Bathrooms 101
For some of you, bathrooms may seem like a weird topic for a blog. But the more I show homes to people moving to the South Denver metro area, the more I am convinced that an education is needed here.
People in other countries and in different parts of our country use different words to describe the same thing. Because there isn’t a single, universal definition, people can become confused when they look at real estate listings.
In Colorado, for example, a “3/4 bath” consists of a toilet, sink and shower, but that may not be what you’d find in a “3/4 bath” in other parts of the country.
So, here are the terms used in Colorado, followed by some more fun words that are used to describe these rooms of hygiene.
In Colorado’s MLS, these are the abbreviations, names of the rooms and their descriptions:
H – Half bath, just toilet and sink
T – 3/4 bath with a toilet, sink and shower, but no tub
F – Full bath, which has a toilet, sink, shower and tub
Lastly, a 5-piece bath will include two sinks, a tub, separate shower and toilet. It’s the ultimate bathroom, setup and ideally is what you want for a master bathroom.
Now for the fun terminology:
Powder room – Also referred to as a “1/2 bath” or “guest bath,” this room usually has a toilet and a sink and is commonly used by guests.
Shower room – A room that contains a shower stall but no bathtub. Here in Colorado and in most parts of the United States, this is also known as a “3/4 bath.”
Ensuite – A bathroom or shower room attached to and only accessible from a bedroom.
Jack and Jill bath – A bathroom with two doors, accessible from two bedrooms, usually shared by the children in a home. This room usually contains one or two sinks, a toilet and shower in a bathtub.
Water closet – Often abbreviated “W.C.”, a water closet consists of a toilet. In other countries, this room also may be euphemistically called a lavatory, bog and a loo. Americans also commonly refer to this as a pot or a john.
