If your bathroom could use a little love, it's a smart place to spend money. Behind kitchens, bathrooms provide the second best return on investment when remodeling. In this week's Angie's List report, Nancy Naeve takes a closer look at a growing trend in bathroom design. Should you swap your tub for a shower?

Bathroom remodeling contractor, Dan Updike, says many of his customers are choosing to ditch bulky tubs in favor of more luxurious showers.

The bathing generation is kind of gone by the wayside. We are a pretty much shower generation anymore. So rather than have the bathtub that you lift your leg over that's a confined space if you put in a large shower it's more of the spa-type shower, Bathroom Remodeling Contractor Dan Updike said.

"The trend these days is to convert bathtubs into showers. There are so many choices when it comes to showers and they potentially take up less space than the large garden tubs that have been historically in homes. If you are a homeowner that wants to age in place, grow old in your home, a shower can be a safer alternative for you, Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks said.

When it comes to walk-in showers, the design options are nearly endless. They can be customized to fit just about any size, shape or lifestyle.

As far as options for the shower with the older generation the grab bars, maybe some corner seats, some hand held showers, things like that. Inside shampoo holders or corner shelves, we always have some type of shelving go into the unit. Frame-less shower doors so it's more glass, less metal. And then it's a matter of what to put on the shower walls whether it's tile with accent trim tile or go to the solid surface wall system, Updike said.

Updike says converting a standard five-foot tub into a shower typically starts around $4,500, but prices can quickly increase depending on the materials and options you choose.

If you want to go tub to a shower it's very simple to do, you just need to move plumbing a little bit for the new setup. Other than that they make shower bases the same size as bathtubs. We normally use solid surface bases instead of plastic or fiberglass. They are very heavy duty and come in a variety of colors to coordinate whether it's tile on the walls or solid surface wall panels, Updike said.

While nearly every bathtub can be converted into a shower, it's not always the best idea.

Replacing a tub for a shower is not for everyone. If you only have one bathroom in your house you want to be sure you keep a tub because what will end up happening is you'll hurt your resale value. Families with kids, they like tubs and without one it can hurt you, Hicks said.

Excerpt from:
Angie's List Report: Replacing the Tub

In the broader market, a 2014 bathroom-trends study by Houzz Inc., the online design and remodeling resource ( http://www.houzz.com), showed that 4 in 10 of the 7,645 homeowners who shared information about their renovations are choosing to forgo bathtubs, even in the master suite.

Homeowners under 45 are choosing multiple or rain-shower heads, the study showed, while those over 55 prefer handheld showers and sliding bars.

Frameless glass shower doors are in. Glass blocks are out.

Typical of the trend, said Nick Meli Jr., owner of Nick Meli Jr. Contracting in Center City, is a renovation he did this year for a condo owner in Independence Place on Washington Square. Client Robin Cooper, who owns a one-bedroom unit, wanted to replace her 25-year-old tub with a sleek, all-glass walk-in shower.

"It used to be you never did that, especially if there was only one tub," said Meli.

"We're seeing much more demand for walk-in showers," he added. Millennials "don't take baths; they want to shower, get in and get out. Soaking in a tub? No way, their homes are a place to sleep and then leave for work. Older people don't want tubs because they're 20 inches from the floor; they can't step over them. So we're really doing this for everyone."

A typical bathroom is about 5 feet by 10 feet, and most tubs are about 60 inches long. In condos, Meli said, 90 percent of his shower conversions/renovation jobs involve removing tubs. "That's how much of a difference in demand we've seen lately," he noted.

Cooper recalled that when she moved into the building, Philadelphia Realtors such as Allan Domb had a warning for owners in her building and others: "He said, 'Don't take the tub out of a one-bedroom. It won't hold its resale value, and it won't be as popular' as other units."

She added, "In a one-bedroom, it was taboo to remove the tub. You didn't touch it. Now, that's not the case at all."

Things started changing in the last few years. "Now, I probably get three calls a week to change over a tub to a shower. I did three estimates just this week," Meli said.

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New trend: Take out the tub

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If your bathroom could use a little love, Angie's List has tips concerning bathroom trends and whether you should swap your bathtub for a shower.

"The trend these days is to convert bathtubs into showers," said Angie Hicks with Angie's List. "There are so many choices when it comes to showers, and they potentially take up less space than the large garden tubs that have been historically in homes. If you are a homeowner that wants to age in place, grow old in your home, a shower can be a safer alternative for you."

Bathroom remodeling contractor Dan Updike says many of his customers are ditching bulky tubs in favor of luxurious showers.

"The bathing generation is kind of gone by the wayside," said Updike. "We are a pretty much shower generation anymore. So rather than have the bathtub that you lift your leg over that's a confined space, if you put in a large shower, it's more of the spa-type shower."

Hicks says if you choose to make the change, walk-in showers leave you with endless possibilities. They can be customized to fit just about any size, shape or lifestyle.

"As far as options for the shower with the older generation the grab bars, maybe some corner seats, some hand held showers, things like that. Inside shampoo holders or corner shelves, we always have some type of shelving go into the unit," said Updike.

Updike said the cost of converting a standard five-foot bathtub into a shower starts at about $4,500, but prices can quickly increase, depending on the materials you use.

