Choosing the flooring in your home’s living areas, while a monumental decision, is actually fairly easy. So long as your choice meets your style and budget needs, you can’t really go wrong. But, picking the right flooring for your bathroom remodel is a different story.
Here are a few factors that should influence your new bathroom flooring decision:
- Are you picking floors for a new home, a remodel for you, or a renovation you intend to sell?
- Who is using the bathroom? What for and how often? Meaning, is this a powder room, master bathroom retreat, or a kids’ bathroom? Will the floors need to hold up to large quantities of water?
- Everybody’s favorite: What is your budget for this project?
With these factors in mind, let’s take a look at some floors to consider and floors to avoid.
FLOORS TO CONSIDER
Porcelain or Ceramic Tile
First things first, what’s the difference in these two options? Porcelain is a member of the ceramic tile family, but it absorbs less water over time. Porcelain or ceramic tile is a great option for any bathroom, but it’s an especially good option for a kids’ bathroom. Tile can stand up to large amounts of moisture, even standing water, which is a game changer for kids who seem to end up with more water out of the bath than in the bath. It’s also very easy to clean and comes in many shapes, sizes, and styles.
Isn’t tile slippery when wet? Yes, this is true. However, choosing a tile with texture or smaller tiles can create a grip effect.
If you’re concerned about stepping onto cold tile in the winter months, you have options. Install an electric radiant heating system under the tile surface to keep your feet warm on cold days.
Natural Stone
Natural stone is very similar to tile options. It is relatively easy to maintain, reacts well to moisture, and is extremely stylish—it has great resale value.
Along with the advantages, natural stone also has similar disadvantages. It’s cold to the touch and slippery. To reduce slickness, you can choose a textured stone or add texture with sandblasting techniques.
So, how is natural stone different from porcelain or ceramic tile? Price. Natural stone is among the priciest flooring options. But if you can work it into your budget, it could be an excellent choice for your bathroom.
Vinyl
If tile or stone are not in your budget, vinyl is a very practical solution. There are countless patterns, colors, and textures on the market for vinyl flooring. It’s completely waterproof, which makes it an excellent choice for a bathroom or laundry room.
The key to making vinyl floors last in a bathroom project is installation. Vinyl flooring is only as strong as the care given to managing the seams during installation. A weak seam allows for water to seep into the subfloor and creates big headaches for homeowners.
Bonus: Luxury vinyl plank is becoming increasingly popular and there are tons of options on the market today.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is a great option for homeowners who want a hardwood look in their bathroom space. It’s often hard to spot the difference in real hardwood versus engineered, and the latter holds up a bit better against moisture. It is still a wood product however, which is more likely to be damaged by excessive water exposure. Overall, engineered wood is a good option for guest bathrooms or powder rooms, where the chances of exposure are fewer and far between.
FLOORS TO AVOID
Carpet
Installing carpet in a bathroom is one way to guarantee yourself considerable headaches and scare away potential buyers. Carpet can hold moisture for hours, if not days, so even the humidity from a daily shower can leave your bathroom with a musty smell. All around, carpet is the least favorable flooring option for a bathroom.
Solid Hardwood
Although beautiful, solid hardwood is another option homeowners may want to avoid installing in a bathroom. The thin layer of top coating is the only barrier that protects the wood from water damage. Even small amounts of water can penetrate your solid hardwood, ultimately causing it to rot. If you are adamant about installing solid hardwood floors in your bathroom, we recommend a professional installation by experienced Carpet Tech technicians to ensure your floors are properly sealed and that no gaps remain in the seams.
Now that you’re armed with the information you need to make your bathroom flooring decision, which will you choose? The experts at CT Construction can help! Our knowledgeable designers and installers can help you pick the right bathroom flooring to match any style or budget.