Wet floor showers
What is a Wet Room Bathroom? Plus Pros, Cons & costs
(Above) Sweeten homeowners Liz and Kevin’s wet-room-style bathroom renovation
Designing a more efficient bathroom often means taking down barriers and smoothing traffic flow. Can opening the shower to the rest of the room create a more efficient, luxurious-feeling space? Sweeten explores the possibilities of this intriguing approach.
Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure deposits—at no cost to the homeowner.
What is a wet room bathroom?
A wet room is a bathroom that typically has no enclosure separating the shower or tub from the rest of the bathroom. All of the walls and the flooring are sealed against water, just like the surfaces in a typical shower stall.
The main flooring of the wet room is on the same level as the shower floor. The section of the wet room where the shower is located has a floor with a sharp slope to aid with water drainage. The rest of the bathroom floor is sloped toward the same drain. But the floor slope is more gradual.
Because there is so much water, bathroom facilities such as the toilet and sink are either raised or are water-sealed.
Due to how wet rooms work, the function of the room is prioritized over the style. Subsequently, most wet room design is clean and spare.
Why are wet rooms so popular?
- Frameless showers let in more light. These use sheets of thick, unframed glass to surround the shower in a wet room. They make the whole room lighter and airier.
- Since wet rooms are designed with excellent ventilation, they typically see less mold and mildew growth.
- Wet rooms are much easier to clean. There are no cramped enclosures to deal with, and the whole floor can be hosed down.
- Wet room bathrooms are ready for all phases of a person’s life. There are no steps or curbs keeping walkers and wheelchairs out of the shower area. The toilet area merges seamlessly with the shower, too.
Pros and cons of wet rooms
Pros
- The bathroom feels brighter and more spacious because it has fewer walls and barriers.
- The floor is easy to clean—all water can be directed to a single drain.
- Accessibility: there is no shower curb or bathtub wall to step over. Wet room designs comply with many aging-in-place design rules.
- There’s less chance of mold, mildew, and water decay.
- The bathing area does not steam up because it is not enclosed.
Cons
- Splashes from the shower can go everywhere.
- It’s best to have plenty of space, to keep the shower separate from dry areas.
- In smaller bathrooms, dry areas need to be made water-resistant.
- It can feel colder in the shower, since there’s no enclosure to hold in heat.
- The need for more tile work may increase costs.
- They can be acoustically loud and bright because of the open design and hard materials.
- Most things stored in the bathroom need to be enclosed in water-resistant cabinets.
Features and special considerations
- Shower enclosures: Many wet room bathrooms are built without any shower enclosures. However, you can opt for an open enclosure with no door. Or you can add a half-wall to minimize splashing.
- Bathroom storage: Locating storage and linen cabinets outside of the bathroom is one way to deal with moisture. Another is to install water-resistant cabinets in the room.
- Large wet rooms: If you have a big enough space, you may be able to store moisture-sensitive items in the bathroom without special cabinets.
- Radiant heating: You can install radiant floor heating even though the floor will see plenty of water. Special underfloor radiant heating kits are available.
- Raised sink cabinet: Pedestal sinks or cantilevered countertops are ideal choices for keeping cabinetry off the floor.
- Relocated heating register: Heating vents cannot be built into the floor. Either build the vents into walls or use another type of heating.
When you’re ready to begin your bathroom or home remodel, discuss with your Sweeten contractor if a wet room is possible in your space.
Wet room bathroom maintenance and cleaning
Homeowners may worry about installing wet room bathrooms on upper floors. Yet a professionally installed wet room is no different than locating a freestanding shower on an upper floor. The waterproofing methods are the same—just on a larger scale. Be aware that just like with any bathroom, a wet room could eventually spring a leak and require maintenance.
Wet room floors are easy to clean. You can clean the flooring with a mild floor cleaner and a rubber-bladed mop. Start on the far end of the room and push water toward the shower drain. You can also use a hand-held shower head as a hose.
