Wet Room Planning For Architects: Need To Know

Nothing takes the breath away and inspires sensations of pampering and luxury quite like stepping into a well-designed wet room and enjoying an amazing bathing/showering experience. There is something subliminal and instantly pleasing about the lines and contours of classic inspiration such as a Scandinavian minimalist style that evokes the cool climes and healthy lifestyles of those regions. It can be translated well into a commercial or domestic bathroom setting.

Why We Wrote This Guide

As an architect, you want to focus on the aesthetics because that is how you will judge the success of your work. The second layer of success lies in the hidden factors under the floor and behind the walls of your wet room design.

Angles, slopes, dimensions, materials and sanitary fixtures positioning are all vital components of the mundane but critical aspects of water flow and drainage. Once a sound functionality of the wet room has been achieved, then the focus can be directed to the aesthetic design that will make the room a more memorable space.

The Key Elements Of Wet Room Planning

Getting the layout right is the visible part that the user will experience directly. The supporting infrastructure is the hidden portion that must operate correctly.

Wet Areas

Knowing the area in which is going to subject to water is a key part of designing any wet room area – this will play a big part in the placement of sanitary fittings. A poor design that saturates towels and soaks toilet paper can be deemed a failure. It is easily avoided with proper thought and planning from the outset. Glass screens and partitions are an important tool in achieving success in this aspect, as well as contributing a pleasing design element.

Sufficient Fall For Waste Water Pipes

In an ideal situation, the wet room will be at the side or end of the building adjacent to the soil stack. If not, then it is important to consider if there is enough floor depth to support a long run of pipework. The outlet pipe should also be positioned between the joists to maximise the available underfloor space for drainage. A pumped solution may be considered as a viable option if the angles and space do not lend themselves to adequate gravity draining.

Correct Floor Slope Gradient For Drainage

There is a fine balance between ensuring an adequate slope for drainage while not giving the user the impression of standing on a slippery slope. The ideal gradient is 1.5% to 2% and ensures that water flows away quickly enough to avoid water pooling.

Pools of water not only look bad but also contribute to excessive cleaning effort. Whether the floor is made of timber or concrete, it is a major advantage if the wet room is included in the initial building plans. That greatly increases the chances of success and minimises the risks of issues such as leaks or inadequate drainage.

Need More Information?

This article only touches on some of the basics. We have written a guide specifically for architects and designers and packed it with tips about how to successfully approach wet rooms from the conceptual and planning perspectives. Download The Architect’s Wet Room Design Guide – Inspire and delight your clients while avoiding leaks and common problems.

Important update to the NHBS Specifications 2018

Backing surfaces for tiling should;

• Be moisture resistant, where frequent wetting occurs 

When Tiling; 

• Proprietary water-resistant grouting should be used in accordance with the manufacturer 

Grouting should be: 

• As specified in the design including mix and colour 
• Cement-based, epoxy resin or a proprietary product 
• ‘Waterproof in and around shower enclosures and where tiling can be saturated’. 

Gypsum plaster should not be used where; 

• ‘Repeated or persistent wetting may occur’