QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE ANSWERING ABOUT WET ROOMS

What is a wet room?
What are the benefits of installing a wet room?
Can a wet room be installed in any house or apartment?
What type of floor is my wet room to be installed on to?
What points of considerations do I have to think about when planning a wet room?
How do I plan a wet room?
What components are required to build a wet room?

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What is a wet room?
A true wet room is a room which is full completely water tight, simply furnished with a walk in shower area.  There is no conventional shower tray.  It does have a shower area which blends level with its surrounding areas and is a continuation of the bathroom floor.  In the UK we tend to like a wet rooms to be open and fully cladded in a waterproof material. 

What are the benefits of installing a wet room?
The way we live
It provides compatibility with underfloor heating systems to add to a luxurious feel. Click here for more information on underfloor heating products.

• A wet room offers a contemporary design giving a timeless finish with an open plan aspect creating an attractive space to your bathroom.
• Low maintenance, extremely easy to clean; especially if you complete your bathroom design with wall hung sanitary ware.

Transformation

• Wet rooms provide an opportunity to give an old bathroom a facelift turning it into a modern contemporary room.
• Transforming a room into a second bathroom complete with wet room can add value to your property. 

Flexibility

• It is possible to fit wet room flooring on top of wood or concrete floors.
• The wet room can be as small or as spacious as you like.
• Wet rooms provide you with the flexibility to fit a shower where a conventional shower tray is not viable.  The wet room flooring requires no predetermined shape or size.

Can a wet room be installed in any house or apartment?
Yes, it is possible to fit or replace your shower room or bathroom in any house or apartment with a wet room.  However, if you require the wet room flooring access to be level, make sure there is enough space beneath the actual floor base to accommodate the shower drain as it must be installed completely into the floor. You can design and create a wet room with creativity or simplicity in mind. See some designs here

What type of floor is my wet room to be installed on to?
Wooden Floor - The most common base flooring found in the UK is wooden.  This is made up of joists and beams which provides support for the entire floor and sometimes the studded partition walls (providing different sections to a room). The Joists are covered with the wooden planks or floorboards to provide the finished floor ready for whatever covering is required.  These floors do have some movement especially within the first few years.  This is especially an issue with newly built properties and which something can experience movement up to  3 years after a properly has been newly built.
Concrete Floor - This flooring is not common in the UK.  It is probably more prevalent in other European homes.  Concrete provides a very strong and stable floor base.
Mixed Floor - These can be made of a combination of wooden joists and beams, floorboards and solid concrete found in old properties.

What points of considerations do I have to think about when planning a wet room?

Where is the best location for my wet room?
What is the design and budget?
Who will build my wet room?  Consider a professional installer verses DIY installation.
What is the size and style of the wet rooms drain?
You should measure and draw a plan of the bathroom space. 
What type of base floor does the drain have to be installed within?
What consideration to the floor finish is required? i.e. tiles design; larger tiles or mosaics.
Is underfloor heating and heated towel rails an option?
What other considerations need to be taken into account for less able showering i.e. easy access for wheel chair, grab rail, shower seating and non slip floor finish?

How do I plan a wet room?
You will need to produce a plan.
Design - It is helpful to draw a plan of your room marking clearly, room size and location of sanitary ware, doors, windows, supply and waste pipes, joist location and direction, not forgetting the location of your wet room.  Have a clear view of what you are hoping to achieve both practically and aesthetically. Decide on the style of  your room. Is saving space a consideration?
Budget - How much is your budget for this project? 
Stick to your budget, it is always helpful to reduce your budget figure it by around 10%  for a contingency allowance.  
Flooring -    Consider the wet room type of flooring.  If you choose tiles, the style and size and colour of tile can give your room a completely different look and feel.
Heating - With a wet room you are given the flexibility that allows the option to install underfloor heating instead of radiators and/or heated towel rails.  This not only adds warmth but helps the floor to dry faster Click here to view our underfloor heating kits.
Glass Screens - The benefit of a glass screen is it provides the contemporary seamless open feel while protecting sanitary ware from water spray.  Click here to view our glass screens.  However, a solid wall may be preferable Click here to view No More Ply.  
Baths - Conventional or freestanding.
Installation - We provide our wet rooms in kit form to make it easy to work out your material costing. Click here to view our kits.

What components are required to build a wet room?
Wet room systems are put together using similar components.
1) Shower base & outlet
The base is varied depending on your requirements. They resemble a shower tray which has a built-in fall to the centre.  This is to allow the base to guide the water into the outlet.  Most wet room bases are ready for tiling over unless the base chosen is made from materials which already are the moulded finish base product such as Corian or even ceramic.  The construction of your base will vary, depending on what existing floor type you are installing the wet room upon, the finished look you require, your budget and the experience, skill and knowledge of the installer.
2)The Shower Trap and Waste
This provides the connection from the shower base to the waste outlet which is connected to the drain.  These components are designed to meet regulations; they should be easy to join to the other pipes and should also stop smells returning up into the room. Click here to find out more.
3)Waterproof Tanking System
This is what is required to seal the room, making the area waterproof, preventing moisture or water damage incurring to the building.  This product does not usually come with your wet room.  It is an item which requires purchasing separately. The varied products available again offer different degrees of simplicity for installation.  Some have complex seals to assemble.  However, some systems are designed with the DIY installer in mind. Click here to find out more.

REMEMBER
It is your wet room will need to be 100% water tight and you will need to make sure the following points are adhered to:

• The correct floor gradients in order to achieve effective drainage.
• Compatible floor drainage.
• All adjoining rooms are protected for water migration.

Download here the Kaskade wet room kit manual for more information.