Walls in regular bathrooms can be difficult to clean, especially when they’re made of drywall or plaster.
Wet room walls are hardscaped and water-sealed. So, you can clean them with soap and water without fear of damage.
A note on fixture and appliance deliveries: If you’re on a tight timeline, Appliances Connection has over 50,000 items in stock and ready to ship nationally. If you’re in the NY/NJ metro area, in-stock items typically deliver within 2-3 days.
The Pros and Cons of Wet Bathrooms
Modern Bathroom Interior stock photo – 3d render
Rising in popularity as a high-end bathroom option, wet rooms transform the look, feel, and functionality of a bathroom into a waterproof space. Originally created as a functional way to fit more into a small bathroom, designers have been creating wet rooms that feel more like spas. While most wet rooms are covered in tile and include an open shower, some may be surfaced in other waterproof materials, have a half-wall of glass by a shower, or include a bathtub with a separate drain.
The biggest challenge of a wet room is ensuring that the entire room is securely waterproofed, and that the water flows into the room’s main drain.
With the right materials and installation, a wet room can become a good return on investment. Keep reading to find out more about modern wet rooms.
Because the shower floor does not have a visible shower tray and the walls do not need a divider to contain shower water, the surface materials can continue seamlessly throughout the room. These unbroken surfaces help to make the bathroom look roomier.
The elimination of transitions can make a bathroom easier to use for those who can no longer step into a tub or over a shower curb. Also, wet rooms can be easier to clean, because you can use the same types of cleaners on all of the surfaces.
CON: Everything gets wet.With an open shower, it’s conceivable that water will splash around the room and get any towels, toiletries, and even toilet paper wet. And, the humidity that a traditional shower held now makes its way across the whole room.
Excess moisture, sealing and waterproofing, and drainage are some of the top concerns in a wet room.
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If you’re considering a wet room and are worried about the entire room getting wet, you can install extra ventilation to help prevent mold and mildew. You also can incorporate in-wall storage for toilet paper, towels, and accessories to avoid dampness. Anti-slip flooring helps make it safer to walk around in a wet room and a radiant heat flooring system helps water evaporate more quickly from the floor surface.
RELATED: 10 Bathroom Trends You Might Regret
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PRO: Wet rooms can take many forms.The main design rule when it comes to creating a wet room is making sure that the space is waterproof. Beyond that, there are seemingly endless possibilities for the bathroom’s shape, fixtures, and finishes.
While some wet rooms are tiny spaces crammed with the essentials, some luxury bathrooms use a glass wall with a glass door to divide a bathroom into a wet room side (with shower, sink, and tub) and a non-wet room side.
There also are wet room bathrooms that have a partial glass partition separating the shower from the toilet and sink.
Since a wet room needs to be waterproof, there is a limit on the types of materials and home decor used in the bathroom. Many opt for tiling the surfaces in a straightforward simple pattern, but mosaics, patterns, and inlays of other tiles or materials can be used. Other surface options include sealed concrete, stone, and metal.
Even though wet rooms can still have bathtubs, they usually are only in larger wet rooms and are separate from the shower. They also benefit from a separate drain.
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RELATED: All You Need to Know About Doorless Showers
PRO: It can raise the value of your property.Remodeling an ensuite in the main bedroom or a secondary bathroom in a home can raise the value of a property. According to Remodeling’s Cost vs.
Value Report, the renovation of a bathroom can have a return on investment of about 60 percent. Since many buyers tend to look at a high-end modern wet room and consider it a luxurious addition, it might recoup somewhat more at the time of sale.
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CON: Tiling a wet room can get expensive.Unlike a traditional bathroom where occasional drips and spills may hit the walls and floors outside of a shower, the entire room will get wet. So, instead of simply tiling just the shower, the entire room needs tile. In some cases the ceiling is tiled, too. This process protects the structure and surrounding rooms from water damage and helps fend off mold and mildew in the wet room.
