Pros and Cons of Wet Room Bathrooms
September 21, 2021Designing and building a custom home means you get to choose everything you want in every room, including the bathrooms. There are a ton of bathroom options to choose from. One option gaining in popularity is the wet room bathroom. Here are some pros and cons of wet room bathrooms to help you determine if it is the right fit for you:
What is a Wet Room Bathroom?
A wet room bathroom is a type of bathroom that is specifically designed to get wet. These bathrooms tend to have waterproof decor, open showers, floor-to-ceiling tile, and more. They often tend to be larger and take on a spa-like feel with multiple showerheads.
Wet rooms also sometimes include a bathtub. The shower and bathtub are either left completely open or are enclosed together behind a single pane of glass. Instead of the water draining into a shower tray, it drains via the main drain in the bathroom, which is usually in the open, tiled area of the bathroom.
Pros and Cons of Wet Room Bathrooms
Wet room bathrooms are one of the popular housing trends, but they are not for everyone. Evaluating the pros and cons of something can help you make a decision if you’re not sure about it. Here are some pros and cons of wet room bathrooms:
3 Pros of Wet Room Bathrooms
A wet room bathroom can provide a lot of benefits. Here are a few pros of wet room bathrooms:
1. Wet Room Bathrooms Are Easier to Clean
Because they are open and you generally do not have to clean shower curtains or screens, wet room bathrooms tend to be easier to clean. The open spaces and main drain mean the bathroom doesn’t need to be wiped down as often as a shower door to keep it clean. Plus, when you clean, it’s easy to just spray it down and let the water drain out.
2. They Make the Bathroom Look Bigger
The spacious, open concept of a wet room bathroom makes the bathroom look bigger. Generally, wet room bathrooms are designed to be larger bathrooms, but they aren’t always. Because of their style, they will tend to look larger than other bathroom designs even if they use the same square footage.
3. Wet Room Bathrooms Are a Versatile Style
Although wet room bathrooms tend to be larger, the style also works well in smaller bathrooms. Even if you have limited space or just don’t want to use that much square footage for a bathroom, a wet room bathroom is a style that can work well. Plus, it will make the space look larger than it is.
3 Cons of Wet Room Bathrooms
A wet room bathroom can also have some drawbacks. Here are a few cons of wet room bathrooms:
1. Everything Tends to Get Wet in Wet Room Bathrooms
A potential con of wet room bathrooms is that everything tends to get wet. Bathrooms are humid environments anyway, and wet rooms can be even more so. This could be a potential drawback, especially if you are considering a wet room for the main bathroom of your home.
The right gradient in the flooring for the shower/bathing space, proper ventilation, good spacing between the vanity and the shower, and more can help keep the water more contained even in an open design. One of the bathroom design trends is a floating vanity, which is a popular choice for wet room bathrooms. You can also add a single screen to help protect the rest of the room from the excess spray.
2. Heated Floors Are Recommended for Wet Rooms
Because wet room bathrooms need to be waterproofed and able to handle a lot of moisture, heated bathroom floors are also recommended. Underfloor heating helps moisture left on the floor evaporate more efficiently. This helps the bathroom floor dry faster, which is important for safety, preventing mold and mildew growth, and more.
3. Options Are More Limited for Wet Room Bathrooms
Since everything in a wet room bathroom needs to be waterproof, your decor options are more limited than other bathroom styles. If there is a window, you need to consider placement carefully and also make sure it is waterproofed.
In addition to the waterproof floor and bathroom wall options, you will also need to be limited when it comes to your options for vanities, cupboards, etc. Also, if you’re not careful, your towels, toilet paper, and other things may get wet. Being strategic about the bathroom layout and wall storage solutions can help contain and direct water while keeping things dry that need to be.
These are just a few pros and cons of wet room bathrooms to help you determine if it’s a good fit for a bathroom in your custom home. Partnering with an experienced custom home builder, especially one with an in-house design/build process, can help make sure you get exactly what you want. If you’re ready to bring your dream home to life, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090!