Wetrooms are very popular, and for those wanting to install a wetroom upstairs, whether as an ensuite or an additional family bathroom, there are plenty of questions around whether you can install a wetroom upstairs.
There is a common misconception amongst homeowners that wet rooms can only be installed on the ground floor of properties, which simply isn’t true. After all, hotels and luxury apartment blocks around the world have been fitting wet rooms onto all floors for many years. The trend towards high rise skyscrapers, has also fuelled the demand. In buildings such as these, effective waterproofing measures are critical to ensure a watertight finish.
Can Wetrooms Be Installed Upstairs?
Yes, wetrooms can be installed upstairs. Stunning, watertight wet rooms can be installed almost anywhere – it’s simply a matter of using the most appropriate drainage, floor gradients and waterproofing systems for your floor construction.
Upstairs Wetroom Waterproofing
At CCL Wetrooms, our range of wet room tanking systems are suitable for use upstairs on all floor constructions and can be installed from the ground floor all the way up to the loft. They are all expertly manufactured to ensure highly effective waterproofing for the floors and walls of wet rooms. Wet rooms can be installed on timber and solid floors, so our waterproofing solutions are tailored to meet these requirements. Effectively installed waterproof membranes ensure that wet rooms are fully watertight, even on second floor timber floors.
CCL Wetrooms recommend the use of Tilesure, a self-adhesive waterproof membrane that is used prior to the application of ceramic tiles and natural stone onto timber and solid floors in wet rooms. Tilesure is ideal for timber floors commonly found on the second floor of buildings. It is comprised of a self-adhesive cold applied waterproof membrane. This is a thick rubberised waterproof layer incorporating a woven glass fibre mesh on one side. It is quick and easy to apply, providing a consistent waterproof layer that is guaranteed not to leak. The type of application means that once applied, the wet room can be tiled immediately.
Installing on Timber Floors
Just like on the ground floor of a building, the type of floor construction determines how you can install a wet room upstairs. On timber floors, a “dec” or tapered board is installed within the shower area above the ply supported joists, where the original floorboards have been removed. The built-in gradient creates the fall towards the drain.
Wetrooms installed on timber floors will need a thicker membrane with decoupling properties to add an additional layer of protection. For smaller wetrooms, we recommend laying waterproofing across the entire floor, and in larger wetrooms, at least a metre outside the shower area.
Installing on Solid Floors
On solid floors, the falls are created within the screed or if the wet room is being installed into an existing property, the original concrete floor can be manually removed from the shower area and replaced with newly poured screed (and leveling compound) that creates the new falls. Often the screed is shallower on the levels above the ground (100mm or less), so it’s important to use a low-level drain that is suitable for shallow floor build-ups (such as the Linear Screed Drain).
Upstairs wet rooms are just as effective and watertight as ones on the ground floor. The usual extras such as under-floor heating are also easily installed on the second floor, and the luxury addition can add value to your home, whilst being easy to maintain.
How Do You Tank an Upstairs Wetroom?
When tanking a wetroom upstairs, you will need to pay especial attention to fully tanking the floor. You will want to consider using a waterproofing product that comes with a decoupling membrane which adds an extra layer of protection.
For further information on any of our products or if you would like more advice on how to tank a wetroom, upstairs or downstairs, feel free to get in touch with one of our wet room specialists.