Wet rooms, or areas that combine a tub and shower, are becoming an increasingly popular bathroom design trend in the U.S.
To find out more about the design and applications of wet rooms, BUILDER consulted Mitchell Parker, Houzz senior editor. He helps break down the concept of a wet room, how it differs from traditional large showers, and why many homeowners are opting for this sleek, functional layout.
For those that might not be familiar, how would you define a wet room?
In the U.S., wet rooms typically combine a separate shower and a tub in the same area, allowing water from either element to be contained in one location, often behind a glass enclosure. A wet room can also be a bathroom with or without a tub in which the shower is open to the rest of the room.
What features do wet rooms have? How do they differ from just large showers?
Wet rooms often have a barrier-free entry to the shower. The flooring then has a slight gradient so water flows to the drain and not the rest of the bathroom. Bathroom remodelers recommend a gradient of 1.5 to 2 degrees for floor slope with square or linear drains. The floor needs a waterproof substrate beneath the tile. In a wet room, a larger wall area may need waterproofing compared with a large shower, and the walls are usually tiled from floor to ceiling. Wet rooms often combine a stand-alone tub and a shower area with multiple shower heads and sprays.
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