What Is a Three-Quarter Bathroom?

If you are  in the process of remodeling your home, you have likely come across the term ‘three-quarter bathroom.’ But, what exactly does that mean, and should you go for this type of bathroom? In this article, we will be answering that question and other vital aspects to help you decide whether such a bathroom type is for you.

A three-quarter bathroom is a bathroom that comes with a shower, sink, and toilet. It does not have space for a bathtub but pretty much offers all the necessary fixtures and functionalities. There are numerous designed options for three-quarter bathrooms. A 3/4 bathroom is a popular choice for guest bathrooms. 

That is pretty much the gist of what a three-quarter bathroom is. Now, there is more to the three-quarter bathroom than what is seen on the surface. Please continue reading below to learn more about this type of bathroom, its strengths, and weaknesses.

Bathroom Measurement Guide

There is a simple way to determine what type of bathroom you have, whether a three-quarter, half, or full bath. Thankfully, we won’t need any measuring tape to do so. The simplest way to answer this question is by counting how much water-bearing fixtures are installed in your bathroom.

Four integral bathroom fixtures use water: the sink, toilet, shower, and tub. Each institution counts as one-quarter of a bathroom. So, if you have a sink and toilet, that is a half bathroom, and if you have all four, that is a full bathroom type.

A bathroom is considered a three-quarter type as long as there are three water-based fixtures. If you are purchasing a home that states it has a three-quarter bathroom, we highly recommend you ask for the specifics. For example, a bathroom with a sink, toilet, and bathtub can also be considered a three-quarter type. This omission in detail is crucial if you prefer a shower over a bathtub.

So, as a piece of friendly advice, we suggest you always ask for specifics regarding the bathroom type and not assume what is included in, let us say, a three-quarter or a half bathroom.

Types of Bathroom

Now, let us go into further detail regarding the different bathroom types in households. This overview should help you determine which style best suits your preferences.

Full Bathroom

Let us begin at the top with the full bathroom. This type of bathroom offers the complete package, and then some. You can expect this bathroom to provide you with all the necessary fixtures such as the sink, toilet, shower, and bathtub.

The full bathroom is often found in the master bedroom and is typically a symbol of luxury. This type of bathroom is usually the largest as it must accommodate all-important fixtures. You can also often find full bathrooms with a built-in cabinet, shelf, double sink, and vanity.

Half Bathroom

Next up, we have the half bathroom, comprising only two of the four main bathroom fixtures. The half bathroom design is typically used in smaller spaces, which is common in apartments. The half bath comes with two crucial bathroom fixtures, the sink and the toilet.

Also, half bathrooms are commonly home renovation options for those who wish to add an extra bathroom for guests. In some instances, homeowners can even convert a closet space into a half bathroom for a couple of thousand dollars. Adding a half bath can significantly increase the resale value of a house.

Three-Quarter Bathroom

Here we have the main reason we are here, the three-quarter bath. This type of bathroom is typically the most popular as it fits right into a decent-sized home. Expect three main bathroom fixtures, with the two guaranteed to be the sink and toilet. As for the third component, it will either be a shower or bathtub.

It is possible to upgrade a three-quarter bath into a full one as long as the third key component is a bathtub. How? By simply installing a showerhead over the tub and installing a shower curtain. That is probably the cheapest and fastest upgrade to a full bath.

Quarter Bathroom

Lastly, we have the quarter bathroom, which only comes with a single bathroom fixture. The quarter bathroom typically features a toilet or just a shower, specifically found only in certain areas. For example, the quarter bathroom with shower-only is located besides swimming pools, while the toilet-only are often installed in open venues.

Design Considerations Before Going with a Three-Quarter Bath

Adding a secondary bathroom or even a third if your house can accommodate it will enhance the overall advantage of your home. A three-quarter bath is the best comprehensive choice compared to a half bath. Why? Because it is pretty much a complete bathroom in its own right.

A three-quarter bath offers the necessary components: the sink, a toilet, and a shower/tub. As noted earlier, if your three-quarter bathroom has a tub, you can upgrade it to a full bath by simply adding a shower over the bathtub. The overall functionality offered by a three-quarter bath will be pretty convenient in a relatively busy home as more people can simultaneously use the toilet or take a bath.

You will need to determine where to place the three-quarter bathroom for design considerations. For example, will it be on the first floor, the second floor, or may in the basement? It would be best to decide whether you plan to use it as a secondary or simply a guest bathroom.

Extra Features of a Three-Quarter Bathroom

Yes, the three-quarter bathroom can have its limitation depending on which three components are included, but that shortcoming can be balanced. Specifically, you can add fixtures into the bathroom, even more so than a full bath. In addition, adding stuff like cabinets and shelves can improve the overall convenience of the bathroom.

Also, if you are adding a three-quarter bathroom to your home, it pretty much opens up new design possibilities. Maybe you can add a lovely skylight or a larger window? You can optimize the bathroom fixture positioning to make the most out of the floor space. We suggest consulting a talented interior designer to realize your vision for your three-quarter bath fully.

Is It Possible to Convert a Full Bathroom to a Three-Quarter Type?

While we have already established that it is possible to upgrade a three-quarter bath to a full one, what about the other way around? Before we begin, you might ask why anyone would want to convert a full bath to a three-quarter type? The main reasons for this decision are mostly to free up extra space or upgrade your shower stall into something high-end.

So, back to the question. Yes, you can convert a full bath to a three-quarter bath, no problem. You can do this by uninstalling the bathtub. That said, this can be quite an expensive endeavor as it will likely cost over a thousand bucks for the parts and labor. So, think hard before you go about converting your full bath to a three-quart one.

Cost-Saving Tips When Upgrading Your Three-Quarter Bathroom

Those planning to upgrade their three-quarter bathroom to the complete all-in-one deal expect to spend a lot. However, there are ways to mitigate the overall expenses somewhat. Here are some tips you should take to optimize your budget when upgrading your bathroom fully.

• Labor takes a chunk of the expenditures – about 75%. Try to cut back on labor as much as possible.
• Check all contractors available in your area. It would help if you found that balance between skill and rate.
• Consider the materials that you will use during the renovation. For example, to cut costs on tiles, we suggest going with larger ones as you will purchase less.
• You do not need to have the tiles go all the way up the ceiling. Instead, ask your contractor to stay within the height of the showerhead regarding the tiling of the wall.
• If you are adding a sink instead, we recommend using the more affordable PVC or CPVC pipes, as it can save you about 70% of the total cost compared to using stainless steel pipes.

The post What Is a Three-Quarter Bathroom? appeared first on The Toilet Zone.