How to choose Flooring for Bathroom Renovation?

choose Flooring for Bathroom Renovation

The bathroom: it’s that personal sanctuary where we wash away the grit, stress and grime after a long, hard day at work. It’s also a safe haven from noisy, whiny kids draining all of your energy (or at least it’s rumoured to be). So it goes without saying that we should treat our porcelain palace the right way, and extend its lifetime by fitting it out with the best possible flooring option.

But which bathroom floor should I pick?

The only downfall of technology and engineering when it comes to flooring is that we modern homeowners have more options available to us than our parents and grandparents ever did. Which is great. But with so many options, how are we supposed to know which one we’re meant to pick?

Opinions vary as to what style of flooring is most suitable for the bathroom, but as always our research has proven that the cream rises to the top, and we’re left with a shortlist upon which consumers and consultants far and wide have agreed are the best options for Australian bathroom floors.

In this article, we only look at the bathroom floors which we’ve deemed most suitable for bathrooms… we’ve pulled the plug on the rest of them and sent them down the gurgler, so all you need to do is pick which of the following best suits your needs!

How to pick the best Flooring for Bathroom Remodel

  1. Engineered Hardwood

Want a wooden floor in your bathroom, but afraid it’ll twist and warp? Well, you’re right to be afraid. When exposed to humidity, steam and moisture, solid timbers tend to swell and go out of shape, turning your glossy wooden floor into a bathroom nightmare.

But don’t be disheartened just yet. There is still an option that might rescue your dream of a wooden floor in the bathroom: engineered hardwoods.

Unlike solid timber planks, which are crafted from a single piece of wood, engineered hardwoods are comprised of multiple layers with a surface that is specifically designed to resist moisture… meaning it can venture into rooms and spaces that solid timbers wouldn’t dare.

You should be alerted to the fact that engineered hardwoods are not completely waterproof, so if there is a leak in the bathroom or water happens to find a way between the cracks and crevices surrounding the boards, then they are still susceptible to water damage.

Nonetheless, if you get the planks installed and sealed by an expert, and there are no pipes waiting to burst under your subfloor, you can rest easy knowing that this type of flooring will resist water just as effectively as most other bathroom options.

This means you can have that steamy, dreamy bathroom you’ve always been dreaming of with glossy wooden slats beneath your feet. Available in a range of colours, styles and designs, engineered hardwoods from Australian Select Timber can add the timeless appeal of an wooden floor to your bathroom without the inherent risk of water damage that comes with solid timbers.

Also, you should be warned that the price-tag on this type of flooring might make you sweat a bit. No, not because of the steam, but because they are a relatively expensive flooring option for bathrooms.

They might look great and they’re easily installed as a floating floor over existing flooring, but it can be costly and, if a pipe does happen to spring a leak and your flooring gets waterlogged, it can be difficult to replace the damaged planks.

  1. Luxury vinyl

Luxury vinyl flooring comes in both tile or plank options, both of which come highly recommended for bathrooms.

Available in gorgeous wood and natural stone designs, these products are sure to enhance the aesthetic value of any home, and they’re so realistic in terms of appearance that it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between the product and the material on which it’s based.

You can select vinyl flooring options in both water resistant and waterproof formats, both of which are an absolute must for spaces such as bathrooms where moisture, steam and water are prevalent.

Furthermore, vinyl floorings can be installed over existing floors. They’re on the more affordable end of the price-line spectrum, and they also feel friendly and warm underfoot, so you’ll never be afraid to put a bare foot on it during winter.

Something to keep in mind if you’re considering this option, though, is that it’s unlikely that vinyl flooring is going to astronomically increase the value of your home. If you want this style of flooring, you should be thinking more along the lines of comfort and affordability as opposed to increasing equity.

Also, you might want to consider getting an expert to lay this for you as unprofessional jobs might make it look a little tacky.

Overall, if you want bang for your buck, vinyl is a fantastic flooring option for bathrooms and water prone environments.

  1. Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are perhaps the most popular type of flooring when it comes to bathrooms, mainly owing to the fact that these materials are completely waterproof if installed properly. You needn’t worry about water damage or warping floorboards if you pick tiles.

Plus there is a whole spectrum of colours and styles to choose from that there is bound to be a tile out there that suits your needs. If you find the right retailer, you can even find tiles that resemble hardwood flooring.

The upkeep required of tiles is extremely low. All it takes is a simple vacuum and a mop, and these will come up like brand new, with their sparkling, squeaky clean finish.

The only drawback to tiles seems to be that they’re cold to the touch, meaning you might be reluctant to set a foot down on them during winter. But other than that, you could be onto a winner if you back a tile floor for your bathroom.

  1. Natural Stone Tiles

If you want your bathroom to exude an air of luxury and indulgence, natural stone tiles might be the option for you. Natural stone adds a beautiful, high-end aspect to a bathroom that few types of flooring, if any, can possibly hope to rival.

Available in many deluxe choices and designs, such as marble, granite and slate, natural stone tiles are sure to add a touch of class and opulence to your bathroom that is sure to make any guest at your house green with envy.

Furthermore, a variety of textures are available when it comes to natural stone tiles, including etching, sandblasting and tumbling, which can be used to create a unique bathroom experience that will be unlike any you’ve ever had before. Like porcelain tiles, they are also highly durable and perfect for steamy indoor environments such as a bathroom. For this reason, they are also sure to add value to your home.

On the downside, if you want natural stone tiles, make sure you’re willing to fork out the big bucks, because these are on the upper end of the price-line spectrum. If you want amazing results, you’ll have to pay for them. Add to this the fact that natural stone tiles require maintenance through the reapplication of sealants, you’re looking at one of the more expensive flooring options.

 

The Verdict

Modern households are becoming increasingly complex and dynamic, but one thing that remains constant over time is the fact that bathrooms (like kitchens) aren’t going any place any time soon. They’re perhaps the biggest necessity in any modern household and, as such, it’s important that we pick the right one for our home.

Most customers are in the market for a bathroom floor that requires little in the way of upkeep, is preferably waterproof (or at least water resistant), has a long lifespan, and can handle the volume of foot traffic that comes in and out of the place on a daily basis.

Each of the floors listed above are highly suitable for a bathroom floor, but at the end of the day, the best floor for your home comes down to your personal circumstances.

The good news is that we stock all the above options here at Infloorings, so all you need to do is drop in and take a look around!

Our advice is that you take stock of your home and its needs, as well as your budget, and let the results determine exactly what type of floor your bathroom needs.

If you’re looking for something cheap but effective, ceramic tiles or luxury vinyl is probably the best option.

If you want to add equity to your home or increase its value, or simply want a realistic stone look for your bathroom, natural stone tiles could be a goer.

If you want something that is classic and unique all at once, maybe engineered hardwoods are for you.

It all comes back to you!

Our final say is that all the options listed above are viable for a bathroom… but it’s up to create a shortlist based on your requirements and restrictions, then pick the one that best suits you. Once you’ve done that, all you need to do is drop into our Rockdale showroom or call one of our consultants: we can kick-start the process, and you’ll be enjoying your new bathroom floor before you can say ‘shower time!’

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