How to choose the perfect flooring for your bathroom remodeling project
Choosing the right floor will depend greatly on the type of bathroom you want, in the people who use it. All flooring options need to be suitable for use in damp, and humid conditions, safe even when wet, hygienic and easy to clean. Of course they also need to be attractive to look at, living with your design and color scheme.
The following flooring options have their advantages and disadvantages so it is worth taking time to sit through the possibilities and consider all the issues to make a choice that will suit your lifestyle and needs. If your bathroom is a high traffic area used by family and visitors alike, you will need to choose a durable option that is easy to keep clean. If the main users of the room on the very young or the elderly, safety should be your highest priority.
Tiles are a classic and popular shower and bathroom flooring choice. They look good, are water resistant, hardware in, long-lasting and easy to clean. On the downside they can be hard and cold to the touch, and sometimes slippery when wet. Natural stone tiles such as limestone, marble, granite, and slate offer varying degrees of suitability for bathroom floors.
Before laying any floor tiles you will need to make adequate preparations, depending on your existing floor service. Concrete floors must be at least six weeks old and thoroughly dry before fixing ceramic floor tiles. Disadvantages of tiles include being cold and hard and slippery.
Carpet is the most comfortable choice underfoot in an ideal nonslip option. However, soft pile and water do not mix very well, so choose one that is specially manufactured for bathrooms. Avoid permanently fixing a wall-to-wall carpet so that if underfloor pipework needs attention, it can be easily lifted and replaced.
Other options include vinyl and linoleum, plus cork, natural fibers and rubber.
Underfloor heating: Although you may consider it an impossible luxury, underfloor heating can be surprisingly affordable and there is no better way to take the chill off those cold winter mornings when you step out of the shower.
Particularly recommended with cold ceramic tiles, there are a number of choices on the market. Laying electric matting under tiling is a reasonably straightforward option. Alternatively, underfloor pipes can be connected directly to your central heating system. If you don't want to go to the bother of lifting an existing floor, consider installing long low hung radiators, which hug the skirting board at the base of the wall.
The following flooring options have their advantages and disadvantages so it is worth taking time to sit through the possibilities and consider all the issues to make a choice that will suit your lifestyle and needs. If your bathroom is a high traffic area used by family and visitors alike, you will need to choose a durable option that is easy to keep clean. If the main users of the room on the very young or the elderly, safety should be your highest priority.
Tiles are a classic and popular shower and bathroom flooring choice. They look good, are water resistant, hardware in, long-lasting and easy to clean. On the downside they can be hard and cold to the touch, and sometimes slippery when wet. Natural stone tiles such as limestone, marble, granite, and slate offer varying degrees of suitability for bathroom floors.
Before laying any floor tiles you will need to make adequate preparations, depending on your existing floor service. Concrete floors must be at least six weeks old and thoroughly dry before fixing ceramic floor tiles. Disadvantages of tiles include being cold and hard and slippery.
Carpet is the most comfortable choice underfoot in an ideal nonslip option. However, soft pile and water do not mix very well, so choose one that is specially manufactured for bathrooms. Avoid permanently fixing a wall-to-wall carpet so that if underfloor pipework needs attention, it can be easily lifted and replaced.
Other options include vinyl and linoleum, plus cork, natural fibers and rubber.
Underfloor heating: Although you may consider it an impossible luxury, underfloor heating can be surprisingly affordable and there is no better way to take the chill off those cold winter mornings when you step out of the shower.
Particularly recommended with cold ceramic tiles, there are a number of choices on the market. Laying electric matting under tiling is a reasonably straightforward option. Alternatively, underfloor pipes can be connected directly to your central heating system. If you don't want to go to the bother of lifting an existing floor, consider installing long low hung radiators, which hug the skirting board at the base of the wall.
Recent remodeling info and articles: Basin Buying Tips | Toilets and Bidets | Shower Choices and Styles | Sink Taps and Fittings | Choosing Flooring & Lights | Good Flooring Types | Bathroom Wall Tips | Designing With Tile | Bathroom Tile Quality | Dimensioned Stone | Bathroom Lighting
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