Ideas For Creating Your Dream Wet Room

A wet room is the height of bathroom luxury. Perfectly accessible, perfectly minimalistic. A sloped floor takes the place of a tray, and opens up the space as one, big shower.

And if you’re prone to a little shower sing-a-long like us, then the whole room basically becomes your stage. Do you need much more persuasion?

But it requires careful planning and specialist kit to install a functional and beautiful wet room. Anything else can result in unwanted leaks and costly problems further down the line.

And while the space doesn’t have to be huge, your bathroom should be big enough that the rest of your suite, toilet rolls and towels don’t get sopping wet when you turn the shower on.

Unless you’re an experienced DIY-er, we’d say that installing a wet room is a job best left to the professionals. However, this simple guide will give you an idea of what’s involved:

Getting the floor level right

If you are building a new home, it will be fairly simple to create a level floor, but if you’re renovating an existing property, then the shower area will need to be lowered to make room for the extra depth of the waterproofing, adhesive and tiles. A space will be cut out of the joists and the plumber will ensure that adequate waste drainage is in place.

Installing the wet room tray

Then, a wet room tray will be installed. This is a shower enclosure that is tiled over, to achieve the slope which allows the water to flow away. Choose a central or edge drain depending on your preference — we have a selection.

Waterproofing the area

After the tray is fitted, the room will need to be fully waterproofed. Creating a barrier between the tiles and the underlying floor, this is the most essential part of the project.

This can be achieved in two ways. Firstly, you could use our wet room membrane kit, which is glued to the underlying floor and sealed with tape. Or, our thermal waterproof boards offer extra protection, which can be used as an additional or alternative solution.

Tiling

Finally, the flooring can be laid. Very large format tiles may be difficult to cut to the required angle around the drainage point, but small or medium sized tiles will be perfect. Stone or concrete-effect products will help to finish off the sleek look, while also having natural anti-slip qualities.

Wow-factor extras:

• Install underfloor heating to help dry out the floor and for a luxurious feel
• Add a shower screen to contain splashes and stop the whole floor area from getting wet
• Go for an electric shower — no waiting around for the water to heat up!
• Pair your shower with a freestanding tub to create a bold statement
• Choose a wall-mounted storage unit to stop water pooling around its base
• Mix your stone/concrete floor with patterned or textured wall tiles to create a contrast.

Have you created a wet room? We’d love to see your photos and hear any other advice you might have on Twitter!