I just came back from the home improvement store and I’m more confused than ever about what bathroom floors are the best. What should I be looking for?
Let’s face facts – the bathroom see more traffic than any other room in your house. So the first thing you need to consider is material that will stand up to the wear and tear of daily foot traffic.
Whether you choose vinyl or tile, ceramic or laminate, there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of bathroom floors depending upon your style and your bathroom decor. Your expectations and your price range should be realistic, remembering all flooring is not created equally. You should thoroughly investigate the cost vs. benefits of the type bathroom flooring before you buy. A few cents more could add years to the life of your bathroom floors.
Another important consideration is moisture. Bathroom floors see their fair share of water. Not only is it damaging to surfaces, but also water-soaked floors can cause slips and accidents. Make sure to consider all these factors — pros and cons — when looking at these popular options.
Laminate for Easy Care Bathroom Floors
Pros: Laminate floors are both durable and easy to clean making it the ideal choice for most bathroom floors. Laminates come in a variety of options that can fit almost any bathroom decor and can take on the appearance of just about anything, including a wood appearance.
Cons: It’s important to choose an laminate floor made for high moisture areas and unlike wood, laminate floors cannot be refinished.
Cost: Look to pay $3 – $10 per square foot for professional installation.
Vinyl for Even Easier Care Bathroom Floors
Pros: For ease of installation, many homeowners choose vinyl floors that come in a variety of options – from vinyl floor tiles to vinyl sheet flooring. Vinyl floors are durable, water-resistant in sheet form, easy to care for and comfortable.
Cons: : In tile form, moisture can get in between the tiles. In addition, less expensive grades of vinyl flooring may discolor or tear.
Cost: This floor material is affordable at $1 – $7 per square foot installed by a professional. Do-it-yourselfers can save even more.
Ceramic or Porcelain Tile for Beautiful, Long Lasting Bathroom Flooring
Pros: Tile flooring is a great option for bathroom floors. Durable and water and stain-resistant, tile flooring comes in a variety of colors, shapes and textures.
Cons: Grout lines can be a pain to keep cleans and glossy-surfaced tiles can be slippery when wet, so they should be avoided for bathrooms.
Cost: $3 – $20 per square foot when professionally installed. This is easy DIY project for most homeowners.
Alternatives for Bathroom Floors
There are also alternative flooring options to consider from cork and bamboo to concrete or stone. Considered to be the most green bathroom flooring option, cork and bamboo floors offer the same traditional appearance as traditional wood flooring but are more durable and naturally mold resistant. Refinished concrete floors are also a great – and cheap – options for bathroom floors. Wood floors can be problematic for bathrooms, but there are many new varnishes available that can keep moisture at bay.
Remember, the bathroom floors you choose is part of an overall design, as important as the bathroom light fixtures you choose. Consider how your new floor will look with the bathroom hardware and bath vanity cabinets. Whether you choose a ceramic tile bathroom floor or vinyl floor tiles, make sure to check the pros, cons, costs and care instruction to get the best floor for your bathroom decor.
If you’re looking to save money on you bathroom remodel, then one of the best things you can do is to learn how to do your own remodeling — yeah, the DIY stuff. There are a few things you may not want to attempt — like electrical work and plumbing — but for almost everything else, you’ll find it’s not that hard to do. And fortunately, you have a lot of DIY resources, like books. Bathroom floors are a great place to start with a DIY project. A great source book to learn about flooring in general, including installing bathroom floors like tile laminate and vinyl, is Black & Decker: The Complete Guide to Floor Decor. You’ll find information about floor types, decorating ideas, how to install and how to take care of new bathroom floors to get a long-wearing life from them.
More info on bathroom floors: Complete Guide to Floor Decor
