Bathrooms should no longer be seen as simply a functional room where you rush in and back out as quickly as possible before dashing off to work. The popularity of wetrooms have rocketed in recent years due to their contemporary and sleek appearance.

However when installing a wetroom into your home, make sure that you have read up as much as possible on the subject as there are a number of pitfalls that the glossy brochures may neglect to inform you of. The main problem lays with the fact that the whole room is designed to get wet and if the water escapes this could cause problems with the fabric of your building.

Plan the Position of Your Sanitaryware

It always pays to plan ahead and this is especially true when designing your wet room. It is essential to have your basin and toilet positioned away from the shower to prevent them becoming too wet. The same goes with your towels and toilet roll. If your wetroom is quite small then you probably should place a glass screen to separate.

Some specialists suggest that the minimum size for your wetroom should be 6 square meters, if your room is smaller then a partition between the shower and the rest of the room is a must – although there is the risk of spoiling the look of the room.

Condensation

Another problem associated with wet-rooms is the condensation. If you have a large room then the problem will be minimized as it will allow you to fit plenty of insulation behind the tiles. Unfortunately having a large wetroom which is fully tiled can be cold which means you will need to find a way of heating it. Of course heating causes condensation, so you are back to where you started. The best bet would be to install ventilation.

Combine with a Bedroom

One option you may consider is to have your wetroom as an extension of your bedroom, to do this you have the shower wall built in a curve. This allows plenty of space for the condensation to disappear. Ask a local wetroom specialist for further advice on what will work in your home.

Although many of the interior design magazines feature wetrooms, make sure you have read up on all the pros and cons so that you have a good idea of exactly what you are getting.