What should we do about that old, jeted tub? We haven’t used it in 10 years. How about we just get rid of it and expand the shower. “These are questions we answer every day”, say John Hogan, president of Alpharetta’s Bath & Kitchen Galleria, “there is undoubtedly a trend away from jeted tubs, especially large ones. John continues, “we remove 3-5 of them each week and the homeowner’s are always overjoyed with reclaiming the large space, as well as getting rid of something that is emblematic of the 80’s and 90’s.
Not only are the jeted tubs being removed but some tubs in the secondary bathrooms are also being removed. Parents know all too well that when their kids reach middle school ages, the nightly baths are long gone, and a walk-in shower is their preference. As long as another tub, near the kid’s bedrooms remains, there is no impact to the home value.
Why is this happening? We take many more showers than baths and America has finally concluded that the space allocated for the big, jeted garden tub just doesn’t make sense. Perhaps more importantly, we’re all afraid of the brown water and particulates that will flow out of the jets when its turned on after not being used for so long. This fear of the unknow, dark in color, growing in the unseen piping of the tub, really makes people want to get rid of them!
Instead, homeowners are choosing to expand their showers into a large, spa like experience, with gorgeous niches, benches, rain-head showers, but not always eliminating the tub. Many times, the tub is replaced with a gorgeous freestanding soaking tub. There is also a clear trend to change the shower-tub area to be safer, with anticipation of aging in-place in the home. “In these cases, we are emphasizing safety, with grab bars, eliminating the shower threshold, and installing “easy to enter” bathtubs”, John continues, “all of the north Atlanta homes are 20-30 years old and we are seeing a large increase in our bathroom projects”. Bath & Kitchen Galleria is a turn-key remodeling company with a 10,000 SF showroom, at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector, in Alphareta (678) 459-2292.
