An ever increasing number of homeowners across the UK are opting for a wet room to be installed during a home renovation. Wet rooms can be designed and customised to meet the needs and wants of the homeowners. Plus, with the demand for open-planned living spaces on the rise, wet rooms are a great way to create the illusion of more space in a bathroom and shower area.
Wet room installation isn’t complete within a day; therefore, it’s important to carefully plan and prepare for the installation of a wet room. Here’s a little checklist to keep handy when preparing to create a homeowners’ dream wet room.
- Surface area. Check to ensure that the surface area is stable and not flexible. Wet rooms can be fitted over timber or screened floors. Note: A timber floor must be fixed and rigid. Check all floorboards to make sure that they aren’t loose. If they seem loose, screw them down.
- Make note of all power points and water points. Once waterproofed or tanked, the surface area should not be punctured.
- Measure the area. The minimum size of a wet room is 800 x 800mm. It is imperative that the space is big enough for the wet room to be installed.
- Determine which waterproofing method would best suit your particular wet room installation project. Consider the following questions: Will you need tile backer and insulation boards for the walls? Is the entire room going to be waterproofed or only the “wet” areas? What method of waterproofing is needed for the floor?
- Underfloor Heating. Is the homeowner interested in underfloor heating for his or her wet room? If so, determine which system is best suited to the homeowner’s needs.
- Check the ventilation of the room. Ensure that there is enough ventilation in the wet room area.
- Install isn’t done in a day. Check to make sure that the homeowners have another bathroom that can be used during the installation process as the wet room area will be out of use during the duration of the install.
- Check the manufacturers’ guide. Before starting the installation process, make sure that you’ve acquainted yourself with the manufacturers’ instructions. (…and make sure that you follow them throughout the entire wet room installation process.)
After planning and preparation, you’re well on your way to creating the perfect wet room.