Wet Room vs Shower Tray in Ireland — Cost, Tanking, and When Each Works
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Wet room: €11,000–€23,000 installed. Shower tray: €3,000–€8,000. Wet room for accessible; tray for standard.
Wet room in Ireland: €11,000–€23,000 installed (tanking €8,000–€15,000, plus falls to drain, drain, screen, and the standard bathroom spec). Shower tray: €3,000–€8,000 installed. Wet room is best for accessible bathroom design (Part M compliance, ageing in place). Shower tray is the standard for most bathrooms. Tanking is the critical detail. A failed tank is a €10k+ fix. Use a proprietary tanking system (Schlüter, Mapei, Weber) and a professional installer. The floor must have falls of 1:80 to the drain. The walls must be tanked 2 m up (full wet zone). Most Irish self-builds use a shower tray for the family bathroom and a wet room for the ensuite (or for the accessible downstairs bathroom).
When this matters most
You're at design stage and need to choose between a wet room and a shower tray.
When this doesn't apply
The bathroom is in.
Sources
Building Regulations 2023, TGD-M (Access). https://www.gov.ie/
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wet room cost in Ireland?
€11,000–€23,000 installed (tanking + falls + drain + screen + standard bathroom). Tanking alone is €8,000–€15,000. Use a proprietary system (Schlüter, Mapei, Weber).
Wet room or shower tray?
Wet room for accessible bathroom (Part M, ageing in place). Shower tray for standard bathrooms. Wet room is more expensive but level access is best for accessibility.
What is the most common wet room mistake?
Failed tanking. A 1 mm gap in the tanking membrane allows water through and damages the structure below. Use a proprietary system and a professional installer. Test the tank before tiling.
When this matters most
You're at design stage and need to choose between a wet room and a shower tray.
When this doesn't apply
The bathroom is in.
Where to go next
Next decision
The next step in your build sequence.
- Accessible Bathroom in Ireland — Part M, Wet Room, and the Ageing-in-Place Standard →
- Flooring in Ireland 2026 — Timber, Tile, Vinyl, and the Underfloor Heating Pairing →
- Kitchen Layout in Ireland — Work Triangle, Zones, and the Open-Plan Question →
- Stairs in Ireland 2026 — Timber, Steel, Glass, and the Building Regs for Rise and Going →
Branch into
Adjacent decisions at the same stage.
Watch out for
Common mistakes, hidden costs, gotchas.
- Bathroom Cost in Ireland 2026 — Mid-Range, Premium, and Wet Room →
- Build Cost per m² in Ireland 2026 — The Live Numbers from SCSI Q1 2026 →
- Interior Painting in Ireland 2026 — Cost per m², What's Included, and DIY Trade-Offs →
- Joinery in Ireland 2026 — Built-in Wardrobes, Alcove Units, and the Cost vs Off-the-Shelf →
- Kitchen Cost in Ireland 2026 — Mid-Range, Premium, and Bespoke Compared →
- Kitchen Lead Time in Ireland — When to Order, How Long It Takes, and the Snag List Trap →
- Kitchen Worktop in Ireland — Laminate, Quartz, Granite, and the Cost Trade-Off →
- Tiling Cost in Ireland 2026 — Material, Labour, and What Affects the Price →