Bathrooms are the wettest – and one of the most utilized – rooms in a house. In addition to that, they are also the most dangerous. Choosing the right flooring option ensures a new bathroom remodel is waterproof, gorgeous, easy to maintain, and slip-resistant.
Tips For Choosing Bathroom Remodel Flooring Options
In addition to the typical uses for the bathroom, many Florida homeowners find their bathrooms are also a haven for sand, salt water remnants, and other indoor/outdoor lifestyle fodder – especially if you have children.
Here are some things to consider as you visit our flooring showrooms or research products online.
1. Is it Waterproof (and Slip-Resistant)?
Carpet is definitely out, and we also recommend steering clear of hardwood. Both of these are not ideal in locations where water is a constant. Instead, narrow your choices to products that offer waterproof or hearty water-resistant features.
You want to install bathroom flooring that can withstand water – even if left unnoticed for hours or a day – without compromising its looks or structural integrity. That means avoiding any products that can warp, shrink, or lift in the presence of excessive water or moisture.
Because they’re so slippery and surfaces notoriously hard, bathrooms are considered one of the most dangerous rooms in the house. Protect yourselves and your house guests by choosing slip-resistant flooring materials.
2. What Are the Maintenance Requirements?
In addition to water exposure, bathroom floors become littered with all kinds of substances and debris. This includes everything from hair and scraps of toilet paper or tissue to the accumulation of splashes, drops, and sprays from soap and other health and beauty products.
To keep things easy and protect the floor’s longevity, select products that are easy to maintain. Bathroom flooring materials should be easy to wipe up, sweep up, or mop up. Even better, choose surfaces that don’t require specialty cleaning materials or routine sealing.
3. Where Does It Rate on the Durability Scale?
Another side of ease of maintenance is durability. Bathrooms are proportionally smaller than other rooms in the house, which means exponentially more footsteps (or paw steps) on a reduced footprint. As a result, bathroom floors experience far more wear and tear than most people give them credit for.
In addition to the wear and tear of constant foot traffic, slippery hands or rushed morning routines result in dropped bottles, brushes, and other grooming tools such as curling or straightening irons, electric razors, etc. These items make a significant impact when they hit the floor, so you’ll want to select flooring that isn’t prone to dings, chips, or cracking.
And, of course, things like makeup, perfume/cologne, and other bathroom items have the potential to stain. Thus, a stain-resistant surface is another bonus in any bathroom. The more durable the flooring is, the longer it will maintain its color, integrity, and stylish look.
4. Budget (Cost of Materials & Installation)
Of course, budget is a significant consideration. If you’re remodeling an older home, don’t forget to retain a 10% to 15% “contingency” reserve when budgeting remodeling costs. It’s not uncommon for contractors to remove outdated flooring only to find signs of latent leaks, historical water damage or rot, or mold/mildew infestations. Things like that must be brought back up to code level, costing extra; it’s always good to be prepared for that possibility.
Once you’ve factored in the emergency fund, you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend on materials. However, if you’re installing flooring independently from a complete remodel, you’ll want a quote that includes materials and installation to factor everything into the equation. There’s nothing worse than being unpleasantly surprised when you see the bottom line.
5. Does It Work With Your Preferred Style?
You’ll notice that we prioritize function over aesthetics. This is always the best rule of thumb when remodeling a bathroom – or any room in the home.
Once you’ve moved through the first four considerations, you’re ready to look at samples. We promise that you’ll find multiple flooring options that are waterproof, easy to maintain, durable, in your price range, and that you absolutely love.
5 Great Flooring Options for Florida Bathrooms
We’ve created a list of our five favorite bathroom flooring options for any household, whether you’re just starting out, while raising a family, or making smart changes to age in place safely and independently.
1. Slip-Resistant Tile
Tiles have long been a favorite bathroom flooring option for bathroom spaces. They are waterproof, offered in slip-resistant options, and come in a seemingly endless variety of shapes, colors, and patterns.
Bathroom tiles also accommodate any design preference, whether you’re opting to preserve the vintage look in your older home or are ready to bring an outdated bathroom into a sleek and more contemporary style. If you like the idea of patterned or artistically installed flooring, our design specialists can show you samples and gallery examples to help you create a tile layout that fits the space and bathroom design.
Wood look tile planks are another popular flooring option. These textured tiles look and feel like natural wood and are inherently durable, easy to clean, and slip-resistant. They’re available in any wood grain pattern and finish you can imagine.
2. Laminate Floors
If you aren’t as sold on the hardness or cold temperatures associated with tile floors, you may have your heart set on laminate. Laminate flooring is another option for hardwood enthusiasts who know natural wood isn’t the best fit for a bathroom floor.
If you’re set on laminate, we’ll show you water-resistant options finished with hydroseal technology. That said, we typically recommend installing laminate in lesser-used bathrooms. If water gets alongside and down laminate joints, consistent moisture can eventually cause swelling or warping of the pressed board below the laminate finish.
3. Luxury Vinyl
Here’s another option for homeowners desiring bathroom floors that are a bit softer and warmer on the feet: luxury vinyl. We like to say, “This is not your grandma’s vinyl.”
The continuous innovations in digital design and production have allowed flooring manufacturers to create luxury vinyl options that replicate just about any surface you can think of – from the basic to the complex. This includes waterproof vinyl patterns that look just like wood or stone.
Choose Great Bathroom Flooring Options at Creative Floors
Creative Floors has every great bathroom flooring option under the sun. Visit us at one of our two Central Florida locations OR schedule a Shop at Home consultation where we can bring a spectrum of bathroom flooring options to you. This allows you to view flooring selections in your own home and in your lighting with the assistance of one of our incredible flooring design pros.
We look forward to helping you choose a bathroom flooring option that will stand the test of time, looking as good in 10 or 20 years as it does on the day it’s installed.
