Everything You Need to Know About a Wet Room

If you haven’t heard of a wet room before, we recommend you start paying attention to this growing trend. The wet room is becoming more desirable as a minimalist, one-of-a-kind feature that works to add value to your home.

Of course, designing a wet room involves a few different stages of planning as well as an understanding of how to make surfaces waterproof during the installation process. If you’re curious about this renovation project but have no idea where to start, you’ve come to the right place for all the ins and outs.

Setting up a wet room: Everything you need to know!

What's a wet room?

Contemporary life is all about getting things done quickly and efficiently. This is why showers have taken the place of bathtubs over the last decade, and continue to grow in popularity. In relation, the wet room is an excellent option if you’re looking for a modern concept that is fully functional. 

Essentially, a wet room is similar to your average bathroom though generally accompanied by floor-to-ceiling tile, as tiles are the most waterproof possible. Further, it is necessary for the entire room to be sealed in a way so that you don’t need to incorporate a shower screen. Have we piqued your curiosity? 

Is a wet room right for your home?

There are many reasons why a wet room might not initially appeal to you. A common rumour is that a wet room can actually affect the resale value of your home rather than improve it.

Many homeowners believe that not having a bath will make it more difficult to sell their property. In fact, a professionally fitted and designed wet room will work to increase the resale value of your property, as this feature is perceived as contemporary. 

Another common wet room misconception is the idea that it will leak and damage other areas of the home. However, when correctly designed a wet room will specifically contain and channel water into the correct places.

This should only add to the appeal, as a regular bathroom is not designed in a waterproof way. Thus, a wet room is actually more waterproof than your average bathroom. In the process of a wet room renovation, you actually waterproof the entire room and thus, reduce the risk of leaks drastically.

Finally, another common idea that wet rooms may come up against is the fact that their cost will greatly exceed their value. However, installing a wet room is no more expensive than a bathroom renovation while also adding to the resale value of your home. On top of this, it can be installed in almost any home. Next, we're going to go over some of the key advantages.

Advantages of Having a Wet Room

Space

First and foremost, a wet room saves ample space in your bathroom. This style of installation is especially beneficial if you are working with limited square feet. This is especially true because there is no bath or shower which has sectioned off part of the room. The majority of wet rooms are open-concept and thus, work as the perfect space-saving solution for small homes or even for that en-suite bathroom.

Safety

Wet rooms can be ideal for those who need easy shower access, either due to reduced mobility or other factors that may be affecting your ability to access the bath or shower. Further, since there is no shower tray or tub to find your way around, a wet room is wheelchair accessible while also being safe for young children.

Easy to clean

Due to its lack of fixtures and structures, cleaning a wet room is much easier than having to navigate all of the surfaces of a traditional bathroom. This is especially true if you incorporate a wall-hung toilet as well as a non-traditional sink. With little touching the floor, the cleaning process will be quicker than you could have imagined.

Aesthetic appeal

Not only can we factor in all of the above advantages, but a wet room is also a very modern and stylish option in the realm of bathrooms. The floor-to-ceiling tiles can create a serious minimal look that is favoured in contemporary design and décor trends. Open-concept design is versatile, simple and stylish.

Other aspects to consider if you’re looking to build a wet room in your home

Of course, there are other factors to consider when installing a wet room in your home, and we’re going to go over the major ones as follows:

As you may have guessed, it is important that your wet room be completely waterproof. This will result in some specifics when it comes to design, as it must have an efficient draining system. If the installation process isn’t followed correctly, you risk serious damage and resulting in repair costs. In most cases, this will require you to install a tanking membrane underneath the floor as well as behind the wall, and it will need to be sealed. 

Ventilation is another important consideration when it comes to having a wet room in your home. As the room will collect moisture, it will need to be correctly ventilated in order to avoid any mould and mildew growth. If you have windows, they will need to be opened periodically to let the room breathe, and if not make sure that you have installed an extractor fan to rid of moisture buildup. 

Hopefully, by now you understand the many benefits of having a wet room in your home. It's crucial to remember that this also involves careful and detailed installation, so if you need help make sure to call a professional!