From powder rooms to full baths, your options are plentiful. Start by narrowing down the function of the bathroom. For powder rooms, you’ll likely need a smaller amount of flooring that does not need to be fully waterproof, leaving room in some budgets for higher-end finishes.
For larger bathrooms with a shower or a bathtub, you’ll want to make sure you explore heartier flooring options that offer safety features and that can withstand humidity, traffic, and wetness.No matter what, bathroom flooring can last for years and can be a big decision for homeowners.
Different Types of Bathroom Flooring
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile: Great for Big Bathrooms
Ceramic tile is durable and highly water-resistant. It requires minimal upkeep, is easy to clean, and has withstood the test of time as it remains one of the most popular bathroom flooring options. While it is more expensive than other options, like vinyl flooring, its long lifespan and durability are well worth the investment.Kicking it up a notch in terms of waterproofing, porcelain is another popular bathroom flooring option because it is basically waterproof. Porcelain absorbs even less water than ceramic, making it a top choice for many for bathrooms with bathtubs and showers, but generally not necessary for smaller powder rooms.
Because ceramic and porcelain do not absorb much water, water will sit on top of the tile so textured tiles are recommended to avoid injuries. Using smaller format tile naturally leads to more grout, which can provide more traction when walking across wet tile.
Faux Wood (Vinyl) Plank Flooring: A budget-conscious solution
If you love the classic look of hardwood, but don’t want to deal with mixing water and wood, faux wood plank flooring is a great option. This waterproof flooring is typically made out of vinyl and designed to emulate the style of hardwood.Available in plenty of finishes and sizes, you can easily customize the look and feel or match it to existing hardwood floors in your home. Vinyl flooring is easy to install and replace, often coming in large formats, making it a popular choice for do-it-yourselfers.
Softer than tile or concrete, faux wood plank flooring offers more cushion to stand on and a kinder surface in the event of a slip, trip, or fall making it a popular choice for children’s bathroom
Polished Concrete Flooring: Adding a modern touch
If you are looking for a more modern touch, and have a basement or first-floor bathroom on a slab, a polished concrete floor is a great choice. Finish options allow for more custom looks in a very cost-effective manner.With the proper sealing, this easy-to-clean surface stands up to heavy traffic and lots of water with very little maintenance.
While it’s hard to damage a concrete floor, you must patch cracks when you see them to avoid moisture damage at the subfloor level. In case of a slip, concrete is unforgiving, which should be taken into consideration when making this selection.
Polished concrete floors are generally not recommended in above-grade bathrooms unless significant structural modifications are made to the building to support the added weight of the concrete.
Natural Stone: Hard to Go Wrong
Natural stone is popular, durable, and often very waterproof, making the stone a great bathroom floor option if your budget allows it. If damaged, most stone can be replaced tile-by-tile, and installing it for your bathroom floor can greatly increase a home’s resale value.The disadvantage to natural stone is that it can be very expensive, making it prohibitive for larger bathrooms. Like other popular bathroom floor materials, natural stone can be slippery and is often cold, making it a great candidate for radiant heat.
Radiant Heat
If you are considering replacing your bathroom floor, materials like tile, natural stone, and vinyl flooring typically work well with radiant heat flooring. While expensive to install in large areas, bathrooms tend to be a more manageable size, requiring less investment.Radiant heat flooring heats a room from the floor up, making for an overall more comfortable space—no more shock of cold air after a shower or unpleasant, cold feet first thing in the morning.
Bathroom Fixtures: An Easy Update
If you’re looking for a quick and impactful way to adjust your bathroom style on a budget, and you’re not sure you’re ready to update your flooring, there’s an easy way to update your room: go right to the fixtures!Fixture trends change over time, and an easy way to update your bathroom without tearing out the floor, tile, or larger fixtures like sinks is to simply change out the existing hardware.
Black bathroom fixtures offer a stark contrast from the classically white bathtubs, sinks, and showers that have risen in popularity in recent years. This non-traditional choice is a bold, cost-effective way to quickly update the look and feel of your bathroom.
A Long-Lasting Investment
With proper installation and care, no matter what material you choose, your bathroom floor is an investment that you can expect to last for many years. It is not uncommon for bathroom finishes to last for several decades or more.Special considerations need to be made for your budget, the size and type of the bathroom, and the most frequent users. The right designer can help you determine the best material for your project and design the bathroom of your dreams!
