A wet room is a great option if you want an easily accessible shower with no steps to obstacles to get past when you get in and out of the cubicle. They are a great option if you have mobility issues or just prefer an open, modern space solution. Wet rooms can be both incredibly practical and modern, stylish spaces in your home. But some wet room bathrooms can quickly develop problems if the shower tray, shower head or drain hasn’t been installed correctly. This can mean that water ends up going everywhere all over the floor. If this issue isn’t addressed quickly, you could find yourself running into costly and disruptive problems.
Why Stop Water Going Everywhere in a Wet Room?
Creating a wet room can be incredibly convenient in many ways but when water starts going everywhere you need to be aware of the disadvantages and possible damage this could cause. There are plenty of reasons why you need to address this issue, here are some of the most common problems flooding on wet room flooring can cause.
- Uneven flooring and displacement of ceramic tiles
- Damage to the durability and strength of a concrete floor
- Increased humidity in the room as water is stored within a damp floor
- Growth of mould and mildew
- Soaked skirting boards, drywall, and moulding on the bottoms of cabinets and other furniture
- Safety hazards of reduced slip resistance, and negated safety flooring
Not only is it annoying to constantly have to mop up after every shower, but there is also the chance of costly damage and safety problems to consider. Not a great result if you have just paid out for bathroom designers and a bathroom renovation!
How to Stop Water Going Everywhere in a Wet Room?
Below you will find some easy solutions to stop water going everywhere in a wet room, starting with the most inexpensive options, and ending with more involved solutions in dealing with an overly wet environment. Wet rooms are designed to be wet, so think about buying a floor squeegee (Amazon link – opens in a new tab) to have a little clean after your shower.
1 – Install a Longer Shower Curtain
If your current shower curtain doesn’t meet the floor, you may be able to solve the problem with the easiest and probably the most inconvenient solution – buying a longer shower curtain. Just providing this bit of extra resistance and blocking the water flow from the shower may be enough to turn it back down towards the drain. So, get out the tape measure and order a shower curtain that reaches the floor.
2 – Change Your Shower Head
If you have installed a large shower head that sprays outwards in all directions, you should consider whether it might be better to invest in a shower head that points downwards, towards the drain in the wet room tray. Although not ideal, this may be one of the easiest options to consider rather than adjusting any of your other wet room designs.
3 – Install a Shower Screen
Some glass panels which reach down to the floor can help keep the water contained and save your floor tiles from soaking up the damp. Create a complete shower enclosure (Amazon link – opens in a new tab) around the showerhead and drainage section to ensure that water doesn’t travel further than you want it to.
4 – Install or Increase the Gradient on Your Wet Room Tray
If you just have a flat floor on your shower, then you should install a wet room tray with a gradient that will guide the water down towards the drain and provide resistance to water flowing outwards to other areas of the room. If you already have a wet room tray, consider whether you should be looking to increase the gradient to ensure that the feature starts doing its job correctly.
A correctly installed water tray will guide the shower water down towards the drain and ensure that the water pools only in the shower part of the wet room.
5 – Check the Capacity of Your Installed Drain
A bigger problem with a more disruptive solution is considering whether the drain that has been installed is up to the job. If the drain has been designed so that it doesn’t have the capacity to collect and quickly get rid of the level of water that is used during a shower. If the drain isn’t suitable then the water will begin to back up and flood all over the rest of the room. This could be a particular problem if your shower had high-powered jets which expel a lot of water quickly when the shower is turned on.
If the drain just isn’t up to the job, you may, unfortunately, have to consider having a different, more suitable drain installed. Obviously, this will involve disruption and extra cost, but you need to weigh this up against the continual inconvenience, safety hazards, and potential damage to other elements of the room which will be caused.
Conclusion
A wet room is a great bathroom renovation option with provides increased functionality, stylish design, and increased ease for those with mobility issues. Unfortunately, sometimes some features and equipment in a wet room design can be installed incorrectly or may not be suitable for the water flow from the shower head. If this is the case, then you will have to look at making some adjustments to deal with the problem. Your first option is cheap, easy, and quick – simply buy a shower curtain that reaches down to the floor. If this doesn’t do the job you may have to look at some more involved adjustments which may cost a little bit more, ranging from adding shower screens to installing a new drain. But before you reach for the phone to arrange a complete wet room renovation, work your way through our list of ideas for how to stop water going everywhere in a wet room and you may solve the problem quicker than you think!
Plumbing Wizard Tips
“A well-placed shower screen is a far more attractive option than using a shower curtain, but that choice is entirely up to you!”
“Buy a squeegee or a mop specifically for your wet room, that way, you can have a little clear-up after every time you have used the shower!”
“If water is pooling in certain areas or not flowing towards the drain, there may have been an issue with the installation, so you will need to speak with the contractor that installed it!”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you dry out a wet room?
The best way to dry out a wet room is to open the doors and windows to let in the fresh air, then squeegee or mop up any pooled water. You can also use de-humidifiers to suck the moisture out of the air.
Do wet rooms get everything wet?
There’s no easy answer to this question – it depends on a lot of factors, including the type of showerhead you have and how well your wet room is sealed. If you have a showerhead that sprays water in all directions, then it’s likely that everything in your wet room will get wet unless you have a shower screen.
However, if you have a showerhead that only sprays water directly downwards, then you may be able to avoid getting everything else wet.
Similarly, if your wet room is well-sealed and has good drainage, then the water may not spread as far as it would in a less well-designed space. Ultimately, it’s impossible to say definitively whether or not everything in a wet room will get wet.
Can you put a toilet in a wet room?
Yes, you can put a toilet in a wet room, but it’s important to make sure that the watertight seal around the toilet is perfect since any leaks could cause water damage to the floor and walls.
Author
Lee Pearce is not just a master plumber; he’s a veritable Plumbing Wizard. With over 30 years of experience in the trenches of pipes and drains, Lee has become the go-to sage for DIY plumbing, saving homeowners thousands in potential call-out charges. As the founder of Plumbing Wizard, he’s dedicated to demystifying the complexities of home plumbing, offering easy-to-follow advice that stands the test of time and pressure. His online blog is a treasure trove of tips, tricks, and tutorials that empower everyday individuals to take charge of their home’s plumbing health. Lee’s practical wisdom is not just about fixing leaks; it’s about imparting confidence and self-reliance. When he’s not writing or elbow-deep in a plumbing project, Lee is passionate about educating the next generation of DIYers, ensuring that practical skills are passed down and preserved.
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