All advice / Design and finishes
What a wet room actually is
A wet room is a bathroom where the entire floor is waterproofed and graded to a drain, with no shower screen, no hob and no tray separating the shower from the rest of the room. The shower is part of the floor, not a contained enclosure.
The idea is simple: the whole room handles water. In practice, that means the waterproofing, drainage and floor gradient need to be right across the full area, not just inside a shower recess.
How it differs from a standard bathroom
In a standard bathroom, the shower sits inside a defined wet zone — a hob at the floor, a screen on the sides, a tray underneath. The rest of the room stays dry. A wet room removes that boundary. The shower is open, the floor slopes to a drain, and the whole room is the wet zone.
This changes the waterproofing scope. A standard bathroom waterproofs the shower area plus a set distance around it. A wet room waterproofs the full floor and a portion of every wall. The membrane area is larger, and the floor prep is more involved because the gradient must carry water to the drain from every part of the room.
When a wet room makes sense
Wet rooms work well in compact bathrooms where a shower screen would crowd the room. Removing the screen and hob opens up the floor and makes the space feel larger. A 1.5 by 2 metre bathroom that feels tight with a framed shower can feel open as a wet room.
They also suit accessibility needs. A flat floor with no step and no screen to navigate around is easier for older adults, wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility. Our accessible bathroom guide covers the full range of features that make a room safer.
Wet rooms can also suit a second bathroom or ensuite where the room is small and the design can be simple.
When a wet room may not be the right choice
If the bathroom needs to stay dry between uses — for example, a family bathroom where children dress and undress on the floor — a wet room means the whole floor gets wet every time the shower runs. Towels, bath mats and a toilet roll holder near the shower zone will get damp.
A wet room also means the toilet, vanity and any cabinetry are in the splash zone. Timber vanities and unsealed surfaces need to handle moisture, and storage at floor level gets wet unless it is raised or enclosed.
If the room is large, a wet room can feel excessive. A spacious bathroom with a dedicated shower and a freestanding bath usually works better with a defined shower zone than as a fully open wet room.
Waterproofing and drainage
The waterproofing in a wet room is the same standard as any bathroom — AS 3740 — but it covers a larger area. The full floor, the junction between floor and walls, and a minimum height up every wall must be sealed. In practice, most wet rooms waterproof the walls to full height.
The floor gradient is critical. The entire floor must fall toward the drain, typically at a gradient of 1 in 80 to 1 in 100. A linear drain along one wall simplifies the fall because the floor slopes in one direction. A central point drain needs a four-way fall, which is harder to set up cleanly with large tiles.
Every wet room ETR builds is waterproofed to AS 3740 with a compliance certificate.
Tile and finish considerations
Tile choice matters more in a wet room because the whole floor gets wet. A tile rated P3 or higher for wet barefoot areas reduces slip risk. Mosaics grip well because of the grout lines, but they are harder to clean. A textured porcelain tile is a good middle ground.
Large-format tiles on a graded floor need careful cutting and layout. The gradient creates a slight curve across the surface, and a 600 by 600 tile will show lippage if the screed is not perfect. Smaller tiles follow the fall more easily. Our tiling and finishes guide covers tile formats in more detail.
Cost considerations
A wet room does not automatically cost more than a standard bathroom. The shower screen is removed from the scope, which saves $600 to $1,500. But the waterproofing area is larger, the floor preparation is more involved, and the screed needs to be set to a precise gradient across the full room.
In a compact bathroom, those costs roughly balance. In a larger room, the additional waterproofing and screed work can add to the total. ETR's packages start from $18,000 for a Basic renovation — the on-site measure confirms whether a wet room layout suits the room and the budget.
How ETR handles wet room renovations
The on-site measure confirms whether the room suits a wet room layout: the floor structure, the drain position, the gradient and how the room is used. The written quote names the full waterproofing scope and the drainage approach before work starts.
Every bathroom is waterproofed to AS 3740 with a compliance certificate, carried out under NSW Builder Licence 475204C, with a 10-year workmanship warranty. A free on-site measure anywhere in Sydney is the right starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Is a wet room more expensive than a standard bathroom?
Not necessarily. The shower screen is removed from the scope, but the waterproofing area is larger and the floor preparation is more involved. In a compact bathroom, the costs roughly balance. In a larger room, the additional prep can add to the total.
Does the whole bathroom floor get wet in a wet room?
Yes, the floor in the shower zone gets wet, and splash reaches further without a screen. A well-graded floor drains quickly, but towels, bath mats and items stored at floor level will get damp near the shower area.
Are wet rooms suitable for families with children?
They can be, but a family bathroom where children use the floor may suit a defined shower zone better. A wet room in a second bathroom or ensuite is a practical alternative that keeps the family bathroom dry.
What tiles are best for a wet room floor?
A tile rated P3 or higher for wet barefoot areas. Mosaics grip well because of the grout lines, and textured porcelain tiles offer a good balance between grip and easy cleaning. Avoid polished tiles on any wet room floor.
Do wet rooms need special waterproofing?
The standard is the same — AS 3740 — but the waterproofed area is larger. The full floor and a minimum height up every wall must be sealed. Most wet rooms waterproof the walls to full height for complete protection.