Given that our entire brand philosophy is about the benefits of steam in people’s homes, we definitely understand the desire and need for moisture! We have become intrigued by a trend we are seeing – wet rooms – and wanted to dive in (no pun intended…OK, small pun) to learn more.
What is a wet room?
A wet room is a totally waterproofed bathroom with a shower area at the same level as the rest of the floor. Okay, so far so good. The water drains away through a flush drain within the shower area. A truly open plan wet room removes the need for an enclosure for walk-in showers, separated by glass, although many people prefer to install one to prevent water splashing outside the shower area.
Interestingly, a wet room requires less maintenance and cleaning than a usual bathroom thanks to the greater area reached by the shower water, and this makes a wet room a hygienic option.
What are the benefits of a wet room?
- Wet rooms are ideal for those with mobility issues, because the floor of the showering area is completely level with the rest of the room.
- Maintenance and cleaning are easier than a traditional bathroom, because it’s all one big open space.
- Adding an additional bathroom to a home always increases its value, and something like a true wet room could be even more attractive to buyers.
- Great for small bathrooms – removing the bath creates loads more space.
- Easy for families with young children to bring them into the shower area. No challenges with getting kids in and out of the tub!
- Design flexibility – create the feeling of having more space – it feels very luxurious!
Is it actually safe to install one – what if you have wood floors? How much does a wet room cost?
A wet room is a great way of utilizing space effectively and can be installed on both the ground and upper floors of your home, whether the sub-floor is wood or concrete.
The cost of installing a wet room can cost anywhere from $5,000 and upwards of $15,000 or more, depending on the size of your bathroom. Turning an existing bathroom or creating a new wet room does require some expertise. From tanking the bathroom to prevent water leaking to tiling and sinking pipes – you also have to factor in the fixtures and other products when figuring out the budget.
Should your next bathroom remodel be a wet room?
We can’t really answer that for you, it’s a very personal decision of course. But if you look at the above benefits and feel that any of them makes sense, we’d love to see what your wet room looks like!
