Wetrooms are the ideal solution for large and small bathrooms alike.

For the larger bathroom, install a stunning 1,400mm wide wetroom panel for that spa-like luxury. In a more compact bathroom, opt for a smaller 600mm wide corner panel to sit discreetly in the corner of the room.

For an even smaller space, you can simply tank out the whole room, install a valve and keep the entire room as a wet-area; this is a good solution for a small second shower-room. A wetroom uses the available space in the most flexible way possible.

Another benefit of wetrooms is that by installing one you are designing for life – they are inclusive of all users. They offer level access and doorless entry which is ideal for those who have mobility issues or struggle with arthritis, which can often make negotiating handles, doors and steps difficult. By installing a wetroom it ensures you are not isolating any user group.

Installing a wetroom is a simple process, you are building up a series of comprehensive barriers which reinforce each other – the only additional tasks to tiling are preparing the room with a primer, sealing all joints with sealing tape and then applying the tanking membrane, which is simply rolled on to the floor and walls. It gives the bathroom a failsafe protection against leaking.

There are also pre-formed trays available to sit under the floor, which you then tank over – these create a slope towards the drain, making the installation process even more straightforward. This simple to follow step-by-step guide illustrates the steps involved… Step-by-Step Guide There are several ways of constructing a wetroom, but each have some basic principles that must be observed: • The floor should be screeded, constructed from heavy duty wooden sheets such as plywood or created using a pre-made shower tray former. In all cases there must be a gradual slope to fall towards an appropriate shower outlet. The structure must be solid without flexing, and any joints in the construction material must be firm and well fitting.

• The body of the shower outlet must be recessed or cast into the floor in such a way that the top of the flange is on a level, or fractionally lower than the floor surrounding it. There can be no step upwards into the shower outlet.

• Some tanking systems are not compatible for use directly over conventional narrow wooden floorboards, these can be replaced or covered with a sheet material such as plywood.

	Step 1: Preparation Ensure all surfaces in the construction area are dry, solid, supportive and level, as well as free from oil, grease, dust and other separating layers.
	Step 2: Applying the primer The floor area of the room should be primed with a turn up of 100mm onto the wall. The walls should also be primed floor to ceiling in the showering area and in the splash zone of the shower, normally 100mm past the showering area. Leave the primer to cure.
	Step 3: Apply the outlet sleeve Apply the outlet sleeve, this is usually self-adhesive, ensuring it is flat with no raised edges, creases or bubbles. The centre of the outlet sleeve is then removed and the waste traps clamping ring is fixed into position.
	Step 4: Apply the tanking tape and pipe sleeves The tanking tape and pipe-sleeves are bedded down using the tanking compound. All wall to wall and wall to floor junctions, as well as butt joints and nail or screw heads, must be reinforced with the tanking tape. The compound is applied using a medium size brush.
	Step 5: Pre checks Ensure the tape, pipe-sleeves and outlet sleeve have been fitted to the appropriate areas and wait until the tanking compound is dry.
	Step 6: Apply the tanking compound The entire floor area of the room should be tanked with a turn up of 100mm onto the walls. The walls should also be tanked floor to ceiling in the showering area and in the splash zone of the shower, normally 100mm past the showering area. The recommended finishing thickness is 1mm which can usually be achieved in 2 or 3 coats. You can now start tiling the room.

*These steps are based on those involved when using Roman Shield tanking materials and can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Once all these steps have been completed you can then finish the room to your own design. For the ultimate top end project, complete the look with a 10mm thick wetroom panel and add a multi-function shower valve with the option of a drencher head, multi-mode hand shower and body-jets.

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