Wet Room Installation Cost in Ireland
Wet room installation costs in Ireland (2026), including tanking systems, drainage formation, tiling, labour breakdown and full project cost scenarios.
Typical cost: €10,000–€25,000+
Wet Room Costs in Ireland
Wet rooms are fully waterproofed bathroom spaces where the shower area is level with the floor and no raised shower tray is used.
Compared with a conventional bathroom, they require a full tanking system, floor-gradient formation, specialist drainage and more precise installation.
In Ireland (2026), a complete wet room installation typically costs €10,000–€25,000+.
The final price depends heavily on whether the project is a retrofit or new build, the floor structure, drainage relocation, tile specification and waterproofing system.
Why Wet Rooms Cost More
The entire floor must be waterproofed and correctly graded so water drains without a raised tray.
Drainage, full-height tiling and membrane detailing also require more labour and installation precision.
This makes wet rooms technically more complex than tray-based showers.
Floor Structure & Waterproofing
Concrete Subfloor
Concrete floors are generally easier to modify because falls can be formed more directly and drain relocation is often simpler.
Typical additional structural cost: €1,000–€3,000
Structural reinforcement requirements are also usually lower than with timber upper floors.
Timber Upper Floor
Timber floors may require joist modification, additional strengthening and more careful waterproof membrane detailing.
Typical additional structural cost: €3,000–€8,000+
Upper-floor wet rooms frequently cost 20%–40% more than ground-floor installations.
Typical Wet Room Cost Breakdown
| Component | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Strip-out & demolition | €500–€1,500 |
| Floor formation & falls | €1,500–€4,000 |
| Drainage system & linear drain | €800–€3,000 |
| Waterproofing – full room tanking | €1,500–€4,000 |
| Plumbing works | €1,500–€4,000 |
| Electrical & ventilation | €800–€2,000 |
| Tiling – walls + floor | €3,000–€8,000 |
| Fixtures & fittings | €2,000–€7,000 |
| Glass screens | €600–€2,500 |
| Labour & coordination | €2,000–€6,000 |
| Typical Total | €10,000–€25,000+ |
Concrete floor structures are generally simpler to modify than timber upper floors, while drainage relocation and premium finishes can push a project well beyond the typical range.
Tiling & Drainage
Wet rooms usually need full-height wall tiling, slip-resistant floor tiles and more complex cuts around drains.
Installed tiling typically costs €70–€180 per m².
Drain choice ranges from a standard central drain to premium concealed systems costing up to €3,000.
Specification Tiers & Example Projects
| Specification | Typical Cost | Typical Features |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Wet Room | €10,000–€14,000 | Standard tiles, basic sanitaryware, central drain, partial glass panel |
| Mid-Range Wet Room | €14,000–€20,000 | Large-format tiles, frameless glass, linear drain, concealed shower valve |
| High-End Wet Room | €20,000–€35,000+ | Premium stone or porcelain, designer fittings, bespoke joinery, advanced drainage |
Example Full Project Scenarios
| Example | Construction Cost | VAT Figure | Contingency | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range ground-floor wet room | €15,000 | €2,025 | €1,050 | €18,075 |
| Upper-floor wet room | €22,000 | €2,970 | €1,540 | €26,510 |
These examples retain the VAT and contingency figures shown on the original page. Confirm the VAT treatment and inclusions used in any contractor quotation before comparing totals.
Waterproofing
Wet rooms require certified waterproofing systems such as liquid-applied membranes, sheet membranes or pre-formed wet-room trays integrated into the floor.
Full-room tanking: €1,500–€4,000
Timeline
Demolition: 2–4 days
Floor formation: 2–5 days
Waterproofing: 2–3 days
Tiling: 4–8 days
Fit-out: 2–4 days
Total duration: 3–6+ weeks
Key Cost Drivers
Floor structure, drainage relocation, tiling specification, waterproofing system, concealed fixtures, access constraints and ventilation upgrades all affect the final cost.
Wet rooms are less forgiving of installation errors, increasing labour precision requirements.
Summary
Typical wet room installation costs in Ireland (2026) are €10,000–€25,000+
Ground-floor installations are generally less expensive than upper-floor conversions.
Waterproofing, floor formation and tiling are the primary cost drivers.
Wet rooms carry higher technical requirements than tray-based showers.
Other resources:
Small Bathroom vs Ensuite Install
Bathroom Tiling Costs per Square Meter
Fixtures & Sanitary Ware Price Ranges