You should use your usual standards for choosing bathroom flooring. It should look nice, be durable, and be able to take heavy use from your family members. Bathroom floors should also feel comfortable on your bare feet. However, you also have to take moisture into consideration as well. If your choice of flooring doesn’t hold up well to damp conditions, then it won’t last very long. Here are some tips for choosing the best flooring for your bathrooms.
Carpeting
No. No. No. Seriously, although it may feel nice under your bare feet, carpeting and moisture are a horrible combination. The carpet won’t last very long and more often than not, it will be a soggy mess. Over time, the padding underneath the carpeting will rot, which means you will have to replace it frequently.
Hardwood
Wood is susceptible to moisture as well and installing hardwood flooring in a bathroom is strictly a job for professionals. The floorboards have to be installed perfectly with a few gaps as possible to prevent warping and deterioration. If you truly want a wooden floor, consider going with engineered wood that has a plywood base and real wood only on the top layer.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring holds up well over time, it is resistant to moisture and comfortable to the touch. You can also buy a wide variety of simulated laminate materials such as oak, pine, stone, and slate. You can have the look of natural materials at a far more reasonable cost than buying actual stone flooring and without the problems associated with wood floors.
Stone
Stone looks great and has no moisture problems at all. However, stone tiles tend to be cold and slippery. Textured stone like slate does help with the slipperiness. You can also have your choice of stone flooring sandblasted to add some texture. Above all else, the biggest single problem with stone flooring is that it is the most expensive option.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is, by far, the most popular choice for bathrooms. Many people can install their own vinyl flooring and vinyl is inexpensive. The downsides are that even the best styles and textures still feel and look like vinyl. Another problem is that vinyl tires tend to come up after a while and they do require semi-frequent repairs.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile flooring has all the moisture-protection of materials like stone, but at a fraction of the cost. It looks great and comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Tiles are easy to clean and don’t present any problems with pools of water on the floor, such as if your kids make a mess while they’re playing in the tub.
As you can see, you can technically put just about any type of flooring in your bathroom, although some are definitely far better choices than others are. Consider your budget and whether you want a do-it-yourself project or you plan to hire a professional contractor. Investing in new bathroom flooring is a great revitalize the look of an aging bathroom, but it should be handled with careful consideration.
About the Author: Nicole Keller and her husband just remodeled their bathroom. They installed ceramic tile, a Bidet King toilet seat, and all new fixtures!
Choosing the Best Bathroom Flooring for Your Home
