What each one is
- Walk-in shower: a shower enclosure with no door to open and no high step to climb. It usually has a glass screen and either a low-profile tray or a tray set flush with the floor. The rest of the bathroom floor is a normal bathroom floor.
- Wet room: the whole floor is waterproofed, sloped towards a drain, and the shower area is simply part of the room. There is no tray at all. A screen may keep most of the spray in one corner, but the room as a whole is built to get wet.
Waterproofing and floors
A wet room depends on the waterproofing being right. The floor and walls are sealed (often called tanking) and the floor has to fall gently towards the drain. That is more preparation than a walk-in shower, and it is where quality shows. Timber floors may need strengthening or the right boards underneath. Solid floors are usually simpler to deal with. We look at what you have at survey before suggesting either.
Accessibility
Both give you level or near-level access with no bath edge to step over. A wet room gives the most freedom of movement, which is why it is often chosen for mobility needs, for anyone who may want to use a seat or need help from a carer, and for people who simply want a shower they can stay in as they get older. A walk-in with a flush tray can be just as easy to enter and is often enough.
Space
In a small bathroom, a wet room can feel larger because there is no tray or enclosure breaking up the floor. The trade-off is splashing: in a compact room it is harder to stop water reaching the toilet, basin or towels. A walk-in with a good-sized screen contains the water better.
Cost and effort
A wet room generally involves more labour (waterproofing, falls to the drain, a drain in the right place) than a walk-in shower, so it usually costs more. The price depends entirely on your room and the finishes you choose, which is why we quote each job after a survey instead of giving a figure blind.
Looking after it
- Keep the drain clear of hair and soap.
- Check the sealant at joints and renew it when it starts to fail.
- Choose floor tiles with some grip. Smooth polished tiles are slippery when wet.
A quick way to choose
- You want an easy-access shower in a standard bathroom: a walk-in is usually the sensible choice.
- You need maximum accessibility, or you want the whole room to flow as one space: look at a wet room.
- You are converting a bath to a shower and only need to stop climbing over the side: a walk-in with a low-profile or flush tray is often all it takes.
We fit both. See bathroom fitting at Lynx, or ring 07942 371822 for a free survey and quote.