7 Types of Wet Room Flooring

There are many different types of wet room flooring options available, which can make choosing one a challenge - especially if you don’t quite know what you’re looking for. To help you make the right choice, in this article, we’re going to cover:

• The key factors to consider when choosing wet room flooring
• The 7 best types of flooring for wet rooms
• How to choose the right wet room flooring for your home

But before we do that, we’d first like to explain what wet room flooring is and why choosing proper flooring for your wet room is of crucial importance.

What is Wet Room Flooring?

Wet room flooring refers to a type of flooring that is specifically designed for wet rooms. Unlike traditional flooring, wet room flooring is waterproof and able to withstand constant exposure to moisture without losing its functionality or aesthetic appearance.

That way, no water will seep into the underlying structure, which can cause significant damage, mold, and mildew. This type of flooring is also often slip-resistant and very easy to clean.

Importance of Proper Flooring in Wet Rooms

Choosing the right type of flooring for your wet room is crucial because the flooring will be exposed to a high level of moisture on a daily basis.

And when you don’t have the right flooring installed, you risk facing water damage, creating slipping hazards, or creating the ideal environment for mold growth  - all of which can significantly affect the functionality and the appearance of your wet room.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Wet Room Flooring

When choosing flooring for your wet room, there are a number of factors that you should consider, including:

Waterproof and Water-Resistant Materials

When browsing through the different types of flooring options available for your wet room, make sure that it’s at least water-resistant. Ideally, it should be waterproof, especially if your wet room is on the second floor of your property. That way, you can rest assured that no water will seep through the flooring over time and cause unnecessary damage.

Slip Resistance

Purely for safety reasons, choosing a flooring option that is slip-resistant will massively reduce the chances of slips and falls, particularly when the floor is moist or wet.

Durability and Maintenance

Unless you want to change your wet room flooring every couple of years, it is advisable to choose a flooring option that is durable and long-lasting.

On top of that, you should also think about maintenance as that can add up over time. So, unless you don’t mind spending a decent amount of time cleaning the floor on a regular basis, going for a flooring option that is low maintenance is key.

Aesthetic Appeal

And the last consideration you need to think about is the aesthetic appeal of your wet room flooring. Fortunately, flooring options for wet rooms come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, giving you the freedom to create a space that aligns with your personal style and complements the rest of your bathroom’s design.

Top Types of Wet Room Flooring

If you search for wet room flooring ideas on the internet, you’ll come across thousands of options to choose from. And while you’re free to choose the exact look you want to achieve, you have to make sure that you choose suitable flooring for it.

To help you with that, in the sections below, we’ll break down the 7 most common flooring options for wet rooms.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is waterproof, budget-friendly, and easy to install (you can even do it yourself), making it a popular choice for wet rooms. What’s more is that it comes in various colours and patterns, including designs that mimic wood or stone. Vinyl flooring is also slip resistant, durable, and generally a suitable choice for high-moisture areas.

Porcelain or Ceramic Tiles

Tiles made out of porcelain or ceramic are durable, water-resistant, and available in a wide range of styles and designs. They are more expensive than vinyl, especially porcelain tiles, but they’re both an elegant and practical flooring solution that’ll last you for many years to come.

Natural Stone Tiles

Tiles made out of natural stone such as marble and slate can add a luxurious and timeless aesthetic to your wet room. While they need to be sealed to become water resistant, the unique textures and patterns that each tile comes with makes this flooring solution a stand-out choice for high-end designs.

Rubber Flooring

If you’re a safety conscious individual or have young children and want flooring that is soft on the foot and easy to maintain, you can’t go wrong with rubber flooring. It’s available in many different colours and textures and is a practical choice for any wet room.

Wood Effect Flooring

Installing wood flooring in a wet room is never a good idea, but that doesn’t mean its look can’t be mimicked. Wood effect flooring is widely available and is most commonly made out of porcelain or vinyl. So, whether you’re on a budget or not, you can easily make your wet room feel warm yet stylish with wood effect flooring.

Resin Flooring

Resin flooring is a modern flooring solution for wet rooms. Its waterproof surface combined with its durable nature make it a popular choice for many, especially those looking to achieve a sleek and contemporary wet room design.

Concrete Flooring

Concrete flooring offers an industrial and minimalist aesthetic while being highly durable and waterproof when sealed. If you’re not a huge fan of the grey, concrete flooring can be customised with different colours, finishes, and patterns - making it a stylish and very low-maintenance option for wet rooms.

How to Choose the Right Wet Room Flooring for Your Home

Now that you know the seven most popular types of flooring options for wet rooms, let’s take a look at the different things you need to consider to choose the flooring that’s right for you.

Assess Your Wet Room's Design and Functionality

Even the best wet rooms in the UK vary in terms of layout. So, before you decide on any particular flooring option, make sure to assess your wet room’s design and functional needs.

Budget Considerations

Flooring for wet rooms can vary in price depending on the material, design, and overall quality of the product. So, before starting your search for suitable flooring, make sure to have a budget in mind. That way, it’ll be much easier to narrow down your options and prevent yourself from overspending.

Professional Installation vs DIY

When it comes to installing the flooring in your wet room, you have two options - do it yourself or hire a professional installer. Generally speaking, we don’t advise our customers to install their wet floors themselves as any leaks in the future can lead to damages that will be significantly costlier to repair than what you’d pay a flooring installation specialist.

And if after reading this section you’re still not quite sure which wet room flooring you should go for, consider exploring different flooring ideas for bathrooms and wet rooms to see what other options might work best for your space.

Final Thoughts / CTA

Choosing the right flooring for your wet room is key to not only prevent water from seeping through but achieving the aesthetics and functionality you desire. To help bring your vision to life, at Plumbworld, we offer a large variety of wet room flooring options to meet everyone’s unique needs, design preferences, and budget.