Bathroom Remodel – Flooring

Porcelain Floor Tile

As a continuation in our remodeling series, we’ll be addressing the bathroom-the 2nd most likely room to renovate! Hopefully, this series will be of great guidance to anyone considering remodeling their bathroom. Enjoy!

Part 1: Flooring

When choosing the right flooring for a bathroom, personal style is a great place to start and will be a key influence for the aesthetic result. However, there’s much more to keep in mind to ensure you’re selections fit your lifestyle and will sustain for years to come. Here are some questions to consider:

• Is it impervious to water?
• Will it stain easily?
• Is it safe when wet, or does it get slippery?
• Will it be cold for bare feet in the cooler months?
• What maintenance will have to be done to maintain it’s beauty?
• Here are some popular flooring choices, along with their pro’s and con’s:

Natural Stone: Stone is easy to care for and durable, but can require a strong subfloor. Some natural stones can also have the potential to be slippery when wet, especially in a polished form. To help with the slippery factor you can get your natural stone in a honed finish (a matte look), which is ground flat but not polished, or textured. If you do choose to do this, keep in mind that a sealant is usually required to prevent stains and water absorption. Some beautiful choices are marble, travertine, or limestone. When using stone, it will have a tendency to be cold in the cooler months, so a floor heater is a popular option to keep the floor comfortable year round.

Ceramic or Porcelain Tile: This man-made tile is available in a vast variety of colors and patterns. It’s a great choice when a color is desired outside of what nature has to offer in stone varieties. I recommend a full-body porcelain, which means the coloration runs all the way through the tile. If one ever chips, it’s much less noticeable than a clay-based ceramic tile. For budget jobs, however, ceramic will be easiest on the wallet. This flooring is durable and hygienic, and the best choice for those who want little to no maintenance.

Hardwood: Hardwood floors can create a look of warmth and charm in a bathroom, although it’s not recommended. Water in a bathroom is very prevalent and wood and water are not copacetic. You can risk it and seal them regularly to be watertight, but I’d recommend saving your money (and an insurance claim) and do a fabulous stone or even a ceramic that has a “wood grain” look. There are some fabulous options on the market today!