When purchasing a home, one of the first things potential homebuyers look for, other than ideal location, is the number of rooms. Considering the size and the number of bathrooms you want in your new home is just as important as the number of bedrooms. For new homebuyers, it can be easy to get lost in all of the terminology surrounding bathrooms. Do you want a “powder room”? What exactly is a “¾ bathroom”? What’s the difference between a “shower room” and a “family bathroom”? Below are the basics of bathroom terminology in the U.S.
Number of Bathrooms
When looking at home listings, you will notice different notations for the number of bathrooms in the home. Often, the bathrooms will be listed as a number with any half bathrooms listed as .5. For instance, 2 and ½ bathrooms will appear as 2.5 bathrooms in a brochure or home listing.
However, you may see something a little different, as more and more communities are beginning to use a newer method. This new way of listing bathrooms places the number of full bathrooms to the left of the decimal point and the number of half baths to the right. This means that if you find a home with 3 full bathrooms and 2 half bathrooms, this would be listed as 3.2.
Types of Bathrooms
In addition to the number of bathrooms, new homeowners should also pay attention to the type of bathroom. The terms used to describe the bathroom will often give you an idea of what appears in the room (toilet, sink, and/or shower) and can also give you a hint about the size.
Here is the most common U.S. terminology for types of bathrooms:
- Full bath: contains a bathtub, shower, toilet, and sink
- ¾ bathroom: includes a toilet, sink, and shower, but no tub
- Powder room, half bathroom, or guest bath: includes just a toilet and sink
- Family bathroom: a full bathroom in the home
- Master bath: adjoins the master bedroom and includes a shower and tub.
- En suite: only accessible through a bedroom
- Jack and Jill bathroom: accessible from two bedrooms with two separate doors, may include a third door to the hallway
- Shower room: Contains a shower stall or cubicle, but does not have a bathtub
- Wet-room: a waterproof room that typically has a shower
Choosing the right combination of rooms and bathrooms is an important step in finding the home of your dreams. If you have a large family, you might prefer to have more bathrooms or a more private bathroom for yourself. If you often have guests, then a guest bath will be important. Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal needs and preferences.
Choose Your Own Home Layout
Are you having a hard time finding a home that fits your needs? With a custom build home from Nest Homes at Sisters Cove in Mooresville NC, you are able to conveniently choose your own home layout. For more information contact Gus or Kim at OnPointCarolinas.com.
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