We install wet rooms in Wavertree, including in the Victorian and Edwardian terraces that make up much of L15. A downstairs bathroom in a rear extension is ideal for someone who struggles with stairs, and with the right floor and drainage work it can usually become a fully level-access wet room.
The downstairs bathroom in a terrace
In many terraced houses the bathroom was added at the back, in the rear extension behind the kitchen, long after the house was built. It means the shower is on the ground floor, which is often exactly what an older or disabled person needs. It also brings some typical challenges.
- Narrow roomsRear-extension bathrooms tend to be long and thin, so we plan the layout to give useful turning space.
- Solid floorsFloors are often concrete, so a drain may need a channel cutting to create the fall.
- Access through the kitchenGetting to the bathroom can mean passing through the kitchen, which affects door width and wheelchair routes.
- Cold external wallsThree outside walls can make the room cold, so heating and ventilation need thought.
Making the most of a long, narrow room
A common layout puts the shower area at the far end with a linear drain across the width, and the toilet and basin nearer the door. That way the floor falls in one direction and the user is not stepping through the wet area to reach the toilet. Where the room is very narrow, a half-height screen or no screen at all can make wheelchair transfers easier. Our small wet rooms page has more layout ideas.
What if the bathroom is upstairs?
Some Wavertree terraces have had the bathroom moved upstairs, often into a former box room. That usually means a suspended timber floor, which suits a shower former between the joists. If stairs are the issue, it is worth considering whether a downstairs room could be converted instead, though that depends on space and drainage.
Terraced houses share walls with neighbours. We avoid fixing heavy rails into party walls without checking them first, and we plan noisy work at reasonable hours.
Landlords and tenants in L15
Wavertree has a good number of rented homes. If you are a tenant hoping for an adaptation, the landlord’s consent is needed for any work and for a Disabled Facilities Grant. If you are a landlord, a robust, easy-clean wet room can be practical for longer-term lets; ask us about a straightforward walk-in shower if full level access is not required.
Grants and the council
Wavertree is a Liverpool City Council area, and that is where you would apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. An occupational therapist usually assesses first, and adults are means-tested. We can quote to the OT’s specification. More detail is on our DFG wet rooms page.
We work across neighbouring Childwall and Mossley Hill. To understand our wider service, start with our page on wet room installers in Liverpool.
Wavertree terrace? Let’s look at the bathroom
Call 07777 659786 and let us know whether the bathroom is downstairs or up and who it is for. We will call back to arrange a visit. More about our level-access shower installation is on the homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Can a downstairs bathroom in a Wavertree terrace become a wet room?
Usually, yes. Rear-extension bathrooms are often on a concrete floor, so we may need to channel the floor to set the drain and create a fall. The waste route to the drain outside is the other thing we check. Narrow rooms need careful layout, but most can be made level-access.
Is the extension bathroom too cold for a wet room?
Rear extensions can be cold because of their outside walls. Underfloor heating, a suitable radiator or towel rail and a good extractor fan all help. We look at heat and ventilation as part of the plan, as a room that stays damp is more likely to grow mould.
I rent my Wavertree house. Can I get a wet room?
You need your landlord’s written consent for any adaptation. If you apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant through Liverpool City Council, the landlord’s consent is part of the process. We are happy to talk to your landlord about what the work involves.
Can you fit grab rails on the party wall?
Possibly, but we check the wall first. Party walls in older terraces vary, and rails must be fixed securely to take a person’s weight. If the party wall is not suitable, we look for another position or add a support behind the finish.
Will I need to go through the kitchen to use the wet room?
In many terraces, yes, as the extension bathroom is reached through the kitchen. We look at that route at the visit, especially for wheelchair users, and consider door widths, swing direction and clear floor space along the way.