Bathroom Flooring – What Options do You Have?

There are several different types of flooring that you can choose from when remodeling your home. However, there are some specific flooring options that work particularly well in bathrooms, and others that should be completely avoided. Prior to making any decisions about what will work best in your bathroom, you need to take the time to research what your options are. Here, you will find seven different flooring options, and a little bit about what your best options are, especially because there is moisture to be found in the bathroom and not all flooring types are going to hold up in these conditions.

Carpeting

The answer here is easy – NEVER choose carpeting for a bathroom. The moisture that is found in the bathroom created by the shower or tub can damage not only the carpet, but the floor beneath. This is because there is not enough dry air to properly dry the carpet. Small rugs are a good option, as they can be easily – and inexpensively – replaced when necessary.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

The next option is solid hardwood. Although not as bad of a choice as carpeting, still not the best option. Solid hardwood will feel warm under the toes and look amazing. However, if not installed 100% perfectly, you could end up with gaps that will absorb moisture, which begins to damage the floor from underneath. Hiring a professional to do the job could reduce the risk of this occurring, but is not a 100% guarantee, and will cost you even more money.

Laminate Flooring

The major benefit to laminate flooring is the cost, as it is extremely low compared to other flooring types. However, there are also some major drawbacks, starting with the inability to wick away moisture as well as other flooring options. While the seams are glued together, there is a wood chip base under the top layer. When this gets wet, it can expand, bubble, and tear away from your floor, which is not what you want to think about after having remodeled the space.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood is a pretty great option if you want a wood-look in your bathroom. The top layer is actual wood, but underneath you will find a plywood base. Surprisingly, plywood tends to fare well when up against moisture. With that said, if wood-look flooring is what you are after in this bathroom remodel, then engineered wood is the option you should choose.

Stone Flooring

When it comes to natural stone – marble, granite, and limestone – there is really no better choice for a bathroom floor. Stone flooring will give you no moisture problems whatsoever. However, there are some other consideration when it comes to stone flooring that could change your mind – temperature being the number one. Stone floors tend to be cold, which is not want you want to step on in bare feet. The other problem is that when wet, it tends to be relatively slippery. However, if you have the extra room in your budget, you can opt for a textured stone, or choose slate flooring, which is already textured. This will solve the slippery issue, but not necessarily the chilly issue.

Tile or Sheet Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring, whether in sheets or tiles, is perhaps the most popular choice in bathroom flooring, and for several reasons. First of all, vinyl is a relatively inexpensive option, easy to install yourself, and is available in a wide array of colors and patterns. This means that you can decorate the rest of the bathroom any way you want and you will be able to find vinyl flooring to match. If you choose vinyl, however, you might want to consider the sheets, although they are harder to install yourself. The tiles tend to lift on their own over time, which could cost more money in the long run, as you will be replacing tiles.

Ceramic Tile Flooring

The number one choice of homeowners for bathroom floors is ceramic tile. That is because with ceramic tile you are getting the best of both worlds – stone-look flooring that has the ability to withstand moisture at the cost of vinyl, or at least pretty comparative pricing. In addition, ceramic tiles are relatively easy for a homeowner to install on their own, and they look great when paired with granite countertop vanities, and because the cost is lower, you have the ability to splurge for granite – or marble – countertops.

As you can see, this list has given you the flooring options for a bathroom from worst to best. Take the time to look at different flooring options. Figure out what look you are trying to achieve and which options will help you achieve that goal. From there, you can look at price, ensuring that the flooring option you choose fits within your budget.