Wet Room Installation
Create stunning, modern wet rooms throughout Muskoka. Open-concept walk-in showers with no doors or enclosures - just beautiful, seamless, fully-waterproofed spaces.
Get Free ConsultationWhat is a Wet Room?
A wet room is a fully waterproofed bathroom where the shower area is open to the rest of the bathroom - no shower door, no enclosure, often no curb. The entire bathroom floor slopes gently to a drain, allowing water to flow freely from the shower area.
Popular in Europe and Scandinavia for decades, wet rooms are becoming increasingly popular in North America for their spa-like aesthetic, accessibility benefits, and seamless modern design. They make small bathrooms feel spacious and large bathrooms feel luxurious.
💡 Perfect for Cottages
Wet rooms are ideal for cottage bathrooms where space is limited and you want a contemporary, easy-to-maintain design that feels like a spa retreat.
Benefits of Wet Room Design
Why homeowners choose wet rooms
Spacious Feel
No shower enclosure makes even small bathrooms feel dramatically larger and more open. Visual continuity creates illusion of more space.
Contemporary Luxury
Wet rooms have an undeniable wow factor. Seamless, modern aesthetic that looks like high-end hotel or spa. Increases home value significantly.
Ultimate Accessibility
No barriers anywhere. Perfect for wheelchairs, walkers, or anyone with mobility concerns. The most accessible bathroom design possible.
Easy to Clean
No shower door tracks to scrub, no grout lines around enclosure, no corners to clean. Just smooth surfaces throughout.
Showcase Beautiful Tile
With no glass or enclosure blocking the view, your tile selection becomes a stunning focal point. Large format tiles work beautifully.
Flexible Space
The entire bathroom becomes usable space. No area wasted by awkward shower enclosure. Can be used as one large shower if desired.
Critical Wet Room Requirements
Wet rooms require specialized construction - these are NOT optional
🛡️ Complete Waterproofing - CRITICAL
Unlike traditional showers where only the shower area is waterproofed, wet rooms require the ENTIRE bathroom floor and walls to be fully waterproofed. Water can and will go everywhere during use.
Must waterproof:
- ✓ Entire bathroom floor
- ✓ All walls up to at least 6 feet
- ✓ All corners and transitions
- ✓ Around all penetrations (pipes, drains)
- ✓ Threshold and doorway
We use professional waterproofing membrane systems (Schluter, Wedi, etc.) - this is not a place to cut corners!
Proper Floor Slope
The entire bathroom floor must slope toward the drain (or drains). Typically 1/4" per foot minimum slope. This requires careful subfloor work and is more complex than traditional bathrooms.
Poor slope = standing water = problems. We ensure perfect drainage every time.
Adequate Drainage
Linear drains or large point drains handle the water volume. Drain must be properly sized for the room and positioned strategically. Some wet rooms use multiple drains.
Water Containment Strategy
While water CAN go anywhere, you want to encourage it to stay in the shower zone. Glass panels, half-walls, or proper shower head positioning help contain spray without full enclosures.
Excellent Ventilation
Even more critical than standard bathrooms. Large exhaust fan capacity needed to handle moisture from the entire room getting wet.
Moisture-Resistant Everything
All materials, fixtures, and finishes must be rated for wet environments. Even toilet paper holder and towel bars need rust-proof construction.
Professional Wet Room Installation
Design & Planning
Careful space planning for drain placement, floor slope direction, fixture locations, and water containment. Wet rooms require more planning than standard showers.
Structural Assessment
Evaluate floor joists and structure. Wet rooms add weight with waterproofing layers and tile. Ensure structure can support the load. May need reinforcement.
Subfloor Preparation
Install or modify subfloor to create proper slope to drain. This often requires building up areas or lowering drain position. Critical step that determines drainage success.
Drain Installation
Install linear drain, point drain, or multiple drains as designed. Ensure proper connection to drain stack and adequate venting. Position precisely for optimal drainage.
Complete Waterproofing System
Install waterproofing membrane over entire floor and all walls. This is the most critical step. We use systems from Schluter, Wedi, or similar professional-grade products. Every seam sealed, every corner reinforced.
Waterproofing Test
Before any tile goes down, we flood test the waterproofing. Fill the room with water to test pan and verify no leaks. This catches problems before they're buried under tile.
Tile Installation
Install tile on floor and walls. Use large-format tiles to minimize grout lines. Ensure tile maintains proper slope. Professional installation with quality thin-set and grout.
Fixture Installation
Install shower fixtures, toilet, vanity, accessories. Everything must be properly sealed where it penetrates waterproofing.
