Wet Room - Some Interesting Facts

Have you ever heard of a wet room before? While they are becoming more and more popular here in the United States, they have been very popular in Europe for many years. Basically, it is a a type of bathroom that is designed to incorporate the shower into the entire room. It is also known as a walk in shower because there is no shower enclosure that you must step into. It would be much like a gym shower room, but designed for your home instead of made for multiple people to use at once. They usually have a very open design allowing you to take full advantage of being efficient with your bathroom space. They are a more contemporary design for bathrooms, and often considered a modern style.

Wet Rooms are a style and design trend that is more popular now than ever before, but it's not just a fashion statement or a way to keep up with the interior design Jones'. There are a number of practical reasons to have one in your home. First, they can increase the value of your house. This is especially true if you install one as your second bathroom. Next, because you are not taking up space with a bath tub or a shower enclosure (although some of them do indeed use an enclosure) it allows you to use the space more efficiently. If the room is small it will open it up and it will be more spacious and useful for your daily cleaning ritual. Don't forget that they are easier to keep clean because it is more like one big shower than several different areas with cracks and crevices to wash. If you decide that you want to wall mount your fixtures (sink, toilet, etc.) it will make clean up that much easier. Another plus to installing one is that, if it is done correctly by a qualified installer or builder, it will outlast a traditional washroom design. As you can see there are a number of good reasons other than style to have one.

As with anything, there are some drawbacks to them as well. The first thing that comes to mind is cost. The choice material for them is tile. Wet room flooring, walls, and ceiling must all be covered in it to prevent water damaging your home's structure. In fact, the entire room must be water tight and properly sealed to prevent damage that can end up costing more in the long term than the installation itself. Because of these things it almost requires that a professional do the installation. If you are an experienced do-it-yourself type then you may be able to get away with performing the installation yourself, but due to the risk of water damage if you don't get everything right it really isn't recommended that you attempt it. Think about it. If you don't get the drainage angle right then you could end up flooding other rooms as well! Difficulty in installation of this style of bathroom and cost could be prohibitive factors, but they are drawbacks for sure.

A wet room is a good size investment in your home. While there are issues with the expense of a remodeling project like this for an existing home owner, someone who is building a new home will find that the benefits outweigh the cost involved. That being said, I believe that it is a worthwhile investment as a remodel as well. Of course they are stylish and will make you feel like a rock star while you are using it, but the reduced cleaning time and durability can pay dividends in the end.