According to the Association of British Insurers, the average claim for water damage has risen from £1,500 in 2013 to £2,500 today. The industry has seen an increase in the cost of claims as homeowners demand more complex and elaborate plumbing features around their homes.
Under floor heating, downstairs bathrooms and wet rooms are contributing factors to the increase in the risk of water damage it has been claimed, but the cause is often due to poor installation. Water damage claims are so costly because minor defects can go unnoticed for a long time. By the time you notice a leak in your wall, flooring or ceiling, the damage is already done.
Use specialist fitters for total peace of mind
Contrary to the belief of some, pipework for a wetroom is no more complex than that of a traditional shower room. That being said, it is important to use a specialist wet room installer and only fit high quality drainage components from a trusted manufacturer, that ideally have been designed to be used together. Installing a wetroom requires more than a working knowledge of pipes and plumbing. If you engage the services of a tradesperson, make sure they have experience in wetroom installation for total peace of mind.
Here at CCL Wetrooms, our range of wetroom and waterproofing products have been developed to work in combination to provide a watertight installation. Our sister company Wetrooms UK are specialist wetroom fitters, highly trained in wetroom installation. Their expertise is founded on decades of industry experience in wetroom design and installation.
Fit quality parts
Our innovative drainage solutions allow for fast and easy installation into all types of wetroom projects. The smart design of our Lo-Seal waterless trap enables it to be rotated through 360°, enabling installation around existing pipework and into new build projects with ease.
When designing your wetroom, take into consideration your predicted flow rates and install the correct number of traps accordingly. If you have side spray nozzles and rain-fall shower heads, you will need more traps to adequately handle the higher flow rates achieved and reduce the risk of pooling water.
Our unique Lo-Seal waterless trap has been specially designed with a spring-loaded mechanism which keeps the trap sealed when not in use. This ensures that even when left unused for prolonged periods, the trap cannot dry out. This makes it ideal for situations where the shower is not in everyday use such as in guest ensuites or in holiday properties.
Most importantly… waterproofing!
Rather than leaking pipes, the most common cause of water damage from wetrooms is from insufficient waterproofing. Our sister company Wetrooms UK install a comprehensive waterproofing solution, with waterproof sheet membrane RIW Tilesafe, to seal every millimetre of floor surfaces, recesses and corners of the wetroom area prior to tiling.
Added protection between the walls and floors is installed in the form of a liquid wall membrane, RIW FWM, which ensures a seamless/watertight seal across the whole shower area. Tanking or waterproofing a wetroom is the most important element of wetroom installation.
For total peace of mind, tank the wetroom out to 1m beyond the shower area to cover splash zones. Over time, even a little bit of splashing water can lead to damage, so we recommend and install thorough waterproofing in all of our installations.
When correctly installed, a wetroom is a luxurious asset to any property. They can be installed on any floor of a property without compromising quality or reliability. As with any property renovation, using specialist fitters and high quality components will ensure that you get the quality and reliability you deserve.
