Adding a new three-quarter bathroom can be a good idea if you are planning a renovation and want to increase your home value.
But before you can add a three-quarter or 3/4 bath to your house, it is best to gather all the necessary information about installing such a bathroom. After all, there are different sizes and types of bathrooms, and how can you be sure that a 3/4 is the right one for you?
That said, you can come up with a feasible bathroom renovation design based on the available area. But first things first, you need to know about the salient features that separate a three-quarter bath from a traditional full bath, half bath, and quarter bath.
So, go ahead and read this article for all the necessary information that you need to know about them and whether a 3/4 is the right choice. But first, let’s start with the basics.
What Is a Three-Quarter Bathroom?
Before you can add a new three-quarter bath in the house, you need to know what a three-quarter bathroom is. Simply put, it is a space-efficient bathroom that includes all the essential elements. In other words, it has a small and functional bathroom design.
It’s worth noting that a three-quarter bathroom usually does not feature a tub. However, it should consist of a sink, toilet, and shower. But, you can find a tub instead of a shower in some three-quarter baths on rare occasions. Anyhow, if you decide to add this bathroom to your house, it is best to have a clear idea about the available bathroom space.
Furthermore, there are several factors that you need to consider before actually installing the bathroom, including the bathroom layout and the bathroom decoration. But since a three-quarter bath has limited space, you cannot install more than three main elements.
Needless to say, you need to carefully choose the equipment that you plan on installing before drawing up a bathroom plan.
Full Bath Vs. Three-Quarter Bath
There is essentially very little difference between a 3/4 bath and a full bath. However, the minute differences that you need to consider can make or break your plan. These are mostly regarding bathroom equipment and the available bathroom space.
One of the significant differences between these two types of bathrooms is the number of appliances they can accommodate. That said, a full bath has all the necessary bathroom elements, including a toilet, sink, and both a shower and a bathtub.
Due to ample space, you may choose between a shower and tub arrangement in a full bathroom. For instance, the bathroom can have a bathtub with an attached showerhead or a separate walk-in shower cabin.
In contrast, a three-quarter bathroom is equipped with either a shower or a tub, but never both. And in most cases, it has a shower instead of a tub, in addition to a functional sink and toilet. If you have more than these three fixtures in the bathroom, you can no longer call it a 3/4 bath.
Furthermore, a full bath usually comes with a bathroom space of 40 to 45 square feet. The average size can also go up to 60 square feet, depending on the available area in the house. More often than not, a full bath is attached to a master bedroom.
On the other hand, you will need an average of 32 to 40 square feet for a three-quarter bathroom. These are more suitable for a guest bathroom or in a shared living space.
Half Bath Vs. Three-Quarter Bath
A half bath is a small bathroom that only has two of the four primary elements included in a full bath, namely, a toilet and a sink. Traditionally, a half bathroom is known as a powder room and is widely popular as private quarters where women can touch up their makeup. Needless to say, it is an entertaining and functional space, all at once.
However, you cannot use a half bathroom for showering or bathing purposes as it does not include a shower or a tub. So, if you’re planning to add a half bath, make sure that you already have a fully functional full or 3/4 bath for everyday bathroom activities.
And even though a 3/4 bath might have a more limited bathroom space than a full bath, it is still adequate. That said, it has all the amenities that are required for daily necessities, starting from brushing teeth to showering.
In other words, a 3/4 bath is a better replacement for the main bathroom than a half bath. After all, not even two half bathrooms cannot be a replacement for a full bath.
Moreover, half baths are significantly smaller than 3/4 baths in terms of bathroom space and size. Half baths usually range from 11 to 20 square feet. But, if you have a half bathroom of around 32 square feet, you’ll have enough space to transform it to a 3/4 bath during bathroom renovations.
Quarter Bath Vs. Three-Quarter Bath
As mentioned earlier, bathroom types differ based on their size and amenities. On that note, a tiny quarter bath is limited to a toilet. These commonly have the smallest bathroom space and are equipped with only one of the four primary bathroom facilities available in a traditional full bath.
It is pretty obvious that you cannot carry out the everyday bathroom activities if you only have a quarter bath in the house.
But, it does serve as a helpful addition when the main bathroom is preoccupied. Hence, a quarter bath works as an excellent additional bathroom to supplement existing facilities.
Indeed, you can’t use a quarter bath for washing hands or taking showers as it is pretty rare to find a sink or a shower in such a small bathroom. So, unlike a 3/4 bathroom, a quarter bath can never be the main bathroom in your house.
At the same time, a quarter bath takes up much less space than a 3/4 bath. So, it may be a nifty addition if you have limited floor space to work with. You can also make the quarter bath more spacious by installing a round toilet instead of an elongated toilet bowl model.