Covering all of the surfaces in a waterproof material, like tile, from top to bottom can get expensive. The waterproofing applied underneath the tile also adds to the cost.
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7 bathroom design mistakes that ruin your interior
Photo Source: https://www.
crosswater.co.uk/
To design your dream bathroom, you need to be aware of the most common mistakes that can be a nightmare to visit wet room. Error analysis will help to make a good interior.
Wrong screen
A leaking shower screen can be very annoying because no one wants to constantly clean a wet floor. Make sure you measure and install the door correctly, have effective seals to seal the opening, and good cleaning supplies.
Photo Source: Waters Baths of Ashbourne
Bathtub taps not counted
All very well suited for bright functional taps that look ultra-chic, but if you share a bathroom with other family members it might be best to think about first practicality. A large central bath faucet that protrudes from the center of the tub can be dangerous when bathing small children, or an interfering faucet can get in the way when using an overhead shower.
Photo source: Walls And Floors
Saving on an inexpensive shower
As the saying goes, "the miser pays twice", so adding a cheap shower enclosure will rust, corrode and even damage other surfaces.
Bear in mind that stainless steel has strong and wear-resistant properties that will last for years to come.
Photo Source: Kaldewei
Drainage Not Considered
A flawless wet room style bathroom sounds sophisticated, but without effective drainage and waterproofing, there is a real chance of leakage or even flooding, which can have catastrophic and costly consequences. Location, flooring, flow and drainage must be considered before going ahead. Consultation with a reliable service provider is vital for such a project. Yes, and a good master will not hurt.
Photo Source: B & Q
If you're excluding a bathtub
It may seem like a modern and space-saving solution to omit a bathtub from your bathroom plan, but think before doing so. There are many situations where a bath can be more practical than just a shower. Also, if you're thinking about the future, it's often a must on lists of potential buyers. Consider both if you can, or opt for a combination of the two with a shower over bath, which can look nice too.
In addition, small children love to splash in the bath.
Photo Source: Mudale / Simple Humans
Extra Towels
Don't ruin your beautiful new bathroom with dirty folded towels. Instead, make sure your bathroom has storage so that fresh towels are within reach or stacked neatly on wall shelves. No wet towels on the floor! So, if there's room, a laundry basket just for used towels will keep floors clean, dry, and tidy.
Photo source: Dyckhoff
Accessories
Well-chosen accessories can make a great composition or break any design scheme, and the bathroom is no exception. Treat yourself to some high quality towels - organic cotton towels look luxurious and are also eco-friendly. If hidden storage isn't enough for you, consider pouring your shampoos and shower gels into attractive bottles. Small soaps and bath salts can be stored in glass jars.
Photo source: Dunelm
How to choose a shower drain in a tiled floor, which is better to choose: a wet or dry shutter
December 15, 2019
Today, a shower cabin is more popular than a bathtub.
This is a great opportunity to quickly take a shower between activities for a busy person. Recently, more advanced models of shower cabins have come into fashion: the best manufacturers are releasing more and more options without bumpers that look incredibly stylish. The main attribute of such a shower is a ladder for draining and collecting water, which is installed directly in the floor.
The shower drain is a drain that is installed in the bathroom floor under the tiles. It is used in prefabricated fixed showers that do not have a tray.
The design resembles a funnel that collects water and drains it into a sewer pipe. On the one hand, the sanitary ladder has a fixing adapter, and on the other, a coupling for connecting to the pipeline. Inside the housing there is a filter grill, which acts as a shutter. But the installation of such a plumbing device requires a waterproof coating on the floor.
What the drain is for:
- discharges waste water into the main drain channel;
- does not allow contaminants to pass into the drain riser and thereby prevents blockages;
- hermetically connects to the docking area;
- protects against unpleasant sewer odors;
- leaves access to the drain system for cleaning pipes from blockage;
- is an additional emergency drain, which can be especially important when the bathroom is flooded by neighbors from above.
