I am in the process of designing an enclosed patio attached to an existing house. The added space will have an outdoor bathroom. We are making it wheelchair accessible; it consists of a toilet, a sink, and a hand-held spray (without a showerhead). Since there’s no shower enclosure per se, the entire bathroom will function as a shower, which makes it a “wet room.”

As such, waterproofing and drainage are very important considerations. This outdoor bathroom needs to be tiled from floor to ceiling. A ceramic or porcelain tile we select should be non-porous throughout and slip-resistant on the floor.

The entire floor of a wet room is a giant shower tray.

Where to locate a floor drain is both an aesthetic and functional decision. A flush-fitting channel-style drain is very practical for this particular application. It’s discrete and inconspicuous as opposed to a standard model that usually goes in the middle of the shower stall. There are quite a few options. A linear shower drain from easydrainusa.com, for instance, comes with a 10-year warranty.

A continuous drain collects water across its full width, effectively preventing floods. We’ll look for a drain with an easy access dirt trap to help keep the water running freely. In addition, to contain the water, we’ll raise the outdoor bathroom door threshold by about 1/4″ from the floor.

Even though this outdoor bathroom is not intended for bathing, we have to make certain provisions to accommodate head-to-toe rinsing.

Thus, on the wall with a handheld spray, we’ll allocate a dedicated space for storing shampoo, soap, and towels. It will probably be some sort of niche shelving, which can be built into a stud wall at the construction stage. Unlike chrome racks and rails, niche storage will not encroach on the space. By the way, it’s important to tile the actual shelves on a slight gradient to prevent water from pooling at the back.

Since there’s no shower screen or tray to worry about in a wet room, this outdoor bathroom will be easy to clean. I’ll recommend a wall-hung sink and toilet to make it even easier.