"If you want to go tub to a shower it's very simple to do, you just need to move plumbing a little bit for the new setup. Other than that they make shower bases the same size as bathtubs," said Updike. "We normally use solid surface bases instead of plastic or fiberglass. They are very heavy duty and come in a variety of colors to coordinate whether it's tile on the walls or solid surface wall panels."

Hicks notes that converting a bathtub into a shower is not always the best idea.

"Replacing a tub for a shower is not for everyone," said Hicks. "If you only have one bathroom in your house you want to be sure you keep a tub because what will end up happening is you'll hurt your resale value. Families with kids, they like tubs and without one it can hurt you"

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Angie's List: Bathroom remodeling

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Think spending $50,000 on a total kitchen remodel or $10,000 overhauling the bathroom is the only way to add value to a home? If large, expensive projects are beyond your grasp, you're in luck: Increasing the value of your home doesn't have to involve large outlays of cash, especially when you're willing to put in a little sweat equity. Why spend big money when there are so many low-cost, do-it-yourself (DIY) projects? Whether you're planning on selling or just want a nicer place to live, read on to find out what you can do to add value to your home for as little as a few dollars. (To read more about home improvements, see Fix It And Flip It: The Value of Remodeling.)

House-Wide Updates The following are some changes that can be undertaken for surprisingly little money. Freshen Up the Walls If your walls have scratches and dirty paint, an outdated color or tacky wallpaper, a few cans of paint can make a dramatic difference. If you're trying to maximize the value of your home, it's best to choose a neutral color scheme that unifies the entire house, makes the space look bigger and will appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers.

Install Crown MoldingThis task is surprisingly simple but adds a lot of character. You simply buy the molding, which is nothing more than decorative strips of wood from a home improvement store, cut it to the size that fits your room (or have the store cut it for you), and attach it to the top of the wall with a nail gun. It may even come already painted. This involves a bit of woodworking skill as well as the right tools, but is very inexpensive if you can do it yourself.

Update FixturesSwitch plates, outlet covers, curtain rods, light fixtures and doorknobs are often boring or overlooked, but a few bucks can add major pizzazz. Attractive metal switch plates and outlet covers can cost as little as $5 apiece but look much more expensive. Light fixtures and decorative curtain rods can be a little pricier, but sometimes you can make an inexpensive piece look elegant with the right can of spray paint. Again, make sure to choose items in colors and finishes that will appeal to a wide audience.

Install Ceiling FansEveryone likes to save money on electricity bills, making ceiling fans an appealing addition to any home. Using ceiling fans can definitely cut down on air conditioning costs, and in fact, they can also reduce heating costs by circulating warm air away from the ceiling. A basic fan costs about $50, and a nice one can be had for no more than a couple hundred dollars. If you don't already have overhead lighting in the room or rooms you want to install fans in, the electrical work needed to install them can significantly escalate the cost of this project as well as take it out of the DIY realm.

Improve Window TreatmentsThe cheap vertical plastic blinds, paper shades, or horizontal aluminum blinds that may have come with your house definitely don't add any value to your home. Consider replacing them with plantation shutters, wooden blinds or nice drapes. By the way, it doesn't matter whether the drapes will come with the house if you are in the market as a seller. The important thing is that they make it look nice while it's on the market and help you get top dollar for your home.

Reveal and Restore Hardwood FloorsOlder homes in particular are likely to have hardwood floors lurking beneath carpet. If your floor squeaks, that's a decent sign that you may have wood floors. If you're not sure, pull up your carpet in an unnoticeable corner and investigate. If you do have wood floors, there's a good chance you'll have to refinish them to restore them to their original splendor, but that will be much less expensive than installing new flooring from scratch. BathroomRedo the Bathroom FloorMany people can learn how to do this task themselves with a simple class (your local home improvement store may offer one). Because installation makes up a major part of the cost of most home improvements, saving all that money on labor may allow you to pick nicer flooring than you could otherwise afford. Opting for a neutral-colored tile will add the most value.

Living RoomClean Fireplace BrickIf you have a brick fireplace and it's ever been used, chances are some of the brick is stained with soot and creosote. Because a nice fireplace can be a major selling point in a home, you'll want to make yours look as nice as possible. Just use a damp rag to wipe away some of the soot, then follow up with a fireplace cleaner designed to remove creosote. It will take some scrubbing with a stiff brush and possibly several applications, but you'll have that brick looking spiffy when you're finished.

Don't Forget the ExteriorIt may be easy for you to ignore your home's exterior when you spend most of your time inside, but it's the first and sometimes only impression that others get of your house. Here are a few simple ways to make it look its best. Install a New Front Door A very basic steel front door costs about $100, but for just another $100-$200, you can get a door with a lot more character that will improve your home's curb appeal. If you can't afford a new door, a fresh coat of paint in an inviting color may be all you need. Replace the Front Door MatWhen you've had the same doormat for years, it can be easy to overlook how worn out or dirty it's become, but it's one of the first impressions people get of your home. This is one area where $20 can make a big difference.

Power wash the Exterior of Your HomeFor less time and money, a good washing can make your home's exterior look almost as good as a fresh coat of paint.

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