The main reasons why owners of both large and small bathrooms choose shower enclosures without a tray :
- large selection of sizes and configurations - a shower enclosure can be of any size;
- visually expands the space in the bathroom;
- the ability to install a shower room in a non-standard place;
- modern and unique design;
- simplifies shower cleaning;
- the absence of a threshold is especially convenient for both the elderly and children.
Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of shower drains. Such plumbing devices differ in type of construction, appearance, shape and size.
According to the type of construction:
- Linear - more like a rectangular tray, it is also called a shower tray, a drain chute. It has a subspecies slotted ladder. A linear drain is easier to install than other types: the floor slopes only in one direction (towards the drain), as the drain is installed on the sides, in a corner along the wall or at the exit.
Linear type drains can be used in a large room equipped with a rain shower. - Spot - has the most compact dimensions and can be located anywhere. They are often placed in the central part, but it is very important that there is a uniform slope of the floor on all sides. Point drains are installed not only under the shower, but also additionally in the center of the bathroom to ensure that water is drained in case of an accident in the plumbing system and that the neighbors from below are not flooded.
- Wall-mounted (corner) - located near the wall and is considered the most inconspicuous. A decorative grill hides the joint between the wall and the floor. To install this model, you will need to build a false wall.
Linear and wall drains have increased capacity, they are less likely to clog.
In shape:
- Rectangular - typical for the linear type of drains, shower trays;
- Round - spot drains;
- Square - spot drains;
- Triangular - point drains.
- Oval - rare and less popular.
Square and rectangular models are more popular because these simple shapes fit easily into floor coverings.
Each drain has different closures, the function of which is to protect against the penetration of unpleasant odors from the sewer.
By closure type:
- Water trap (wet trap, water, water) is the most affordable and practical option in which water acts as a barrier to unpleasant odors. But if the shower is not used for a long time, the water plug dries up, and unpleasant odors can leak out.
- Dry seal (dry shower drain) - unlike the drain with a water seal, the design is complicated by an additional valve that closes the hole in the absence of water. Therefore, in order to increase the reliability of a shower cabin, which is rarely used, experts recommend choosing a siphon with a dry shutter. Such dampers are opened by a stream of water, and then closed and do not allow sewer gases to pass through.
How to choose the right shower drain in the floor for dry shutter tiles? Pay attention to the operating conditions, installation location and structural reliability. - Combination seal - combines both a water seal and a dry seal. A shower drain with a water seal and a dry seal is a versatile option that is considered the most reliable in any conditions. Siphons of this design are distinguished by two-level protection: a water plug does not let odors through during constant operation, and an air gap is an additional barrier. Not sure which shower drain to choose: wet or dry shutter? Stop your choice on the combined option - you can't go wrong!
Grilles or design inserts that cover the drain have both a decorative and filtering function. They can be made in any color and have a unique embossed pattern.
Material of grilles and design inserts:
- Stainless steel - available in polished or brushed finish;
- Tempered glass - in terms of service life is not inferior to stainless steel elements, but has a more attractive and modern appearance;
- Plastic is the most affordable, but has a short service life.
Basic advice and recommendations that will help you not to make a mistake when choosing a drain:
- When choosing a drain, pay attention first of all to the material from which it is made . The product must be wear-resistant, durable and provide a reliable hermetic connection with the floor covering.
- An important role is played by the direction of the exit to the sewer . The vertical connection of the pipe is more suitable for sewers in private homes. And the horizontal is considered the most versatile option and joins the downpipe sideways. This option is more suitable for apartment buildings.
- Pay attention to dimensions of the coupling that connects to the pipeline, the diameter must be ideally suited to the inlets. Basically, Russian sewage has a diameter of 50mm.
- None of the construction details must be free of chips and scratches .
- The ladder can have a prefabricated structure - this option is considered the most advantageous.
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