What’s The Difference Between a Bathroom and a Wetroom?
Wetrooms are the current bathroom trend buzzword, but what exactly is a wetroom? Can anyone have one, or are they just suitable for a certain type of home? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about a wetroom, and this should help you work out whether or not it’s something you want to consider for your next bathroom project.
What Is a Wetroom?
As the name suggests, a wetroom is an area which is entirely waterproof. Think about your standard bathroom – the showering area is probably waterproof, as the water is contained in the shower tray to drain away. Spill water on the floor in other parts of the room and there’s nowhere for it to go. A wetroom is generally designed to be like one huge shower tray, with a drain in the corner of the room.
Building a Wetroom
Installing a wetroom is really a job for the professionals. The key to an effective wetroom is having a very slight gradient sloping down to the corner with the drain, ensuring the water flows away effectively. In addition, the bottom half of the walls in the bathroom will also have to be waterproofed. This involves stripping the walls back to the brick and installing a waterproof membrane layer, usually made of plastic or rubber. Once the membrane is in place, you can tile over the top. You can use any style of toilet or sink in your bathroom design and have the flexibility over whether to use a screen. The advantage of opting for a shower screen is that it helps contain splashes from the shower and stops the entire room getting soaked. Underfloor heating is also a popular choice for wetrooms as it makes the tiles feel warm underfoot and helps them dry out more quickly after someone has had a shower.
Advantages of Wetrooms
One of the main advantages of wetrooms is that they can make smaller rooms appear bigger. This is because the floor space is uncluttered – there’s no need for a shower tray if you can just stand on the floor for the water to drain away. It’s a modern look which is a great way of bringing an older bathroom into the 21st century. Wetrooms are easy to clean, especially if you opt for a wall-hung toilet at sink as well.
Disadvantages of Wetrooms
The main disadvantage of installing a wetroom is the hassle and cost of getting someone in to help you. It’s not really a DIY task, as get it wrong and leaking water can cause very expensive damage elsewhere in the house. Another expense is for tiles as wetrooms aren’t really suitable for painting and need tiled floor to ceiling. If you don’t opt for a screen, you might find your loo roll and towels getting soaked every time someone takes a shower. Wetrooms also aren’t popular as the only bathroom in the house as many buyers still want a traditional bathroom with a bath.
