What Is a Wet Room?
A wet room is a fully waterproofed bathroom where the shower area has no tray, no enclosure threshold and no step — the floor slopes gently toward a drain, and water simply runs away. The entire floor and lower walls are tanked (waterproofed), so there are no trays to clean around and no shower screen frame to accumulate mould.
The result is a seamless, open showering space that can cover part of the bathroom or the entire floor area. Glass screens are used to contain the majority of water spray, but they're frameless or semi-frameless and create a visual openness that conventional shower enclosures can't match.
Why Wet Rooms Are Growing in Popularity
Wet rooms have moved from high-end hotels into mainstream domestic bathrooms across Surrey, Sussex and Kent — and there are three clear reasons why.
Accessibility. A level-access shower with no threshold or tray step is essential for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, but it also appeals to anyone who wants a future-proofed bathroom. As more homeowners look to adapt their homes for the longer term, wet rooms are becoming the practical as well as the stylish choice.
Luxury look and feel. There's something unambiguously spa-like about a large, tiled wet room with a rain head overhead and frameless glass. It's the type of bathroom feature that photographs well and adds real perceived value to a property at sale.
Easier cleaning. No shower tray seal to go mouldy, no enclosure frame to scrub. The entire floor and wall surface is tiled and grout-sealed, making cleaning more straightforward — a quick squeegee after each shower keeps the glass clear and the floor dry.
What's Involved in a Wet Room Installation
A wet room is significantly more involved to install than a conventional shower enclosure. The key stages are:
Tanking. Every surface in the wet area — and typically the entire bathroom floor — is waterproofed using a tanking system. This typically involves a proprietary tanking membrane or board applied to the substrate, sealed at all joints and junctions, and tested before tiling begins. This is the most critical stage: poor tanking is the root cause of the vast majority of wet room failures, leading to water ingress into the subfloor or the ceiling below.
Floor build-up and gradient. The floor must fall consistently toward the drain, typically at a gradient of 1:80 or 1:60. On a solid concrete floor this is usually achieved with a sand-cement screed. On a suspended timber floor — more common in older homes across Surrey and Sussex — the build-up is more complex: the joists must be assessed for adequate load-bearing capacity, the floor may need reinforcing, and a more specialist wet room floor former or tile backer board system is used.
Drain selection and position. The drain is the focal point of the floor design. A linear channel drain running along one edge creates a clean, contemporary look and allows tiles to run in a single direction without cutting. A centre point drain requires the floor to fall from all sides, which is geometrically trickier but suits smaller shower areas. The drain connects to the existing waste route — the position relative to the soil stack affects installation complexity and cost.
Tiling. All floor and wall surfaces are tiled, with the floor tiles typically in a smaller format (to accommodate the gradient without visible lippage) or in a textured large-format tile with a controlled fall. The tiling quality in a wet room is more demanding than in a standard bathroom: any loose tiles or failed grout joints allow water behind the surface layer.
Glass screen. A frameless or semi-frameless glass screen or panel contains water spray without creating a visual barrier. Fixed glass panels are the most common choice — they're simple, easy to clean and don't require a water-tight pivot or seal.
Wet Room Installation Costs in 2026
Wet rooms cost more than conventional shower installations because of the additional tanking, specialist floor work and drainage engineering involved. Here are realistic price ranges for Surrey, Sussex and Kent:
| Wet Room Type | Typical Installed Cost | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Small wet room (shower area only, solid floor) | £4,000 – £7,000 | Tanking, linear drain, basic tiling, fixed glass panel, shower valve |
| Standard full bathroom wet room (solid floor) | £6,000 – £10,000 | Full bathroom strip-out, tanking, screed, mid-range tiles, linear drain, frameless screen, sanitaryware |
| Suspended timber floor conversion | Add £800 – £2,000 | Joist assessment, floor reinforcement, specialist build-up system |
| Luxury wet room | £10,000 – £18,000+ | Large-format premium tiles, bespoke glass, underfloor heating, rain head, high-spec sanitaryware |
Prices include labour and materials. VAT at 20% applies. Prices current for Surrey, Sussex and Kent in 2026–27.
Key Factors That Affect the Cost
Floor structure type. This is the single biggest variable. A solid concrete ground-floor slab is the ideal substrate for a wet room — minimal prep, straightforward screed, lower cost. A suspended timber floor requires considerably more work: the sub-floor must be assessed, often reinforced, and a compatible tanking and former system used. This typically adds £800–£2,000 to the project.
Tanking system quality. There's a significant difference between a budget liquid membrane applied over existing tiles and a properly installed tank-grade board system. We always specify a board-based tanking system at HGN Bathrooms — it performs better, lasts longer and gives you confidence that the waterproofing will not fail within five years.
Drain position relative to existing waste. If the new linear drain can connect directly to the existing waste route with minimal alteration, costs stay lower. If the waste needs rerouting — particularly under a solid floor where cutting is involved — expect an additional £400–£800.
Tile selection. Tiles vary from £20/m² for a basic ceramic to £150/m²+ for large-format porcelain or natural stone. In an average 5–6m² bathroom, that difference adds up to £650–£2,000 in materials alone before any mark-up or laying charge.
Underfloor heating. An electric UFH mat under the wet room floor adds approximately £400–£800 installed, depending on area covered. It's a popular addition — a warm floor makes stepping out of the shower considerably more pleasant, especially in older houses that can feel cold underfoot.
Wet Room Maintenance
A well-installed wet room is low-maintenance, but it does need regular attention to stay in good condition:
Squeegee the floor and screen after each shower. This removes standing water and prevents limescale build-up, especially in the hard-water areas of Surrey and Kent. A silicone squeegee takes about 30 seconds and makes a significant difference to the long-term appearance of the tiles and glass.
Re-seal the grout annually. Floor grout in a wet room takes more punishment than wall grout. A penetrating grout sealer applied once a year keeps it water-resistant and prevents staining. This is a 15-minute job that most homeowners do themselves.
Check the drain regularly. Hair and soap residue accumulate in the drain channel over time. Most linear drain covers lift out easily and can be cleaned in a matter of minutes.
Is a Wet Room Right for Your Property?
A wet room suits most homes, but there are a few cases where a conventional shower enclosure with a tray may be the better choice.
If your bathroom is very small (under 3m²), the full floor area can feel overwhelmed by the wet room build-up and the glass screen may leave limited dry space. If you have a first or second floor bathroom with older suspended timber joists and limited access beneath, the floor reinforcement work can push the total cost up significantly. And if your household includes young children who splash heavily, the extra effort of managing water spread across an open floor area can sometimes outweigh the convenience of no tray threshold.
For most homes we visit in Surrey, Sussex and Kent, though — particularly where an existing shower enclosure is tired and the bathroom is being fully renovated anyway — a wet room is a genuinely excellent long-term investment that adds usability, aesthetics and value in equal measure.
Planning Permission for a Wet Room
In the vast majority of cases, a wet room is an internal alteration and does not require planning permission. The electrical work involved (new circuits, extractor fan) must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and is notifiable — your electrician will handle this as a matter of course. If your property is listed or in a conservation area, it's always worth confirming with your local authority before starting work, though planning permission is still unlikely to be required for an internal bathroom alteration.
Interested in a Wet Room in Surrey, Sussex or Kent?
Haydn has installed wet rooms throughout the region, on both solid and suspended floors. Get in touch for a free site visit and honest, detailed quote — including a proper assessment of your floor structure before any work begins.