Size Requirement of a 3/4 Bath
Based on the appliances you’re planning to install in the bathroom, the space can vary. You’ll require much smaller square footage while organizing a 3/4 bath as compared to a full bath. So, it is best to determine the available area before organizing the bathroom space carefully.
If you have a 32 square feet area, you can install a spacious and comfortable shower in the 3/4 bath. Any standard shower will have a size of 32 inches by 32 inches from one edge to another. So, 32 square feet of bathroom space will be enough to organize a standard 3/4 bathroom featuring a sink, a toilet, and a shower.
However, if you’re planning to include a tub instead of a shower in the 3/4 bath, you’ll need a much bigger space of at least 40 square feet. Thus, if you have a large house and can spare 40 square feet of bathroom space, you can organize a much more spacious 3/4 bath with a bathtub.
What Is a Good 3/4 Bathroom Layout?
As we all know, good architectural designs and layouts can help in creating better bathrooms for everyone. So, it is best to seriously consider the bathroom layout while organizing and installing the bathroom appliances in a 3/4 bath.
To efficiently utilize the available bathroom space, you can install the shower or tub between two walls as the entrance door faces the entire room. By organizing the shower in the corner, you can make the limited bathroom area more spacious.
Plus, you can place the toilet between the sink and the shower so that you can easily access all three appliances. In this way, there will be plenty of room to use the walk-in shower cabin or the tub comfortably.
Moreover, this bathroom layout will allow you to fit all the necessary bathroom fixtures, including the sink, toilet, and shower or tub, using only two walls. So, you can use another bathroom wall for installing hooks, shelves, and other accessories.
Usefulness of a 3/4 Bath
A traditional full bath often takes up a lot of space, which can be troublesome. Furthermore, maintaining both a shower and a tub is a backbreaking and exhausting task if you’re living all by yourself. But, in a 3/4 bath, it is much easier to maintain the bathroom appliances without much hassle.
Moreover, the cost of maintenance is also lesser for a 3/4 bathroom as compared to a full bathroom. Additionally, if you have limited space, going for a 3/4 bathroom is a better option than organizing a full bathroom. So nowadays, 3/4 of bathrooms have become far more popular among students and young people who usually have a limited budget and live in small apartments.
Tubs or Showers?
Installing showers requires less bathroom space than installing bathtubs. Thus, you can either install a bathtub or a shower in your 3/4 bathroom, depending on the available area.
For instance, standard shower designs can easily fit within a 32 square feet area. In comparison, you will require a space of at least 40 square feet to install a bathtub in the 3/4 bathroom. Hence, you need to carefully determine the available bathroom space before installing any bathroom fixtures.
Furthermore, if you have children or older people in the family, it is best to install a bathtub for a comfortable bathing experience. However, if you are renting an apartment alone, it is better to go for a shower instead of a full bathtub to cut down on the maintenance costs of the bathroom. So, it ultimately comes down to your available bathroom space, personal needs, and budget.
Added Value of a Three-Quarter Bath
Based on the number of bathrooms available in the house, the overall value of your home will vary considerably. By adding a 3/4 bath in a desirable location in your home, you can enhance the value of the house.
If you have only one main bathroom, adding a 3/4 bath can greatly increase the overall value of the house. However, if you already have multiple bathrooms in the house, adding an extra 3/4 won’t result in any major changes in the valuation.
Furthermore, installing substandard bathroom appliances in the 3/4 bath won’t help in increasing the overall value of the house. Hence, you need to consider the quality of the bathroom appliances, along with the location of the bathroom, if you want to enhance the valuation of the house.
Moreover, if your house is located in a less desirable region, adding a fancy 3/4 bathroom won’t add any extra value to the home. But, if your house is located in a highly desirable area, even a small 3/4 bath can greatly impact its overall value. So, along with the number of bathrooms, the house location also impacts its valuation.
Final Words
After going through the article, we hope you have a better idea about a 3/4 bath as well as the other bathroom types.
Clearly, organizing a fully functional 3/4 bathroom can be a challenging task. So, it is best to consider all the aspects of your house design before adding a new 3/4 bathroom to your home.
That said, you need to carefully measure the available bathroom space before choosing the primary amenities that you want to install in the new 3/4 bath. Moreover, it will be better to design a bathroom layout that can help you to make the bathroom more spacious and comfortable to use.
We suggest you take some time and hire a professional architect who can help you develop a feasible bathroom design that meets your needs. And on that note, we will leave you to it. Until next time!
Related Articles
13 Best Bathtub Faucets Right Now
How to Fix Rotten Floor Joist Under Bathtub
Different Types of Bathtub Materials to Consider to Uplift Your Home Value
17 Best Bathroom Design Tool Options Today
17 Most Common Plumbing Problems & How to Fix Them
