A wet room is a bathroom (usually a smallish one) that is completely waterproof, with floor to ceiling non-porous tiles and an open shower area, the base flush with the rest of the floor in the room. Any water that falls on the floor is removed via a drain that is usually located in the shower section of the wet room. The room is designed with a slight gradient on the floor to angle water towards the drain. Obviously, everything that is in the wet room must be able to withstand getting wet, and good ventilation is key.

Like any damp indoor space wet rooms can be a breeding ground for mould if they are not properly designed and fitted with the correct ventilation. The Building Regulations Document F stipulates the type of ventilation that is needed for bathrooms and wet rooms, and extractor fan installations also need to comply with IET Wiring Regulations. If you have your wet room designed and installed by a competent, professional company then there should be no mould problem.

In general yes, because of the extra labour and materials involved in making them water-tight. How much a wet room costs depends, of course, on the size of the room and the fittings and fixtures you choose to put in it. Most people who have wet rooms like to have underfloor heating as an added extra, for example. The cost of a wet room should be offset by the added value it brings to your property and the pleasure and convenience it adds to your lifestyle.

If you need to have a toilet in your wet room it is probably best to install it behind a splash screen – along with your towel rail – to keep the toilet roll dry. Alternatively site the toilet as far from the shower as space allows. We usually recommend that a toilet (and basin) in a wet room be wall mounted to prevent water pooling round the base, and make it easier to clean the floor.

To effectively waterproof a wet room we use a construction system called tanking. Like any professional wet room installer we have tried and tested tanking expertise using top quality products like liquid primer, and special membranes which are designed for use on different surfaces, such as a concrete screed base or a timber floor. 

If you need any more information about wet rooms feel free to pick our brains. We’re available to discuss the suitability of a wet room for your home with no obligation, so please get in touch.