A wet room is a bathroom design that does away with a separate shower enclosure and even the shower tray itself. Instead, the entire bathroom floor is sealed to make it waterproof. The room is designed to be “wet” throughout, allowing water to drain away across the floor to a central outlet.
Wet rooms create stylish, contemporary bathrooms that provide an accessible, easy-access showering space (see drawabath.co.uk). But they require careful design and installation to work effectively. Read on to learn all about wet room bathrooms.
How Wet Rooms Work
The key to a wet room is waterproofing the entire floor area so that water simply runs across it to drain away. This removes the need for a plastic shower tray or enclosure. Tiles are laid across the floor and often continue up the walls.
The floor is gently sloped towards a floor drain outlet. This guides water to run off safely, rather than pooling across the floor. Wall-mounted shower fittings sit directly against the tiles, enabling water to spray across a wider area.
A crucial part of the design is waterproofing. Special tanking materials are applied beneath the tiles to seal and protect the floor and walls. This prevents leaks of water down into the floor voids and adjoining rooms below.
Benefits of Wet Room Bathrooms
There are many benefits to the wet room design:
- They provide an accessible, level entry shower without awkward trays or doors. This makes them ideal for elderly or disabled users.
- The open showering area creates a luxurious, spa-like feel. No cold plastic surrounds or shower curtains here!
- Removing the shower enclosure makes the most of available space. Wet rooms feel light and roomy.
- They offer a sleek, contemporary look perfect for modern or refurbished bathrooms.
- Cleaning and maintenance are easier without a separate shower cubicle to scrub.
- Freed from enclosure constraints, shower fittings can be positioned for maximum coverage.
Things to Consider Before Installing a Wet Room
Wet rooms require careful planning and installation to work effectively:
- The bathroom must be located above a suitable drain for the floor outlet. This may limit locations.
- Ceilings need to be strong enough to support new shower fittings. These are no longer mounted into walls.
- Floor structure and voids need inspection for suitable tanking surfaces. Concrete floors work best.
- Walls usually need reinforcing with waterproof boards before tiling for maximum water protection.
- Only a professional can install effective sloping, tanking and drainage so budget accordingly.
- Ongoing sealing maintenance is crucial to prevent leaks as silicone and grout degrades over time.
- Lack of enclosed warm space means the room must have effective heating and insulation.
Designing Your Wet Room Layout
Careful planning is needed to design an effective wet room layout:
- Place the floor drain centrally and ensure the floor slope falls towards it from all directions.
- Position shower fittings away from doors to prevent water escaping the room.
- Locate toilets and basins away from shower zones to keep them dry.
- Avoid installing cupboards or vanity units. These will get soaked by water run off.
- Check for suitable connection points for shower fitments before tiling starts.
- Install accessible heating, lighting and extraction systems suitable for damp conditions.
- Provide somewhere to sit and dry off comfortably after showering.
Waterproofing Requirements
Effective waterproofing is crucial to prevent leaks and moisture damage. Here are the key requirements:
- Tanking membranes beneath the tiles provide the waterproof seal. Materials like Gutjahr or Schluter systems are ideal.
- Waterproof boards strengthen walls. Cement backerboards like Aquapanel or Marmox are perfect.
- Tanking tape and flexible sealant at all joints, corners and around drainage points.
- Silicone sealant where walls and floors meet, along with wall corners.
- Grates over floor drains stop debris blockages whilst allowing water through.
- Waterproofing treatment along the entire wet zone area including some wall space.
Flooring Options
The floor finish must be waterproof and slip-resistant. Good choices include:
- Ceramic or porcelain tiles – durable, waterproof and easy to clean. Add tile trim at the edges.
- Resin flooring – seamless, glossy and resistant to chemicals. Good grip options available.
- Stone flooring like granite or marble – natural, stylish but can be slippery when wet.
- Brick or wood effect tiles – provide a textured finish that is slip-resistant.
Avoid wood floors, vinyl and laminate as they will quickly deteriorate. Anti-slip textures or aggregates improve grip.
How to Use and Maintain Your Wet Room
To keep your wet room in good condition:
- Check and reseal joints annually as sealant degrades over time. Top up or replace as needed.
- Clean tiles and surfaces frequently to prevent build ups of soap, oils and grime.
- Use squeegees after showering to clear standing water, reducing moisture damage.
- Open windows or run fans and extraction to lower humidity after use.
- Only use fully waterproof bathroom furnishings designed for wet rooms.
- Get any leaks fixed immediately to prevent water ingress damage.
- Be careful introducing bath oils, salts or fragrances which can damage sealants.
Costs of Installing a Wet Room
As a major bathroom project, wet rooms don’t come cheap. Typical costs are:
- Removal of old bathroom fixtures and enclosure: £500-£1,500
- Waterproof tanking materials and labour: £1,000-£3,000
- Wall and floor tiling: £1,000-£3,000
- New bathroom fixtures like shower, toilet and basin: £500-£2,000
- Associated electrical, plumbing and extraction work: £500-£1,500
- Total typical cost: £4,000-£10,000
Extra costs may be incurred if the floor structure also needs modifying to create falls or allow tanking. But a professionally installed wet room adds serious value to your home.
Should You Install a Wet Room?
Here are some final thoughts on whether a wet room is right for your bathroom:
- Wet rooms work best on ground or lower ground floors. Routing water from upstairs bathrooms is harder.
- They are ideal for creating contemporary, luxury bathrooms to add value to your home.
- The open showering space provides accessibility. But partially tiled walk-in showers can also achieve this.
- Weigh up the costs against simply replacing a shower enclosure or tray.
- Be prepared to manage increased condensation and humidity levels.
- Effective ongoing maintenance is essential to prevent leaks damaging the room or ceilings below.
If designed and installed well, a wet room can be a beautiful addition to your home. They provide an indulgent showering experience and give bathrooms a sleek, contemporary edge. Just be sure to plan carefully and employ professional installers. Refer to our tips to gain an understanding of what’s involved so you can decide if a wet room is right for your next bathroom project.
