A disabled wet room is a fully waterproofed shower room with a level floor, so there is no tray edge or bath side to step over. It is laid out for the person using it: space to turn a wheelchair or for a carer to help, a fold-down seat, grab rails on walls that can take the load, a thermostatic shower to prevent scalding and slip-resistant flooring. We plan, strip out and install disabled wet rooms in homes across Liverpool and Merseyside, and we are happy to work from an occupational therapist’s recommendations.
What does a disabled wet room involve?
The finished room looks simple, but most of the work is out of sight. The floor has to be built up or cut down so that it falls gently towards a drain, and the whole shower area (usually the whole room) is tanked with a waterproof membrane before any tiles or panels go on. Getting the fall right matters more in an accessible room than anywhere else: too steep and a wheelchair or shower chair rolls, too shallow and water sits on the floor.
On top of that waterproof base we fit the parts that make the room usable day to day:
- Level accessNo step at the door and no tray lip, so a wheelchair, wheeled shower chair or walking frame can go straight in.
- Turning and carer spaceThe layout is set so that a wheelchair can turn and a carer can stand beside or behind the person showering without getting soaked.
- Fold-down shower seatFixed at a height that suits the user, folding away when not needed so the floor stays clear.
- Grab and support railsPlaced where the person actually needs to push or pull, and fixed into walls that can take the weight, adding backing where a wall is hollow.
- Thermostatic showerHolds the water at a safe temperature even if someone runs a tap elsewhere, which protects against scalding. Lever controls are easier for weak or painful hands.
- Slip-resistant flooringNon-slip vinyl safety flooring or textured tiles, chosen for grip when wet and for how easy they are to keep clean.
Many families also ask about a raised or comfort-height toilet, a basin a wheelchair user can get under, a wider doorway or a door that opens outwards. If you want the whole room thought through rather than just the shower, our page on accessible bathrooms covers those details.
Who is a disabled wet room for?
We fit these rooms for people with a wide range of needs. Some customers use a wheelchair full time and need to roll straight in. Others can walk but can no longer lift a leg over the side of a bath safely, or have had a fall and want to remove the risk. We also work with families caring for a parent, with people recovering from surgery or a stroke, and with people who are planning ahead so that a home will still work for them in ten or twenty years.
If you can still stand comfortably and only need a lower step-in, a walk-in shower with a low-profile tray may be enough and is often simpler. If the room is tight, our notes on small wet rooms show what can be done with limited space. The right answer depends on the person, not on a standard package.
Working with an occupational therapist
If an occupational therapist (OT) has assessed the person, their report is one of the most useful things we can see. It usually says what the person needs to do safely, such as transfer from a wheelchair to a shower seat from one side, or shower with a carer present. We build the layout around that. Where there is no OT involved, we ask practical questions: who will use the room, how they move, whether they use aids, and who helps them. If a council grant is part of the plan, read our guide to the Disabled Facilities Grant before you commit to anything, as the council’s process comes first.
How does the installation work?
- Phone call. We call you back and ask who the room is for, what they need (mobility, wheelchair, carer access, seat, rails), the rough room size, whether it is upstairs or downstairs, and whether an OT or council grant is involved.
- Home visit. We measure the room, check whether the floor is timber or concrete, look at where the waste can run and how much fall we can get, and check the walls for fixing rails.
- Written quote and plan. You get a written quote and a plan showing where the drain, seat, rails and controls will go, so the person using the room and anyone helping them can check it makes sense.
- Strip-out. We remove the old bath or shower, tiles and flooring and protect the rest of the house.
- Floor, drainage and tanking. We form the fall to the drain, fit a pre-formed former on timber floors where needed, connect the waste and tank the room.
- Finishes and fittings. Tiles or wall panels, safety flooring, the shower, seat and rails, with any electrical work carried out by a qualified electrician.
- Handover. We show you how everything works, check the seat and rail positions with the user where possible, and leave the room ready to use.
A typical disabled wet room usually takes around a week once work starts, but older floors, moving a waste pipe or extra building work can add time. We tell you what to expect before we begin, including whether the room will be out of use and how long for.
Disabled wet rooms in Merseyside homes
Housing across Merseyside throws up the same handful of situations again and again. Inter-war semis in places such as Allerton and West Derby often have a small first-floor bathroom on a timber floor, so the shower former and joist work need care. Bungalows, common in Maghull, Formby and Heswall, are often the easiest homes to adapt because everything is on one level and the floor may be concrete. Victorian terraces sometimes have a downstairs bathroom in a rear extension, which can make a good ground-floor wet room for someone who can no longer manage stairs. On the Wirral, homes in Bebington and Wallasey follow similar patterns. We see a lot of these rooms as part of our wet room installation across Merseyside, and the visit is where we work out which approach suits your home.
What affects the cost of a disabled wet room?
We do not publish set prices, because two rooms that look alike can need very different work underneath. The main factors are the size of the room, whether the floor is timber or concrete, how far the drain is from the soil stack, how much needs stripping out, the finish (tiles or wall panels), and the accessibility features you need, such as rails, a seat, a wider door or a raised toilet. Electrics, extraction and underfloor heating add to the job too. Our wet room cost guide explains each factor and covers VAT relief, which may apply to some adaptations for a disabled person’s own use if they meet the eligibility rules.
When should you call us?
Call when getting in and out of the bath has become difficult or risky, when someone is coming home from hospital and needs a level shower, when an OT has recommended a level-access shower, or when you are planning ahead. Earlier is better: a calm, well-planned job is easier on everyone than a rushed one. If you are not sure whether you need a full wet room or just a lower shower, we can talk it through with you, and you can read more about our local wet room installers service before you ring.
Talk to us about a disabled wet room
Tell us who the room is for and what they need, and we will call you back to talk it through and arrange a visit. Call 07777 659786 or leave your details on the form.
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a wheelchair-accessible wet room need?
It depends on the wheelchair, how the person transfers and whether a carer helps. A room where a wheelchair can turn fully needs more floor space than one where the user transfers to a seat from the doorway. We measure the room, ask how the person moves, and look at the OT report if there is one. In a smaller room, an outward-opening door or a slightly moved wall can make a real difference.
Can a disabled wet room be fitted upstairs?
Yes, in most homes. On a timber first floor we usually fit a pre-formed shower former between the joists so the floor falls to the drain, then board and tank over it. The joist direction, their condition and the route for the waste pipe decide where the drain can go. We check all of this on the home visit before giving you a plan.
What is the best flooring for a disabled wet room?
Most people choose slip-resistant safety vinyl or textured, slip-rated tiles. Safety vinyl has very few joints, is warm underfoot and is easy to clean, which suits many care situations. Tiles give a wider choice of looks. Whichever you choose, it goes over a fully tanked floor with a correct fall to the drain, so the grip and the waterproofing work together.
Will the rest of the house get wet without a shower tray?
Not if the room is designed properly. The floor falls to the drain, the room is tanked and a screen or curtain can keep spray where it should be. The door is usually kept away from the wettest area. Good extraction and, if you want it, underfloor heating help the floor dry quickly after use.
Can we use our own occupational therapist’s plan?
Yes. An OT report is very helpful and we are happy to work from it. It tells us how the person moves and what they need to do safely. We then check the plan against the room itself, such as where the joists run and which walls can take rails, and talk you through anything that needs adjusting.
How long will we be without a shower?
For a typical wet room, usually around a week once work starts, but it depends on the floor, drainage and the finishes. If the person needs to wash during the work, plan for somewhere to go or a short stay with family. We will give you a realistic idea of timing on the visit.