Commercial Wet Room Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Choosing Flooring for a Commercial Wet Room

Commercial wet rooms place greater demands on flooring than conventional bathrooms or washrooms because water can be present across the floor during normal use. Applications can include accessible shower rooms, changing facilities, healthcare environments, leisure facilities and other areas where users may walk directly on a wet floor.

Choose flooring specifically suited to the conditions of the project. Consider whether the area will be used with footwear, bare feet or both, how frequently it will become wet, expected traffic levels and the manufacturer's stated application guidance. A general-purpose commercial vinyl should not automatically be assumed suitable for a continuously wet environment.

Slip Resistance in Wet and Barefoot Areas

Slip resistance is particularly important where water, soap and other contaminants may be present. Specialist wet-area safety flooring is designed to provide additional underfoot grip in these conditions, with some products developed specifically for barefoot applications such as showers and changing areas.

Check the individual product's slip-resistance credentials and manufacturer guidance rather than relying on a general description such as “safety flooring”. Different products are designed for different levels and types of slip risk, so the flooring should be matched to how the space will actually be used.

Installation and Wet Room Detailing

A successful wet room installation depends on more than the floor covering itself. Subfloor preparation, suitable adhesives, welded joints, perimeter detailing and correctly formed falls towards drainage can all contribute to the performance of the finished floor. Cove-forming the vinyl at wall junctions may also be specified to create an easier-to-clean transition around the perimeter.

Particular attention should be given to drains, thresholds, sanitary fittings and other penetrations where poor detailing could allow moisture to reach the subfloor. Installation requirements should always follow the flooring manufacturer's recommendations and the specification for the individual wet room.

For commercial toilets, conventional bathrooms and washrooms that are not continuously wet, see our commercial toilet and bathroom sheet vinyl, or browse the wider range of commercial sheet vinyl flooring.