New build first floor wet room - ideal construct advice

[Eclipse]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and after your advice and collective knowledge please?

I am in the process of scoping out a house extension to include a new bathroom with a walk-in shower, plus a wet room ensuite.

We have designs and plans but as it's not been built yet or items ordered we have full flexibility on the construct. If you were starting from a blank canvas on a new project for a client what would be your ideal i.e.:

What do we get the builder to put on the walls and floors in the first instance (plasterboard, ply or specialist boards)?

What shower / wet base and tanking systems would you recommend?

Is there anything else that should be taken into consideration? Below are the designs received so far do you think they are functional?

Thanks for any advice it would be much appreciated!

 

[Flintstone]

Hello, welcome. You are certainly in the right place for good information.
First off, I would not let the builder do any wet room preperation unless he is specifically skilled in that area, call upon somebody who is, where are you based?
What sort of budget are you on as that may help with recommendations of products.

 

[Eclipse]

Hi, I wasn't going to let the builder do any of the prep but if he'll be building the room so it was more about what should he do with the walls and floors before we hand over to a professional tiller (not found one yet so recommendations appreciated).

We're just South of Birmingham.

 

[Qwerty]

If you're after a tiler then look in our directory..... Find a Tiler | Find professional wall and floor tilers for free - http://www.tilersforums.com/directory

Do try and pick one of our active members if possible!


You have so many options open to you at this stage. I take it the walls will be stud and joisted floor?

 

[Eclipse]

Ok great I've just had a look - how can I see if they are active members as it seems to just show their contact details?

Yes it will be stud walls on 3 sides, external on one plus a joisted floor. I just don't want them to waste time and cost putting down floor boards and plaster board if that's not the right thing to do and a more suitable material can be put straight onto the joists and stud?

 

[One Day]

I'd suggest contacting Schluter and/or Wedi and asking for a recommendation.
If they won't do that from the switchboard, ask for your area rep and they will very likely give you a number or two of installers they know and trust.

You're absolutely doing the right thing involving a wet room specialist as early as possible. Don't allow builders to even frame the walls before discussions take place.
For instance; I would look to stud the walls to suit the boards I like to use (Gerrman not UK sizes) and fit noggins to coincide with niches, which in turn coincide with tile/stone sizes.
Floors are always contentious, especially with heating systems involved!

 

[Chalker]

I would use an aqua4ma tray and flooring elements on your job. This would be fitted on top of the flooring ( 12mm build up) this comes with 100mm skirt that makes the floor completely water proof . then use water resistant plasterboard to the rest of the room and make sure the shower area is tanked out. This fitted well, will give you years of trouble free showering.

 

[Eclipse]

Good points Impish regarding the construct.

What boards would you suggest to put on the walls and floors?

Is Schluter and/or Wedi your recommendation for the wet room system?

 

[Eclipse]

I would use an aqua4ma tray and flooring elements on your job. This would be fitted on top of the flooring ( 12mm build up) this comes with 100mm skirt that makes the floor completely water proof . then use water resistant plasterboard to the rest of the room and make sure the shower area is tanked out. This fitted well, will give you years of trouble free showering.

Thanks, what would you construct the floor of underneath? Marine ply, floorboards, tile backer boards? We plan to install underfloor heating too.

 

[Qwerty]

Active members will have a image or photo instead of the TF next to their name.

My personal choice would be-
WBP ply on the floor
Impey/ schluter former
12mm waterproof board on the walls (wedi, marmox, schluter)
Or
Impey waterguard/ schluter Kerdi membrane over standard plasterboard

 

[One Day]

Good points Impish regarding the construct.

What boards would you suggest to put on the walls and floors?

Is Schluter and/or Wedi your recommendation for the wet room system?

Yes, my preferred is Kerdi board walls and kerdi-line trays.
Ditra Heat-E floor if your budget allows!

 

[Old Mod]

Hi and welcome to the forum Eclipse.
All good advice above.
If your budget allows,
it would be Schlüter (Kerdi, Ditra) for me too.
Hi quality, and easy to use.

 

[SJPurdy]

Personaly i'd use Wedi board or equivalent in the shower area rather than a plasterboard and tanking; my reasoning being the small plumbing leak behind the board will not destroy the board!

I also would consider the bathroom layout. Free standing baths look good in a large room but in a small room pushed close to a wall? also how are you going to clean behind it? Secondly I know i'd be banging into that large vanity unit all the time.

 

[Eclipse]

WBP ply on the floor
Impey/ schluter former
12mm waterproof board on the walls (wedi, marmox, schluter)
Or
Impey waterguard/ schluter Kerdi membrane over standard plasterboard

Personaly i'd use Wedi board or equivalent in the shower area rather than a plasterboard and tanking; my reasoning being the small plumbing leak behind the board will not destroy the board!

I also would consider the bathroom layout. Free standing baths look good in a large room but in a small room pushed close to a wall? also how are you going to clean behind it? Secondly I know i'd be banging into that large vanity unit all the time.

Humm - good points. I'm not sure I'm 100% about the layout so will give it some more thought and discussion with the bathroom designer. Thanks for the tips!

 

[WetSaw]

I personally don't like wet rooms, I much prefer a shower enclosure. They might look good but I like to keep the water in one place!