. Various types of bathtubs are commonly made in this size to meet remodeling requirements, which is a plus for anyone, investor and homeowner alike, who finds themselves in need of a new tub.
There are three common materials used to construct standard bathtubs, and which one you choose will depend on your needs. Before picking out a replacement tub, though, you’ll want to ensure that the bathroom is prepped to properly install it. For starters, unless you’re working with a non-standard tub, keep it simple and replace the tub with one of the same size and type if you’re not completely remodeling the entire bathroom. Also, don’t assume everyone wants a flashy, uniquely styled tub; most homebuyers are families with young children who need ease of access and familiarity when bathing them, and if you intend to rent the house most tenants won’t be picky and may in fact appreciate a standard tub. The area which will hold the tub needs to be sized correctly and leveled – don’t worry, standard tubs come with the necessary incline for proper drainage (but require a level surface in order to work). The alcove needs to be clear, and able to hold the drain and overflows. You’ll also want to do any plumbing work before installing the new tub.
The most common type of tub these days is porcelain on steel bathtubs, and they’re also the cheapest. At around $200 to $400, they’re a fairly inexpensive way to clean up a remodeled bathroom, and builders favor these tubs because they’re easy to install. These qualities make them an ideal choice for a fix-and-flip. Stamped out of a solid steel piece and coated in porcelain, these tubs are resistant to abrasion during thorough scrubbing but they don’t have the longest lifespan, however, so they may require replacement every ten years or so.
Another cost-effective option is fiberglass, and tubs made of this material range from $200 to $500. These tubs are made by spraying polyester resin into a mold, which hardens into a durable, scratch-resistant coating. They’re a bit longer lasting than steel tubs, which may increase the appeal of your property for a homebuyer who intends to hold the property for a several decades. Fiberglass is composed of interwoven glass strings that turn into a gelatin-like substance when heated, allowing it to be spread over a mold for the tub. Once it’s dry, the finished product is removed from mold and shipped. Though these tubs are among the lightest you can purchase – saving shipping cost for you and providing slightly easier installation – their color may fade over time and they will at some point require replacement.
The next step up from fiberglass is acrylic, and tubs made of this material typically cost between $1,300 and $1,500. These are the most expensive as far as conventional tubs go, but they’re also the most durable and retain their color longer. Acrylic tubs begin as a large piece of acrylic, which is heated and pulled over a mold. They’re then vacuumed tightly onto the mold, reinforced with fiberglass and resin and removed. Although they cost more, they’re easy to clean, durable, and difficult to scratch. If you’re an investor who intends to hold the property and rent it out, you may want to go ahead and invest in an acrylic tub to save yourself the cost and hassle of replacing the bathtub every ten to fifteen years. Ultimately, it’s more cost-effective to go with acrylic if this is the case, or if you intend to live in the home yourself for an extended period of time.
As we’ve seen, there are a variety of tubs available, and which one you choose should be reflective of your current situation and should fit within your overall plan. Remember, it’s important to factor in cost and durability and how they apply to your own set of goals, because real estate investment is all about goals!
– Get It Right Solutions