What’s the best flooring for my new bathroom?

The look of your new bathroom floor can completely transform the look and feel of the space. It can modernise it, give a country feel or bring in a trendy edge. Depending on what you are trying to achieve.

Your bathroom should be a space that feels relaxing, clean and calm. So, consider how you want the finished look to appear and what fixtures and fittings would work well together to create that interior theme.

Your bathroom flooring is one of the toughest choices to get right. The floor needs to look good, fit in with the walls and fixtures, and also be durable enough to withstand water and humidity. Slip resistance should also be considered as well as the amount of maintenance it will require.

So, with this in mind, what are the options that would be suitable?

LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tiles as Bathroom Flooring

Splash resistant, durable and available in a wide range of styles, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are an increasingly popular choice for many bathrooms and toilet rooms.

Luxury vinyl tiles are water-resistant, so they will withstand splashes and spills from the shower and bath. However, they are not fully waterproof, therefore no standing water or pools should be left to stand on them. LVT works really well over underfloor heating and in terms of foot-feel, it is softer and warmer underfoot that stone tiles or ceramic. It is also thinner, so easier to retro-fit.

Maintenance is easy with LVT. The tiles can be cleaned with a mop and soapy water and most marks will rub off easily. If fitted professionally, they are very hardwearing and are guaranteed for up to 20 years. There is a common misconception that silicone sealant is always needed when fitting vinyl in a bathroom, but this is not the case when the tiles are fitted correctly with no gaps. If you are considering LVT bathroom flooring, it’s best to chat to your local flooring retailer for the best advice on what would best suit your needs.

Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles

It’s useful to note that porcelain and ceramic are not the same material, although often confused. Porcelain is made with denser clays and fired for longer and at a higher temperature — therefore it’s subsequently a tougher and less porous material than ceramic. However, obviously this comes with a price.

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles come in many different options and styles and are hygienic and easy to clean. They are also very versatile and can be used on bathroom walls too in order to match up to the floor.

The pattern and colour of a ceramic tile is typically fired on as a surface layer, whereas porcelain tiles tend to be mostly through-coloured. If you are considering porcelain tiles for your bathroom, then it’s important to consider the finish. A highly polished porcelain tile can be very slippery when wet, making them potentially unsafe underfoot for a bathroom.

Engineered Wood Bathroom Flooring

Engineered wood flooring can be used in bathrooms, but specification again comes down to the application. Unlike a solid wood floor, which consists of a single piece of timber, engineered wood flooring is made up of several layers. A layer of real wood sits at the top of the flooring for decorative purposes. Below this are further layers of either wood or plywood, arranged at right angles.

The decorative top layer of real wood can be any thickness and comes in many styles. As a general rule, thicker top layers provide longer life and can be sanded down more times.

Engineered wood is much more stable and less prone to movement in humid conditions than wood, however, if water was to pool on top of it, it could still find its way beneath the surface, causing the floor to expand and buckle.

If you are planning your new bathroom and would like to chat to our friendly team about possible flooring options, please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs.