Looking for the best flooring for your bathroom? These days, you’ll find a wide range of flooring suitable for the bathroom. From luxurious vinyl to waterproof laminate and engineered wood, you’ll find a huge choice of options available.
Here, we’ll take a look at the different types of bathroom-suitable floors on offer to help you choose the right on for your home.
Luxury vinyl flooring
Arguably the best type of flooring for the bathroom, is luxury vinyl flooring. Over the years, significant improvements have been made to vinyl floors. Today, the majority are constructed with a layered design, providing a more stable and realistic effect.
There are literally hundreds of designs available, including realistic wood and stone effect flooring. Thanks to advancements in manufacturing, brands are now able to perfectly replicate the look of real wood and stone. However, unlike the real thing, luxury vinyl flooring is naturally water-resistant.
Another great benefit of installing luxury vinyl flooring in the bathroom, is that it is a hygienic choice. You’ll find it really easy to maintain and keep clean in comparison to other flooring types. Many are even designed to repel dirt and allergens.
It is worth noting here that not all luxury vinyl floors are waterproof. So, make sure to check the floor you’re choosing is advertised as being suitable for installation in the bathroom.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Huge choice of realistic designs
- Easy to install and maintain
- Highly water resistant
Cons:
- Hard to repair
- Shorter lifespan compared to wooden flooring
- Has no impact on resale value of property
Waterproof laminate
At one time, installing laminate in the bathroom was a definite no-no. However, like luxury vinyl flooring, laminate floors have undergone some major changes in recent years. Now, it’s possible to find waterproof style laminate, ideal for use in the bathroom or kitchen.
There are a lot of waterproof laminate options out there, but the Aqua Step range is one of the best. The brand designed the very first 100% waterproof laminate flooring and there are plenty of impressive designs to choose from.
Compared to luxury vinyl, laminate does have the most realistic wood effects. However, it is a little more expensive and the range of designs isn’t as extensive as the ones offered in the luxury vinyl collection.
Pros:
- Superb realistic wooden effect
- Fully waterproof options
- Easy enough to install and maintain
Cons:
- Limited choice of waterproof designs
- More expensive than luxury vinyl
- Lower lifespan than vinyl
Engineered wood flooring
Did you know you can also install engineered wooden flooring in the bathroom? While not all engineered floors are suitable for moisture-prone areas, the sturdier design of this flooring makes it a more waterproof option than standard laminate flooring.
You can also find engineered wood floors which are specifically designed to resist moisture. These floors are the ones you should opt for if you’re looking to install them in the bathroom.
Pros:
- Solid wood effect at a much lower price tag
- Great durability
- Impressive choice of designs
- Increase in home re-sale value
Cons:
- More expensive than vinyl or laminate
- Limited water-resistant designs
- More maintenance than other bathroom flooring types
- Tougher installation
Things to consider
When looking for the ideal floor for the bathroom, there are a few factors you’ll want to keep in mind. As well as water resistance and waterproof flooring, you’ll want to look out for slip resistance too.
As the bathroom does produce a lot of moisture, this can make the floor quite slippery. If you’re investing in luxury vinyl flooring, you’ll find these typically come with a good level of slip resistance built in. When shopping for laminate or engineered wood flooring, you’ll want to make sure they come with a textured finish. These tend to provide more slip resistance than smooth finished planks.
If the floor comes with a click system, you’ll also want to double check this too is water resistant. Some floors only feature a waterproof or water-resistant surface. The trouble with this is water will still be able to seep through to the floor through the click system. So, always make sure even the installation system is designed to be water resistant.
The above are some of the best types of floors you can use in the bathroom. While carpets are also suitable, they aren’t recommended. This is because they simply aren’t a hygienic option for bathroom environments. As the moisture will soak in, they can also develop a musty scent if they aren’t dried quickly enough.
When choosing a floor for your bathroom, take into account its water resistance level, slip resistance and practicality. Luxury vinyl tends to be the best option for bathroom environments. Not only are they easier to maintain and hygienic, but they also come in exemplary realistic wood and stone effects.
