Flooring Options to Consider for Your Bathroom Renovation

The main task of bathroom flooring is to withstand the water that inevitably splashes over the surface. This requirement rules out options like carpet and solid timber that react badly when they get drenched. However, you'll have many other options to consider when undergoing bathroom renovations.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tiles come in countless colours and patterns, offering plenty of choices. Porcelain is a type of ceramic. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are moulded from clay and fired in a kiln. Porcelain, though, is baked at hotter temperatures and for longer, rendering these tiles harder and more moisture-resistant. That's what makes porcelain ideal for hard-wearing areas like floors, while ceramic tiles are often better reserved for walls only. You can spread porcelain virtually anywhere you like. Thus, you could cover the walls, floor and splashback area with a similar hue or design to create a sleek sense of spaciousness.

Vinyl

You might not associate vinyl with a luxury spa-like bathroom look. However, a modern-day vinyl floor can mimic ceramic, natural stone and timber. You could cover the floor in vinyl sheets that don't have any joins. Alternatively, fit vinyl tiles or planks. These floors consist of a thick vinyl core. This is then covered with a thinner vinyl layer, impregnated with a photograph of travertine or oak wood, for instance. Advanced photographic techniques help to create a realistic rendition of the natural substance. However, vinyl is more economical and easier to care for than some natural alternatives, as it won't require sealing or other maintenance. All a vinyl floor will need is a mop or sweep to keep it clean.

Laminate

Laminate planks consist of a core board made of timber products covered with decorative paper that exhibits a wood photo, finished with a plastic layer. Some laminate planks are waterproof and designed for bathrooms, while others are moisture-resistant and not so impervious to water damage. With these less-resilient planks, water can infiltrate the sides and cause the board to swell or warp. Thus, you should only install a waterproof variety in a bathroom.

Natural Stone

Natural stone evokes a timeless look when spread over the bathroom floor. After all, it's an ancient material that has already existed for aeons in nature. You could install beautiful travertine in ivory, peach, pink or slate in grey, blue and tan. Natural stone is porous to varying degrees, so you need to seal these floors to protect them from water.


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