Who this guide is for
- Homeowners planning a wet room or open shower
- People concerned about leaks below the floor
- Anyone comparing wet-room installers
- Owners converting a bathroom to level access
Probe tanking and waterproofing
Tanking — fully waterproofing the floor and walls — is the foundation of a wet room. Ask how the installer tanks the area and what system they use, and treat vague answers as a serious concern.
This is the single most important thing to get right.
- Ask how the area is tanked
- Discuss the waterproofing system
- Treat vague answers as a concern
- Confirm the whole wet zone is covered
Confirm falls to drain
Water must run to the drain without pooling, which depends on accurate falls across the floor. Ask how they create the falls and ensure reliable drainage.
Poor falls leave standing water and risk leaks.
- Ask how falls to drain are created
- Confirm water runs to the drain
- Discuss the drain type and position
- Avoid pooling water
Check waterproofing references
Because failures are hidden, ask to see wet rooms they installed some time ago and how they have held up. A track record of dry, sound wet rooms is the reassurance you want.
Past performance matters more than a fresh photo.
Coordinate tiling and finishing
Tiling sits over the waterproofing, so the two must be done in the right order and detailed carefully at junctions and the drain. Ask how they coordinate tanking, falls and tiling.
Confirm who is responsible for the whole wet area.
- Ask how tanking and tiling are coordinated
- Discuss detailing at the drain
- Confirm responsibility for the wet area
- Check junction detailing
Brief and compare on the same scope
Give each installer the same brief so quotes compare and nothing is assumed. Ask what could change once the existing floor is opened up.
Ask to see relevant qualifications and insurance.
Hiring checklist
- 1Define the wet room or shower scope
- 2Ask how the area is tanked
- 3Discuss the waterproofing system
- 4Ask how falls to drain are created
- 5Confirm water runs to the drain
- 6Ask to see older wet rooms and how they held up
- 7Ask how tanking and tiling are coordinated
- 8Give each installer the same brief
- 9Ask what could change once the floor is opened
- 10Ask to see relevant qualifications and insurance
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating tanking as an afterthought
- Accepting vague answers about waterproofing
- Overlooking falls to drain and getting pooling
- Judging only fresh photos, not how wet rooms age
- Not coordinating waterproofing and tiling order
- Skipping qualification and insurance checks
When to involve a professional
- Keep tanking, falls and waterproofing with experienced, qualified professionals
- Confirm the whole wet zone is waterproofed correctly
- Ask to see wet rooms that have stayed dry over time
- Ask to see relevant qualifications and insurance
- Remember waterproofing requirements vary by location and project
Frequently asked questions
Questions readers ask about this topic
What makes a wet room different to fit?
Removing the tray barrier means the entire floor and lower walls must be waterproof and drain correctly, so tanking and falls are critical. Vet the installer's waterproofing track record above all else, since failures are hidden and damaging.
What is tanking?
Tanking is fully waterproofing the floor and walls of the wet zone, and it is the foundation of a wet room. Ask how the installer tanks the area and what system they use, and treat vague answers as a serious concern.
Why do falls to drain matter?
Water must run to the drain without pooling, which depends on accurate falls across the floor. Ask how the installer creates the falls and ensures reliable drainage, since poor falls leave standing water and risk leaks.
How do I know it will not leak?
Ask to see wet rooms they installed some time ago and how they have held up, because failures are hidden and show over time. A track record of dry, sound wet rooms matters more than a fresh photo, and requirements vary by location and project.
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