4 of the Best Materials to Use in Bathrooms Floors

If you’re planning to remodel your bathroom, choosing what type of floor to install is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. There is a large selection you can choose from. But what type of flooring will work best for your space? Before you can answer this question, you need to think about what your needs are and how much you’re willing to spend.

If you’re going to install a radiant-heat subfloor, you need to pick a material that’s more tolerant to heat. If you’re remodeling a powder room that doesn’t have a shower or bath, you don’t have to pick a waterproof material. Of course, there’s always the question of how much you’re willing to spend because high-end materials are more expensive than standard materials.

Here are some of the best materials for your bathroom design.

#1: Ceramic Tile Flooring

This is one of the most popular options for bathroom floors. It offers a clean, classic look that’s highly durable, waterproof, and resistant to stains. But while you’re choosing a tile floor design for your bathroom, you need to take color into consideration. Tile floors are great for bathrooms, but they’re hard to keep clean. Unless they’re installed over a radiant floor heating system, they will feel cold underfoot. Ceramic tiles can also get slippery. So if you want to avoid any accidental slips and falls, you should pick a tile that’s certified slip resistant.

Ceramic tiles can be hard to install for even the most experienced DIY worker. The size of your space and tiles can also be a significant factor. Bathroom floor tiles can be as small as a few inches and as large as a few feet. Smaller tiles may also require more labor, so they may cost more. Larger tiles can be installed more quickly and can even make your space feel larger. But if your bathroom is small, the installer may be forced to cut larger tiles (which can add to the labor costs).

#2: Vinyl or Linoleum Flooring

Vinyl is one of the most budget-friendly options for bathroom floors. It’s also waterproof, impervious to stains, and easy to install. If you include a felt or foam backing, it will be softer than wood or tile. This is a useful quality for a bathroom design, because slips and falls are common on wet floors. An experienced DIY worker will be able to perform a vinyl flooring installation, but it can be helpful to contact a professional (especially if it’s a larger project that will require piecing seams).

One of the downsides to vinyl and linoleum floors is that they’re prone to tearing and developing gouge marks, which is an unfortunate side effect of having a softer surface. They’re also more susceptible to water damage. But if you choose a top-quality sheet vinyl or linoleum (instead of peel-and-stick tiles), you can reduce the seams where water may seep through.

#3: Cork Flooring

Cork is made from bark, so it’s a renewable and environmentally friendly resource. It’s also resistant to mold, mildew, and water damage (which makes cork floors perfect for a bathroom design). Glue-down cork tiles (which can come finished or unfinished) are great for above-grade applications, but click-in-place planks should only be used in below-grade bathrooms.

While cork flooring is more water-resistant than many other materials, it’s not completely waterproof. To keep water from seeping through the gaps, it’s best to install unfinished cork and finish it after it has been installed. Apply a polyurethane topcoat to protect your floors from excess moisture and minor spills. You should also plan to reapply it every few years. Cork floors can fade when they’re exposed to sunlight. So if your bathroom gets a great deal of sun exposure, cork flooring may not be the best option.

#4: Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is both eco-friendly and easy on the budget. Because it’s made from a sustainable resource, it costs half the price of hardwood floors. But if you’re planning to use it in a bathroom design, it’s best to go with an engineered bamboo instead of a solid bamboo. The planks will be more durable and are more suitable for wet environments. They’re easy to install, and any damaged planks can be easily replaced.

Cheap bamboo can get easily scratched or even damaged, so you should invest in something that will last longer. You also want to make sure your bamboo floors are properly sealed. You want to treat them the same way as hardwood floors. So if you need to move furniture or heavy pieces across the floor, you should lay down protector pads.

If you’re looking for one of the best custom home builders in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Devonshire Custom Homes.