Wetrooms essentially convert the entire concept of a bathroom into a wetroom. The whole area – or part of the area – is sealed – or tanked – to prevent any water from escaping.
Whilst wetrooms can still have a toilet, sink and even a bath for a larger wetroom, they can also be fitted as standalone rooms separated from other bathrooms.
In essence, a wetroom converts a bathroom into more of a spa-like space where tiling, flooring and the shower system combine to create an entirely new exciting space.
This article will cover what you can expect to pay for a wet room, factors that can affect the cost and other common questions around conservatories.
Average Cost
By compiling quotes from 5 wetroom companies and 6 secondary sources, we’ve found the following average wetroom costs. Costs include all materials and labour costs but not underfloor heating or new toilets/basins.
It’s also worth noting that installing a wetroom in a newbuild may cost some 20% less than a retrospective fitting.
Wet Room Size | Budget | Mid-Range | High-End |
---|---|---|---|
Small (2m x 1.5m) | £3,800 | £4,800 | £7,000+ |
Medium (2.5m x 2.5m) | £5,300 | £6,400 | £8,500+ |
Larg (4m x 4m) | £10,000 | £12,000 | £15,000+ |
In terms of what to expect for each type of quality:
- A budget wetroom would use vinyl flooring and a standard shower
- A mid-range wetroom would use vinyl, rubber or cement flooring and mid-range shower
- A high-end wetroom with stone flooring, high-end tiling and high-end shower
Expect to pay between £200 – £600 extra for underfloor heating depending on the size of the wetroom.
Types of Wetrooms
There are two broad approaches to building a wetroom:
Tanking the entire bathroom
To build a true wetroom, the entire bathroom has to be tanked. Tanking means to totally seal the space from water.
Fully tanked wet rooms will allow you to shower without entering a specific shower area – you just stand (or sit) under the showerhead and the water will safely drain away.
It’s common practice to install some glass dividing panels in a fully tanked wetroom, helping segregate the shower from the toilet and sink.
It really depends on how big your bathroom is. According to Victoria Plum, the average UK bathroom is typically around 2.5m x 2.5m. This is a great sized bathroom to fully tank and wouldn’t be overly expensive.
Tanking a section of the bathroom
Tanking a section of the bathroom might be optimal for much larger bathrooms that simply don’t need to be fully tanked.
One side of your bathroom might be a large wetroom, the other side can contain your standard wash area and toilet, and even a bath if your bathroom is big enough. Glass dividing panels can prevent too much water from escaping beyond the wetroom area.
Luxury options include double showers where two people can shower side-by-side, which you can find in some luxury hotels. Wetrooms can even be combined with saunas. High-end wetrooms can even feature 360-degree water jets that ‘fire’ from all angles!
Planning Permission
Planning permission won’t be an issue for constructing a wetroom within an existing part of the house.
However, wetrooms must comply with building regulations and there are two key things to be aware of here.
Whilst the existing bathroom’s construction should be compliant with building regs already, wetrooms require sufficient ventilation to allow steam to escape safely and must also be electrically safe.
By using a contractor or installed enrolled in a Competent Person’s Scheme, your contractor can self-certify the work as compliant with these additional building regulations.
Get Pricing on Wet Rooms Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for a wetroom.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed quote specifically for you.
We work with all the best wetroom experts ready to price your job. Get free, no-obligation quotes in your local area and compare prices using the form below.
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About the Author
Alex Johnson is a qualified quantity surveyor and writer with a passion for conducting original research and uncovering the true cost of jobs. His cost data has been referenced by EDF Energy and the Scottish Government.