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1/2 bath to 3/4 bath

6 years ago

I have a downstairs 1/2 bathroom that is 72 inches by 59 inches. As a half bath, it is very large, with a lot of unused space. We could definitely use a third shower, so I would like to turn this area into a 2/3 bath, but it would be quite small for that purpose. Expansion would be difficult, and we wouldn't gain much space. I'm trying to picture a way to make this possible.


The current layout is the toilet and pedestal sink are both on the far, 72 inch wall.


Comments (9)

  • 6 years ago

    I agree with Greg. You will have to get out the graph paper if you don't like that idea. Draw out the room with precise measurements of where the door and any windows are. Look for the smallest shower that you will consider, the smallest sink you can put up with, and a toilet. Be aware that the toilet must be centered in an imaginary box 30" side-to-side and that it must have 21" of clearance that is that same 30" wide in front of it. So the sink cannot go in that space. In some jurisdictions, that 30" box is a 36" wide box. I would make my toilet box on another piece of graph paper and the shower, too. See if you can arrange the room with a sink in it and room to move. I am going to say that 32" x 32" is the smallest allowed shower, but I do not want to swear on that. Look at prefab sowers and see the smallest ones, it will probably be right.


    Then do a search on "wet rooms" and see if you like that better.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Nancy's process sounds like a great first step. Try and sketch out the room, keep 30" for the toilet (15" on center from either side) and see how you can 'arrange' everything to your liking.


    Also, not sure what area you are in, but I would suggest scheduling a consultation with an interior designer to see what they think and what creative layout ideas they might come up with.


    Good luck!

  • PRO
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    You don't really have room. A toilet ALONE needs 30 inches ( 15" to any obstruction ) width to meet code. A shower at the same size is a broom closet. ....and leaves 12 inches for a tea cup to wash your hands. Sorry. Not worth the rip up. It will be a bad full bath. The most common small full bath is 5 " x 8" for a reason. All that will happen is you will ruin a powder room. Wall hung teacup size sink, pocket door undoubtedly.

    Hard to say without existing conditions. suck as window ,,,,,,,,,door.



  • 6 years ago

    That's what we did. The shower curtain hangs from a track on the ceiling just to keep heat and water contained a tish.
    The trick to saving physical space is eliminate any hard walls in the middle of the box.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    With glass a shower and even a curb.....is better than "tish" : ) Hard to have everything at that size.

  • 6 years ago

    Arcy_gw, what size is your room? Does the water stay pretty much in the shower area? We used to go to a conference every year in a hotel with wet rooms and the floor stayed wet. If you had to use the bathroom for anything after your shower, you had to either don your shoes or leave socks off until time to go out the door.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    You DON'T want a shower curtain. You really don't.

  • 6 years ago

    We used a 3/4 corner tub in the guest bathroom in our old house. It was quite comfortable for both showering and sitting in the tub. It took up a surprisingly small amount of space.