Glass Panels (Optional)
Install partial glass panel or half-wall to contain spray if desired. Still open concept but provides some splash protection.
Testing & Sealing
Test drainage thoroughly, seal all grout lines, final waterproofing checks, complete cleaning.
Wet Room Design Variations
Full Wet Room
Entire bathroom is the shower - everything waterproofed, entire floor slopes to drain.
- ✓ Most dramatic and spacious feel
- ✓ Ultimate flexibility
- ✓ Best for small bathrooms
- ✓ Toilet and vanity also in wet area
- ✓ Everything must be waterproof
- ✓ Requires excellent ventilation
Partial Wet Room
Shower zone fully waterproofed and open, rest of bathroom traditional.
- ✓ More practical for most homes
- ✓ Contains water to shower area
- ✓ Glass panel helps contain spray
- ✓ Toilet/vanity stay drier
- ✓ Still feels very open and modern
- ✓ More affordable than full wet room
Walk-Through Shower
Large shower you walk through to access rest of bathroom - no door.
- ✓ Unique layout option
- ✓ Very spa-like experience
- ✓ Shower becomes focal point
- ✓ Requires specific floor plan
- ✓ Works well in larger bathrooms
- ✓ Two entrance/exit points
Wet Room with Divider
Half-height wall or glass divider between shower and toilet/vanity.
- ✓ Visual separation
- ✓ Privacy maintained
- ✓ Better spray containment
- ✓ Still open and modern
- ✓ Easier to keep toilet area dry
- ✓ Good compromise solution
Important Considerations
Bathroom Size
Wet rooms work in any size, but considerations differ. Small bathrooms (under 50 sq ft) benefit from full wet room design - makes them feel huge. Large bathrooms (100+ sq ft) can do partial wet room with defined zones.
Heating is Essential
Radiant floor heating is highly recommended (almost essential) for wet rooms. The entire floor gets wet, and heated floors help it dry faster, prevent cold tile feel, and reduce moisture problems.
Water Everywhere
Accept that water will splash beyond the immediate shower area. This is by design, but it means keeping bath mats, towels, and anything water-sensitive properly positioned or stored.
Higher Cost
Wet rooms cost more than traditional showers due to extensive waterproofing, floor slope work, and typically higher-end finishes. Budget 30-50% more than conventional bathroom renovations.
Not DIY-Friendly
Wet rooms require professional expertise. Improper waterproofing or slope leads to catastrophic leaks and expensive repairs. This is definitely a job for experienced professionals.
Drainage Options for Wet Rooms
Linear Drain
Long, narrow drain (24-48" typical) - most popular for wet rooms.
Advantages:
- ✓ Modern aesthetic
- ✓ Enables single-slope floor
- ✓ Better water collection
- ✓ Easier to achieve zero-threshold
- ✓ Less floor slope needed overall
Usually positioned at room threshold or against one wall
Point Drain
Traditional center drain - floor slopes from all directions.
Advantages:
- ✓ Lower cost
- ✓ Easier installation
- ✓ Works with existing drain location
- ✓ Familiar to contractors
- ✓ Good drainage capacity
Requires multi-directional floor slope, more complex to execute perfectly
Wet Room vs Traditional Shower
| Aspect | Traditional Shower | Wet Room |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Impact | Standard | ⭐ Stunning, modern, spa-like |
| Space Feel | Enclosed area | ⭐ Makes room feel much larger |
| Accessibility | Some barriers | ⭐ Completely barrier-free |
| Installation Cost | ⭐ Standard pricing | 30-50% higher |
| Cleaning | Door tracks to clean | ⭐ No doors - easier cleaning |
| Water Containment | ⭐ Excellent | Some spray escape |
| Ventilation Needs | Standard fan adequate | Larger capacity fan needed |
| Resale Appeal | Good | ⭐ Excellent (luxury feature) |
Is a Wet Room Right for Your Bathroom?
Good Fit If:
- ✓You want a modern, luxury bathroom
- ✓Space is limited and you want it to feel larger
- ✓Accessibility is important
- ✓You love contemporary design
- ✓Budget allows for premium installation
Consider Alternatives If:
- ⚠Multiple people share bathroom (spray everywhere)
- ⚠You prefer traditional separated spaces
- ⚠Limited ventilation capability
- ⚠Concerned about water splash
- ⚠Working with tight budget
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our plumbing services
Request Wet Room Consultation
Ready for a Stunning Wet Room?
Get expert wet room design and installation throughout Muskoka. Transform your bathroom with modern, open-concept luxury.