Is a Wet Room Right for You?

Is a Wet Room Right for You?

Wet Rooms have become very popular over the last few years, but is a wet room right for you and your needs, and what are the things to consider when installing a wet room?

What is a Wet Room?

In a nutshell, wet rooms are basically fully waterproofed bathrooms with a level-access shower.

Why Choose a Wet Room?

When installed correctly, a wet room is fantastically easy to clean thanks to its floor to ceiling tiles. It removes the need for a glass shower screen (although some people still like to use them to separate the room). The linear design gives wet rooms an appealing minimalist look, which not only looks great, but is easy to maintain.

Other benefits of a wet room include:

  • Safeguards your home against leakage. If installed by a certified professional, wet rooms are completely water-tight. This means that the floor beneath the tiles is even more protected than those in a standard bathroom. They are also much more effective than walk-in showers, as many of those don’t use a shower screen to contain the water. This allows water to spread along the floor. As the floor for walk-in showers doesn’t get treated in the same way as a wet room floor, this can potentially damage the floor and your home.
  • Wet rooms can be created in all sizes of rooms, from large to small (although it’s worth considering the space in a very small bathroom, as you wouldn’t want water spray to soak towels or toilet paper. In this instance, it might be worth installing a screen).
  • As long as there’s sufficient space in the floor to install the drain and shower tray (which sits hidden below the tiles – this helps create the level-access look), then a wet room can be installed on any level in the house. This is fantastic for elderly or less able-bodied people as it means they can have access to facilities without having to go up the stairs.
  • As above, wet rooms can be great for people that have mobility issues. All wet rooms must be safe however, so look into installing the relevant safeguards for vulnerable people before having one installed. Talk to your wet room installer anti-slip flooring and handrails.
  • You can still have a bath, sink and toilet in your wet room, and a wet room can add value to your home when installed as a second bathroom. If you want to add value to your home, then it’s probably better not to install a wet room as your main bathroom, as not everybody in the market wants them.
  • You can install underfloor heating in your wet room, which is fantastic for those chilly winter days. Talk to your professional wet room installer about this before going ahead with the job, as this is something that needs to be done before the tiles go down.

Other Important Things to Consider when Installing a Wet Room

  • The (usually) most expensive and imperative part of building a wet room is the fully water proof layer below the tiles. If this layer is installed incorrectly or using the wrong materials, then it could leak, causing huge amounts of damage and expense further down the line. If you’re unsure or uncomfortable doing it, then it’s always best to call in a professional.
  • The main appeal of having a wet room is having a level accessed shower floor rather than plastic step in shower tray. This not only looks nicer but is easier to clean. Wet rooms, do however, have a special waterproof wet room tray that sits below the tiles and is flushed with the floor. This allows the water to drain away as a normal shower. The cost of your wet room shower tray will depend on the size of the tray and type of drain needed.
  • You may need to move your door frame upwards to sit flush with the floor. This is because your wet room installer will effectively adding another couple of layers to your floor, so the door frame will need to move upwards to it sits flush.
  • Include any other fixtures and fittings in your budget such as a shower screen, towel rails and storage such as shelves. As mentioned, a shower screen isn’t needed, but some people like to use them to split the room or to safeguard towels from any splashing.
  • Think carefully about the type of tiles you want in your wet room, as this will have a huge effect on the ongoing maintenance and your enjoyment of the room. Natural stones look beautiful but need to be sealed regularly to remain waterproof; porcelain tiles are more expensive than ceramic, but are hard wearing, so should be more cost effective in the long run.

Always Choose a Professional!

Choosing a competent tradesmen is imperative for any type of bathroom installation, but even more so for Wet Rooms, as it’s so easy for things to go wrong if in the wrong hands, and even harder to fix. Here at Bespoke, we are specialists in Wedi Wet Room installation and will install your wet room to the highest standard.