Planning a Wet Room

[PermanentlyDizzy]

We are planning some major changes to our house, including an extension and potentially a loft conversion as well.

We’re still at the very early stages of deciding what we want/need, but are sure we need to incorporate a wet room into our plans. (We have an adult dc with ASD and OCD who showers excessively and floods the floor in our current bathroom every day and another with a mobility issues who needs to be seated to shower, so a wet room makes sense for both of their needs.)

The location will be ground floor, in what is currently the back lobby area and downstairs loo. It has solid floor, with the original 1930’s quarry tiling on the floor. (Plans are for a bathroom upstairs as well and potentially an en-suite in the loft-conversion.)

We want to keep things simple, but smart and although it has to meet the needs of our dc, it will also be our only downstairs loo for visitors so, while it needs to include some elements to ensure their safety, we want to avoid making it look too much like a disabled access room, iyswim.

I have zero experience of wet rooms personally, but can remember, years ago, reading about people having also sorts of issues with them not being properly sealed leading to damp build up. Is this still an issue or have things moved on since then?

Any advice on where to start with planning it and things we need to consider would be appreciated.

One thing that occurs to me: why do disabled people get ugly bathrooms? I don’t see why, when so many great products are available, that we need such an institutional look? There are excellent non slip ceramic tiles. Make sure water is reasonably well contained in the shower area. I would hate a bathroom designed with products that scream “you are different”. I get grab handles, more space and easy access but this doesn’t have to mean naff shower curtains, hospital type interiors and nasty fittings.

Don't get dark tiles in a hard water area is my wet room advice.

I don't think you'll have too much issue if you use the correct waterproof membrane installed correctly on a solid ground floor. I think a lot of people have issues with wet rooms which are on wooden floor substrates in upstairs locations as they are susceptible to movement and therefore waterproofing issues.

I do have dark tiles but we have a water softener. They are wonderful! Otherwise so many tiles have finishes that will hardly show any marks at all.