Bathroom floor choices are not limited to a few materials, but which one should you choose?
The choice you make for your bathroom floor is very important, so how should you choose the right material. Here are a few tips about each type of floor covering to help you arrive to the best solution for your lifestyle and your budget.
Tiles
Tile floors represent the first bathroom floor choice across the country and even the world. They present many advantages. A tile floor does not require much in terms of maintenance, it is sturdy and long lasting, and it is hygienic. Another benefit of tiles is that they do not stain since any staining matter can be wiped easily off the smooth surface. They are naturally insulated and good against static electricity. Since it does not burn it would also act as a fire retardant in case of fire. There are some disadvantages to consider as well, including the cold feeling on one’s feet specially on cold winter nights, they can be slippery, and they need frequent cleaning as dirt shows, specially if you use white tiles.
If you intend to make a mosaic floor, you have to plan the design carefully. Mosaic floors can be done from tile fragments but also from other materials, glass and natural stones for example. It is easy to instal and well suited for bathroom floors.
PVC or vinyl
A material that has found favor in commercial and public settings like offices and gyms, it is being used more frequently in private homes than it was in the past. Vinyl floors can be in one large sheet or in small squares (tiles). It main advantage is cost and easy maintenance.
Natural stones
Natural stones are a great bathroom floor choice, however they are expensive. The most commonly used stones are granite, marble, travertine, and terra cotta… Most people have to pay for installation as this is not as easy to do than other materials and that is not something you can “kind of guess how to do it”.
A wood floor in a bathroom is possible, the most often chosen wood is teak, but iroko and other exotic wood can also be used. The technic to install a bathroom wood floor is the same one used in the building of boat decks. The principle revolves around the idea of creating waterproof joints between the planks. Each plank or slat is set into the next one. A crevice is set between each to take in the joint material which will waterproof the floor.
Cork floors
It is possible to choose cork flooring for a bathroom, but finish must be done carefully. It is a beautiful material that is gaining in popularity but is still fairly expensive.
