What is the difference between a wet room and a walk-in shower?

A wet room is a fully waterproofed (tanked) room with an open shower area that drains straight into the floor, with no tray or enclosure needed. A walk-in shower is a shower area with a low tray and a glass screen, fitted into an otherwise normal bathroom.

Is a wet room more expensive than a walk-in shower?

Usually, yes. A wet room needs the whole floor and walls tanked and re-graded to drain, so it's a bigger job than fitting a walk-in shower. Dec gives a free, fixed quote once he's seen the room so you know exactly where you stand.

Which is better for a small bathroom?

A wet room often suits a small room because there's no bulky enclosure, so the space feels bigger and is easier to clean. Dec can advise on what will work best for your room.

DG Plumbing Heating Exeter · Devon

Wet room vs walk-in shower: which is right for you?

Two popular ways to lose the bath and open the room up. Here's the honest difference, so you can pick the one that suits you.

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Wet rooms Walk-in showers Free advice

People often use these two terms to mean the same thing, but they're not. Getting the difference clear helps you budget and pick the right one for your home.

A wet room is a fully waterproofed room. The whole floor and the lower walls are "tanked" (sealed) and the floor is gently sloped so water drains straight away. There's no tray and no enclosure — the shower just becomes part of the room.

A walk-in shower is a large, open shower area with a low-profile tray and a fixed glass screen, fitted into an otherwise normal bathroom. You still have a dry floor and a defined shower space.

Wet room — the good and the not-so-good

Great for small rooms — no bulky enclosure, so the space feels bigger.
Easy to clean — fewer trays, frames and corners.
Brilliant for accessibility — step-free, so ideal if stepping over a tray is tricky.
A bigger job — the whole room has to be tanked and re-graded to drain.
Needs doing right — proper waterproofing is everything, which is why it's worth using someone who does them regularly.

Walk-in shower — the good and the not-so-good

Kinder on the budget — usually quite a bit less than a full wet room.
Quicker to fit — often done in a couple of days.
Keeps the rest of the floor dry — the screen and tray contain the water.
Takes a bit more room — you need space for the tray and screen.

What about time on site?

A walk-in shower or a bath-to-shower conversion is usually the quicker job, often done in a couple of days. A full wet room takes a bit longer because the whole room has to be tanked and the floor graded to drain properly. Declan Gent will give you a clear timescale, and a free fixed quote, once he's seen the room.

So which should you choose?

If you've got a small bathroom, want a step-free finish, or you're thinking ahead about accessibility, a wet room is often the better shout. If you mainly want to swap a tired old bath for a modern shower without the bigger spend, a bath-to-shower conversion or walk-in shower is usually the way to go. Not sure? That's what the free quote is for — Dec will tell you honestly what will work best in your room.

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Talk it through with Dec

Call or text Dec on 07493 772609, or send a few details and he’ll get back to you.

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