A wet room is a useful addition to any home as it’s stylish and highly functional, particularly if you have mobility issues.
The beauty is that a wet room is completely waterproof. The shower is integrated into the room rather than being a separate enclosure – and it’s generally flush with the wet room floor so you can walk into it.
Flooring is an essential element in any wet room, as the whole space needs to be completely watertight. It should also be non-slip to create a safe environment.
How we install wet room flooring
Once you’ve sorted out the layout of your fixtures, such as the toilet, sink, and shower, we can prepare the surface for your wet room flooring.
To ensure the entire room is waterproofed, a waterproof membrane or tanking system is generally used to prevent water from seeping into walls and floor. This will stop any structural damage and mould growth.
The subfloor should be firm, level, and properly prepared. Plywood or cement board is often used as a base for wetroom flooring. The location of the drain will have been positioned so that water runs off correctly. Generally, the floor slopes gently towards a drain.
The flooring is then properly sealed to make sure water can’t penetrate in any area. If grouting is used, it will be waterproof and guaranteed to prevent water infiltration through the grout lines.
Choosing the right type of wet room flooring
Wet room flooring should be stylish as well as functional. There are plenty of types of waterproof flooring to choose from, so it’s a matter of finding a surface that will work well in the environment and suit your décor.
Porcelain or ceramic tiles are a popular choice. In a wet environment, you should choose tiles that have a slip-resistant texture for safety. You can minimise grout lines by choosing large sized tiles – these have the added benefit of making cleaning easier.
Natural stone is an expensive but luxurious flooring solution. Slate, limestone, and marble will look great, although some natural stone flooring may need more maintenance to keep it looking pristine.
Sheet vinyl or luxury vinyl tiles are highly versatile and affordable options. There’s a huge range of colours, patterns and finishes to choose from, including slip-resistant vinyl and vinyl coverings with anti-bacterial properties.
We partner with Altro, a leading supplier of slip-resistant flooring that’s safe, even when wet, and this resistance is guaranteed for the lifetime of the floor.
Polyflor is another partner that specialises in non-slip flooring. They’ve designed a range of floor coverings designed for wet areas, such as bathrooms and wet rooms. Their range of non-slip flooring solutions are highly durable and easy to maintain.
Maintaining wet room flooring
Vinyl is one of the easiest wetroom flooring surfaces to keep clean. Normal cleaning products will stop the build-up of mould, mildew and soap scum.
Ventilation is key to preventing humidity and moisture from causing mould to grow and bacteria to flourish. A well-ventilated window or extractor fan will help, as it will allow air to circulate.
We can advise on the perfect flooring for your wet room
Contact 1st Choice Flooring Solutions to chat about your flooring project – we offer free information and advice.
We understand the needs of the commercial sector and are happy to install your new wet room flooring in a way that will cause minimal disruption. All of our work is carried out to the highest standard by experienced, DBS-checked and CSCS-certified flooring fitters.
To discover the perfect flooring solutions for your healthcare organisation, call us on 01902 681 522 or email: info@1stchoiceflooringsolutionsltd.co.uk
Product image: https://www.polyflor.com/products/polysafe-quattro-pur