Choosing a new shower setup for your home is an exciting part of any bathroom renovation, but when faced with the choice between a wet room and a walk-in shower enclosure, where do you begin?
Both offer a stylish, door free, and easy-access alternative to a traditional enclosure. However, in the context of a typical UK home, especially considering our climate and building styles, there are key differences in cost, installation, and practicality that you need to know.
In this blog, we will discuss comparing wet rooms and walk in shower enclosures in their pros and cons, helping you to decide which option
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Walk-In Shower:
A walk-in shower is essentially a dedicated shower area that uses one or more fixed glass screens and a low-profile shower tray (or ‘wet room former’ that is tiled over) to contain the water.
Walk-In Shower Pros
- In comparison to shower enclosures, the cost of installation may be higher but relatively less complex and lower than that of a wet room. So, if choosing between walk-in shower enclosure and a wet room and cos
- Because the water is contained by the shower tray, you only need to ensure the immediate showering area is properly waterproofed. This is significantly less complex (and therefore cheaper) than ‘tanking’ the entire room.
- The shower tray, even a super-low profile one, provides a secondary layer of protection against leaks, offering peace of mind, particularly if you’re installing it upstairs on a timber floor.
- The combination of the screen(s) and the low tray generally means less water escapes onto the main bathroom floor compared to a true wet room.
- With minimal or no lip to step over, they still offer excellent easy access, making them ideal for all ages and most mobility needs.
Walk In Shower Cons
- While very modern, the visible low-level tray slightly breaks the continuous floor line, making it less of a complete open-plan look than a true wet room.
- You are generally limited by the size and shape of the available low-profile shower trays.
2. Wet Rooms
Wet rooms are built around an open plan concept where the entire bathroom is fully water proofed via a process called “tanking”. No shower tray as it is levelled to the bathroom floor offering open and easy access.
Wet Room Pros
- Wet rooms offer an ultimate luxurious experience. They create a stunning, spa-like, uninterrupted, and ultra-modern look, with tiles running from the main floor straight into the shower area.
- With absolutely no steps, lips, or trays, they offer the highest level of accessibility for wheelchair users, walking aids, and future-proofing your home.
- By eliminating the bulky shower enclosure, a wet room can make a smaller UK bathroom feel significantly larger and brighter.
- A professionally installed wet room, especially as a second bathroom or en-suite, can be a highly desirable feature that increases your home’s market value.
- Wet rooms come without nooks, crannies, or a separate enclosure. That makes cleaning a simple matter of wiping down the large, open tiled surfaces.
Wet Room Cons
- The biggest con when compared to walk-in shower enclosures is the higher costs and complexity of the installation. Converting your bathroom into a wet room requires tanking the whole room, floors and walls to ensure a watertight seal, which is a complex process requiring professional experience. This translates into higher labour and material costs upfront.
- Almost all wet rooms, regardless of their size, require ventilation. It is due to extensive water exposure. Therefore, superior ventilation (a powerful extractor fan) is absolutely non-negotiable to manage moisture and prevent mould or damp issues in your home.
- Even with a glass screen, the rest of the room is technically part of the shower area. You must consider how to keep towels, toilet rolls, and other items dry.
- Planning permission for bathroom renovations generally is not required. The significant changes, like the installation of a new drain and making structural alterations to the floor, will require adherence to UK Building Regulation and Planning permission.
The Verdict: Which is Best for Your UK Home?
| Feature | Walk-In Shower (with low tray) | Wet Room (full tanking) |
|---|---|---|
| Best for… | Budget-conscious, upstairs bathrooms, quick renovations. | Luxury look, superior accessibility, small spaces. |
| Installation | Easier & lower cost. Less extensive waterproofing. | Complex, expensive, and must be professionally “tanked.” |
| Water Containment | Excellent. The low tray and screen keep water confined. | Lower. The entire floor is wet; it relies heavily on floor gradients. |
| Accessibility | Very Good. Minimal lip/step to enter. | Excellent/Universal. Completely barrier-free. |
| Aesthetics | Modern and sleek. | Seamless, ultimate luxury, creates the illusion of space. |
| Risk of Leaks | Lower, thanks to the tray acting as a barrier. | Higher if waterproofing fails; must be 100% correctly installed. |
Our Recommendation for the UK Homeowner
- Choose a Walk-In Shower if: You are renovating an existing upstairs bathroom, your budget is a key consideration, or you simply want a modern, easy-access shower with maximum protection against water escaping. It delivers most of the look and practicality with less risk and cost.17
- Choose a Wet Room if: You are building a new extension or a ground-floor bathroom, you require the highest level of accessibility, or your absolute priority is achieving a stunning, seamless, high-end design that will future-proof your home.
Whichever you choose, be sure to use a certified UK installer who can advise on the correct waterproofing systems, drainage requirements, and compliance with all relevant Building Regulations.
