The short answer
A new bathroom is the simpler, more familiar choice. You replace the suite, tiles, flooring and fittings, usually keeping the layout and the bath or shower enclosure you are used to. A wet room removes the tray and screen and makes the whole floor the shower area, which needs more preparation underneath and more careful waterproofing. If you want a straightforward refresh and a bath, a new bathroom is usually the better fit. If you want step-free access, or a small room that feels more open, a wet room can be worth the extra work, provided your floor and drainage allow it.
How they differ
New bathroom. This is a full replacement of what is already there. The old bath, toilet, basin, flooring and wall finishes come out, and new ones go in. Pipework and electrics may be altered, but the room still works the way a conventional bathroom does: water is contained in a bath or shower enclosure, and the rest of the floor stays dry. You can fit a bath, a shower over the bath, or a separate enclosure.
Wet room. This converts the room so the shower area is open and the floor itself is the shower tray. The floor slopes gently to a drain, and the floor and walls are fully waterproofed (often called tanking) so water cannot reach the structure. Some wet rooms have a fixed glass panel; others have none. A wet room can be part of a new bathroom project, but it is a different build with different priorities.
The key practical differences are:
- Floor construction. A wet room needs a floor that can be laid to a fall towards the drain. On a solid concrete floor this can be easier, sometimes with the floor recessed. On a timber floor, you may need to strengthen or replace boards and use a purpose-made base or former.
- Waterproofing. A conventional bathroom relies on the enclosure to contain water. A wet room relies on the waterproofing system, so the quality of that work matters a great deal.
- Drainage. The drain position, pipe fall and waste connection all affect what is possible. Not every room allows an easy route for the waste.
- Bath. A wet room generally means giving up the bath, or fitting one in a larger room where the whole space is waterproofed.
Cost: what makes each more or less expensive
In general, a wet room costs more than a like-for-like new bathroom, mainly because of the extra preparation and labour. That is not always the case, and a high-end new bathroom can cost more than a modest wet room. The real prices homeowners paid are shown elsewhere on this page, so use them alongside the points below.
What pushes a new bathroom cost up or down:
- The quality of the suite, taps and shower
- Whether you keep the existing layout or move the toilet, bath and basin
- The size of the room and the amount of tiling
- Whether the floor, walls or pipework need repair once the old suite is out
- Extras such as underfloor heating, heated towel rails, and built-in storage
What pushes a wet room cost up or down:
- The floor type, and whether it needs strengthening or rebuilding to create a slope
- Moving the drain or waste pipe, which can mean more work under the floor
- The tanking system and how much of the room it covers
- Tiling, which is often more detailed because of the slope and the larger wet area
- Ventilation and electrics, which need to suit a room where water can reach more surfaces
A wet room is also less forgiving of cutting corners. Saving money on waterproofing or floor preparation is the most common way a wet room goes wrong, and repairs after a leak usually cost far more than doing it properly the first time.
Lifespan and upkeep
New bathroom. A well-fitted bathroom can last many years with ordinary care. The parts that tend to wear first are sealant, grout, taps and shower fittings, and these are generally cheap and easy to renew. Because water is mostly contained, a small failure is often visible early, such as a gap in a sealant line around the bath.
Wet room. A wet room can last just as long, and in some cases longer, because there are fewer joints and fewer parts that can fail, such as a shower tray. But the long life depends on the hidden waterproofing staying intact. If it fails, the damage can be out of sight for some time and expensive to put right. Floor tiles need regular cleaning because the whole floor gets wet, and grout may need attention sooner. The drain needs to be kept clear of hair and soap build-up. Good ventilation matters more in a wet room, as the room is damp more often.
If you or your family rely on easy access, a wet room's lack of a step is a lasting advantage. If you like to soak in a bath, a conventional bathroom keeps that option.
When to choose New bathroom
A new bathroom is usually the better choice when:
- You want to keep a bath, especially if you have children or like a long soak.
- Your floor is timber and would need major work to create a slope.
- The drainage route is awkward and a wet room would involve significant alterations.
- You are thinking about resale and want a layout that suits the widest range of buyers.
- You want a predictable project with fewer unknowns under the floor.
- Your budget is limited and you would rather spend it on good fittings than on structural work.
When to choose Wet room
A wet room is usually the better choice when:
- Step-free access matters now or is likely to in future, for example for reduced mobility.
- The room is small and removing a bulky bath and enclosure would make it noticeably more usable.
- You rarely use a bath, and there is another bath elsewhere in the house.
- The floor and drainage suit it, for instance a solid floor or a ground-floor room with a convenient waste route.
- You have a good installer who is experienced in waterproofing and can explain the system they will use.
A wet room is rarely the right choice if you are trying to keep costs as low as possible, or if the structure would need a lot of alteration to make it work.
Questions to ask a tradesperson
- Have you installed wet rooms like this one, and can I see examples or speak to previous customers?
- What is my floor made of, and will it need strengthening or rebuilding?
- Where will the waste run, and does the drain position cause any problems?
- Which waterproofing system will you use, and does it come with a guarantee?
- Who is responsible for each stage, including plumbing, electrics, tiling and waterproofing?
- Will any of the work need building regulations approval, and who will deal with that? Planning permission is not usually needed for work inside a house, but it is worth checking, especially for listed buildings or if you are altering the structure.
- Is electrical work being done by a suitably qualified electrician, and will I receive the relevant certificate?
- What is included in the quote, and what could change the price once work starts?
- How will you protect the rest of the house, and how long should the work take?
- What ventilation will the room have, and is it adequate for how we will use it?