The short answer
A walk-in shower is a low-profile shower tray with a glass screen, fitted to a normal bathroom floor. A wet room has no tray — the whole floor is tanked, falls to a drain, and the shower area is open. Both can look stunning. The right choice usually comes down to space, budget and who's using the room.
Cost
Like-for-like, a wet room costs more than a walk-in shower because the waterproofing and floor build-up are more involved.
- Walk-in shower (typical): £1,800 – £3,500 fitted, depending on tray size and screen.
- Wet room (typical): £5,500 – £12,000 depending on size, tiling and underfloor heating.
Accessibility
Wet rooms win here. Level-access means no tray to step over — much safer for older clients, people with limited mobility, or anyone planning to stay in their home long term. Many of our wet room jobs are future-proofing projects, not just style upgrades.
Waterproofing — the bit that matters
A wet room only works if it's properly tanked. That means a full waterproof membrane on the floor and lower walls before tiling, a correctly sloped substrate, and the right drain. Cutting corners here causes the leaks you read about online — and almost always costs more to fix than doing it right the first time.
We tank every wet room using a full system (primer, membrane, corner tapes, drain collar) and provide written confirmation of the build-up.
Resale value
Family homes generally still benefit from having at least one bath. If you only have one bathroom, replacing the bath with a wet room can put some buyers off. In ensuites, second bathrooms and bungalows, a quality wet room often adds more value than a tired bath would.