Guide
Wet room vs shower enclosure: which suits your bathroom?
A wet room has an open, fully waterproofed floor draining to a gully. A shower enclosure has a tray and screen containing the water. Wet rooms are better for level access and a seamless look, but need tanking and a floor fall. Enclosures are simpler, cheaper and easier to retrofit.
What does tanking mean?
Tanking is the waterproof layer applied under the tiles across the floor and shower walls. In a wet room it is the thing standing between water and the structure below, so it is not somewhere to cut corners.
Do you need a fall in the floor?
Yes. A wet room floor must slope to the drain. That is formed with a pre-made former or by building the fall in the screed, which affects floor height.
Which is better for accessibility?
A wet room. There is no tray lip to step over, which suits wheelchair use, walking frames and anyone planning to stay in the house long term.
Which is easier to clean?
Opinions differ. A wet room has fewer seals and no tray edge, but more tiled area and grout. An enclosure keeps water in one place but has more glass and seals.
Which costs more?
A wet room usually costs more, because of the tanking, the floor build-up and the extra tiling. The gap widens on a timber floor that needs strengthening first.
Can any bathroom become a wet room?
Not always. The drain position, joist direction and available floor height decide it. We check those on site before recommending either option.
How Carpathian Craft can help
We install both wet rooms and standard shower enclosures across Edinburgh, tanked and tiled by hand.
We give a free, no-obligation written quote. The price we quote is the price you pay.