Wet Rooms: A Complete Guide to A Hot Bathroom Style

What is a wet room?

A wet room is an open, waterproof shower room that eliminates the need for a shower tray and screen. The space is made fully waterproof before tiling and all materials used are water resistant, so the whole room can get wet without causing any damage or leaks.

Advantages of wet rooms

• A wet room can significantly increase the value of your home, especially as a second bathroom.
• Wet rooms are extremely stylish.
• Wet rooms are perfect for creating a contemporary look in your home.
• Wet rooms are perfect for small bathrooms – they can help you maximise your space; but are also great for large bathrooms!
• Your floor is better protected than in a standard bathroom (if waterproofing has been done properly).
• Wet rooms are easier to clean, especially when you also choose wall-hung sinks and toilets.
• Wet rooms are the perfect solution for elderly people or those with reduced mobility.

Disadvantages of wet rooms

• Especially in small bathrooms your towels and toilet roll could get wet from shower spraying.
• You can’t install it yourself, you need a professional fitter to waterproof the room and connect the drainage.
• You will have to tile your entire room, from floor to ceiling.

Wet Room Preparation

Building a wet room is definitely a job for the professional bathroom fitters. The bathroom needs to be completely waterproofed before installing your wet room. The floor tiles also need to be laid in a very specific way – a gradient must be created along the floor to channel the water into a drain. Creating a watertight seal, also known as tanking, will save you from problems such as leaking down the line. So, before you start, make sure you choose the right professional for the job.

Wet Room Design

Designing your wet room is the part when you can really get creative. You have many options, depending on the size of your bathroom and your preferred style. Wet rooms look great in both large and small bathrooms. You can choose ceramic tiles, which are versatile and affordable, textured tiles for the floor to make them less slippery… Or, if you want to give your wet room a spa-like feel, you can opt for natural tiles.

You can choose to have your shower valves exposed or concealed.

If you have a spacious bathroom that you like to share, you can pair a wet room shower with a freestanding tub, for a bold statement.

When it comes to furniture and storage areas, you have unlimited options. Don’t be afraid to play with textures, shapes and colours! Use your imagination to make the most of this extremely stylish trend.

Installing underfloor heating

Are you wondering if you can install underfloor heating in your wet room? Good news! Most bathroom fitters recommend installing underfloor heating to keep the tiles warm and cosy underfoot, while also helping to dry out the water on the floor.

Your wet room checklist…

To successfully create a wet room in your home, you must ensure that:

• Your bathroom is professionally waterproofed
• Drainage is connected correctly
• The gully can cope with the volume of water produced by the shower (you can check that by seeing how many litres per minute the waste can manage)
• You choose the right tiles
• The floor is stable
• You choose the right furniture
• You are making the most of this specious style
• You choose high quality

Looking for further inspiration? Pop into one of our btw showrooms, where one of our experts will be happy to explain how you can create the perfect wet room in your home. From functionality to luxury, we’ll make sure we cater for your individual needs and requirements.