WHY WE LOVE WORKING ON WET ROOMS
Whether you are renovating your home before a sale or upgrading or changing your bathroom, a wet room can be an attractive proposition for homeowners. But does a wet room add value to your home?
If you’re looking to renovate your home to make it appeal to high-end buyers, a wet room can add value. But for a family home with one bathroom, a wet room which doesn’t incorporate a bath might make it less appealing to homeowners with young children.
Wet rooms offer the ultimate bathroom solution in terms of space, comfort and ease, especially for those whose mobility conditions are likely to worsen. Read on to find out why a wet room could be the right choice for you.
What is a wet room?
A wet room is a totally waterproofed and sealed bathroom with a shower area at the same level as the rest of the floor. The water drains away through a drain within the shower area. As the walls and floor are sealed by a waterproof membrane, there is no risk of runaway water causing damage.
A truly open, fully tiled wet room removes the need for a shower enclosure or tray for walk-in showers, many people opt to install a glass screen to prevent water splashing outside the shower area.
As the floor of the wet room is level with the rest of the room, wet rooms are ideal for those with mobility issues. This is especially helpful for those who need help to move effortlessly in and out of walk-in showers. A wet room is a great way of utilising space effectively and can be installed on both the ground and upper floors of your home, whether the floor is of timber or concrete construction. It requires less maintenance and cleaning than a usual bathroom making a wet room a hygienic option and suitable for all the family.
What are the benefits of a wet room?
Wet rooms may seem luxurious for some, but they are an absolute necessity to others. Bathing is an essential part of our daily lives and one we shouldn’t have to struggle with. For some, opting for a wet room can take the problems out of this daily routine and turn it into something enjoyable and relaxing.
When renovating your home, you can create a real wow factor and make your home instantly more attractive. Due to the minimalist nature of its design, a wet room can feature different materials such as wood, stone and concrete, allowing your creativity to run wild.
A wet room provides easy access for everyone
As well as eliminating the trip hazard of a shower tray, a wet room also removes the need for shower doors, making them perfect for wheelchair users or those with reduced mobility. Wheelchair users won’t have to worry about getting in and out of a shower or bath. Simply wheel a bathing chair into position before you wash, dry and dress with ease. The extra space and lack of constraints also make wet rooms ideal for those who have carers that help them with personal care.
Wet rooms are a stylish addition
Wet rooms can be designed in a multitude of ways, meaning that you can add style and a contemporary look to your home. A wet room usually needs to be tiled on the floor and walls and because tiles are available in all kinds of colours, textures and sizes, this means that you can bring some personality into your wet room with a bold geometric pattern or bright colour for example.
Wet rooms are suitable for all sizes of bathroom
You might think that a wet room would only be suited to larger houses and bathrooms. However, they can also be an excellent option for smaller bathrooms. Removing the bath to make space for a larger shower area can open up the room and provide some much-needed extra space. Wet rooms remove the need for bulky shower trays or enclosures with doors that may impose upon what little space you already have. If your bathroom is on the small side, however, you may choose to include a shower screen to prevent everything from getting sprayed with the shower water. This can also be a great way to add a design element to your wet room.
Wet rooms are easy to clean
One of the biggest advantages of installing a wet room is how easy it can be to clean. Due to the lack of shower screens and trays, wet rooms, in general, take less work to clean. If you choose a wall-hung sink and toilet, it makes it easier still, especially for cleaning the floor. A normal household bathroom cleaner can be used throughout the room to keep your bathroom spotless and mould and mildew at bay. Additionally, in your design choice, you can opt to use tempered safety glass with a protective coating which will keep your glass cleaner for longer.
Wet rooms can add value to your home
Wet rooms tend to be seen as a desirable feature found in a lot of high-end homes. A wet room’s seamless design makes it a great option for accessibility and future-proofing your home for years to come.
In a standard bathroom, water can run into areas you don’t want it to, and the build-up of moisture can create dampness in the walls. In a wet room, however, the floors and walls are sealed with some form of waterproof membrane to prevent water from escaping and causing problems. Therefore, you are also essentially adding waterproofing to one of the major areas of your home that is particularly susceptible to leaks and issues with water. In terms of the structure of your property, this can only be a good thing.
When you look to sell your property, this makes a wet room highly attractive, especially if you also have a second bathroom. Wet rooms are a surprisingly affordable addition and can transform your bathroom into something unique and inviting.
Personalising your wet room
Designing your own wet room can allow you to be creative with your choice of tiling, wall covering, shelving, shower type and other features. It can also be a great opportunity to create a space comfortable and practical for your own personal needs. Seats can be added as well as riser rails and grab rails which can be placed under the shower and you may also opt for textured flooring for extra grip.
Other factors you can cater for are whether the individual is right or left-handed, or whether they are weaker on one side, after a stroke, for example. Because there’s lots of blank space to be utilised, a wet room can be adapted to anyone’s specific, current and ongoing needs.
Things to consider when installing a wet room
In small wet rooms without a shower screen, you may need to watch for spray from the shower. However, clever design ideas and screens can often prevent this from being an issue.
It’s important to hire a professional fitter, especially to waterproof the room – if it’s not done properly, leaking water can cause major damage not just to your bathroom but also to the rest of your house.
Good ventilation is a must. A wet room can become very steamy, which could be an issue for some, especially if your wet room is small.
Wet rooms are a big project to take on yourself. The tanking process which ensures your room is completely watertight can be tricky, so we would definitely advise using professionals.
If you’re thinking of adding a wet room to your home or any other renovation in the North London area, contact us for advice or a free, fully transparent quote. Either get in touch online, give us a call on +44 (0)203 488 0172 or drop us an email at hello@parioconstruction.com