5 Considerations Before Installing Your Wet Room

Installing a wet room in your bathroom turns a regular room into a spa-like destination. A wet room creates a truly luxurious space but it is also a practical addition to the home that makes bathing easier, more convenient, and more special. A wet room takes some time to properly fit, however, and it is a renovation project that needs some focus and attention. Here are the key pointers you need to watch out for before you install your new wet room.

•  Consider the Drainage 

When planning a wet room or a walk-in shower enclosure you need to consider that the floor for the shower and the area around it are not separate but form one continuous piece. As such, the water must drain off from the shower effectively and safely. Consult a bathroom engineer or renovation specialist to check how your walk-in shower or wet room will drain properly.

•  Select Your Wet Room Format 

Different styles of shower tray for wet rooms are available and you also need to consider the type of separation you are going to have between the wet room and the rest of the bathroom. You have a good deal of choice in terms of style, from stone trays and walls to gleaming chrome and glass.

•  Position the Shower Screen and Shower Head 

A walk in shower wet room is usually contained within a frameless shower enclosure large enough to give the wet room the traditional'spa? feel. A walk-in shower screen will not contain all of the water, so consideration should be paid to where the shower head will be located to minimise spray across the bathroom, and also to the positioning of the rest of the bathroom furniture. One of the features of a wet room is the idea that the shower is more of a part of the room, but you don't want to have to step through standing water to get to the toilet.

•  Check the Flooring 

The floor in the wet room should offer some slip resistance ? tiles are the most common options, and vinyl tiles the most cost effective. Stone tiles are also used in wet rooms, and attention should be paid to the grouting used to make sure it is suitable for a wet room or walk-in shower.

•  Consider Maintenance 

Wet room floors made of natural stone'should be properly sealed to cut down on problems with maintenance, and also to prevent mould building up. A wet room doesn't have to be time consuming to keep. It is a good idea to clear most of the water from the floor after showering so that there is a minimal soak-in and fewer problems with cracked grout over time.