WHAT IS A WETROOM?
I remember 20 years ago seeing my
first proper wetroom created for an
American client who was building a
house in Cambridgeshire. This was a
true wetroom with no shower glass, a
stainless steel WC, basin and even a
polished metal mirror. There was a huge
rainfall shower head and the entire floor
and six inches up the walls were
covered in black rubber with a single
drain hole in one corner.
These days ‘wetroom’ is far more
likely to simply mean a walk in-style
shower made from one, two or three
pieces of glass, sitting either on a
draining floor or even a slimline tray.
The rest of the bathroom is ‘dry’ and
consisting of a standard WC and maybe
furniture – including seating etc – which
is not designed to get soaking wet.
Both things are still possible, but you
need to be clear in your own mind
what you require, and then make that
plain to your builder or installer in order
to get the best possible advice. A
simple Google search will give you
plenty of design cues and any good
local or online retailer will help you
narrow your options.WHAT IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP
WITH SHOWERING?
Is this to be your only showering facility
or just one option in a home with two
or more bathrooms? Wetrooms can be
a great addition to your home, but bear
in mind if you have young children or
live with anyone requiring support inthe shower that a more standard shower
enclosure will allow whoever isn’t in the
shower to stay much dryer!HOW ‘DRY’ DO I NEED THE REST OF
THE ROOM TO STAY?
Assuming you are not like my American
client, you have three basic designs to
choose from: a single sheet of glass
(either fitted at 90° to a wall or standing
‘free’ of the wall on support arms);
the same with an ‘end’ sheet of glass;
or one/both of these plus a pivot return
(see the options in the diagram on page
18). The more enclosed the shower, the
less consideration you need to give to the
placement of furniture, electrics and so
on in other parts of the room.
Now you need to choose between a
tray and fitting directly to the floor. A tray
will keep the vast majority of water
contained and with slim options and
hidden wastes available this can still be a
sleek and attractive option.
Going for glass fitted directly to the
floor gives easy access, even for those
with mobility limitations, and a stunning
look. You need to check with an expert
installer about suitable tanking systems,
drain options and so on but many
completely hidden and watertight options
are available to achieve this look. Bear in
mind that you may also need either fully
tiled or wet-wall clad walls and floor to
ensure all water can drain away properly.WHAT GLASS SIZE AND FRAME SIZE
SHOULD I PICK?
Wetroom glass manufacturers now offer a
vast array of design options including
choices of coloured frames, patterned or
printed glass etc. Should you feel inclined,
you can even get a bespoke image printed
on your glass. The majority of us will still
plump for 8 mm clear glass – it’s thick
enough to stay rigid even if leaned on, and
has a classic look. I would always advise
‘easy-clean’ glass; most manufacturers
offer their own version, and it really does
make a difference in day to day use.WHAT TYPE OF SHOWER IS BEST?
Once you’ve chosen your preferred
wetroom design, it’s time to think about
the shower itself. So many options are
available – from digital showers you can
control from your bedside or phone, to
concealed valves with handles or push
button operation, and the more
traditional exposed valves. In addition,
large rainfall heads can give a real ‘spa
at home’ experience, but I would always
advise incorporating a handsetWetrooms can offer everything from hotel chic to
ultimate accessibility, and if you’re really clever,
they can encompass both. Highlife Bathrooms’ Jon
Hall discusses what you need to consider when
planning the ideal wetroom for you
Wonderful
wetrooms
ASK THE EXPERT
july/august 2019 http://www.sbhonline.co.uk 17