Which Flooring is Best for Bathrooms
Which flooring is best for bathrooms? The answer might surprise you, given that there are basically four common choices. When people think about replacing the flooring in a bathroom, they tend to think of products like tile. Meanwhile, some people consider hardwood, while others may put carpet on their list of possibilities. But, all three of these products do not deliver on style and function as well as vinyl plank flooring. So, let’s take a look at why vinyl plank is probably the best overall choice for bathroom flooring.
The Best Flooring for Bathrooms
The best flooring for bathrooms are products that can withstand a lot. This includes not just wear and tear from foot traffic, but also other elements, such as moisture, temperature, and more. Therefore, bathroom flooring should not only be durable but also quite versatile so it lasts a long time and retains its aesthetics. And, the product that does this best time and time again is most definitely plank vinyl flooring. Now, let’s look at a few reasons why this flooring outperforms others.
Pros and Cons of Tile for Bathroom Flooring
Okay, it’s quite common and popular to install tile in bathrooms, but it’s definitely not the best choice. Sure, it looks nice and is very durable, but it still has some really big disadvantages. For instance, tile is considerably more expensive, not only to purchase and install but to maintain over the long term.
Then, there’s the matter of grout lines, which also plays into its ongoing maintenance costs. That grout will get dirty over time and must be cleaned. Additionally, grout can chip, as can the tiles themselves, and that will be an expensive replacement. Plus, tile is cold and also noisy, as it doesn’t mute sound. Although it is possible to install heating to keep tile warm, that just adds to an already high cost and it also means big trouble and a huge financial hit if that heating fails and needs to be replaced. But, perhaps most importantly, not all tile products are waterproof, which means you’ll have to pay a premium if you want it installed in a bathroom. Even if you pay top dollar for the best tile, it’s still likely to be slippery, and that can be a real concern for some homeowners.
Pros and Cons of Carpet for Bathroom Flooring
Carpet is also a flooring product that can be installed in a bathroom. Although, it’s definitely lost its popularity in this space in the home over the years, and for several reasons. While carpeting is warm, also provides a cushion, and isn’t slippery, it’s just not the best overall choice for a bathroom.
Perhaps the biggest reason homeowners avoid carpet in their bathrooms is because it acts like a sponge and in a space where moisture is present quite a bit of the time, it essentially turns into a mold and bacteria trap. What’s more, even if cleaned regularly to prevent mold and bacteria growth, carpet just doesn’t have the wherewithal to stand up to the combination of foot traffic and moisture. Therefore, it will have a much shorter lifespan.
Pros and Cons of Hardwood for Bathroom Flooring
Who doesn’t love hardwood? It’s beautiful, timeless, and provides unmatched beauty. This, not to mention the fact that true hardwood is very durable, with a very long lifetime. Hardwood also works in just about every single room in a house, except one. Where it falls short is the bathroom, and it’s entirely for the purposes you think. Hardwood doesn’t perform well in bathrooms for a number of good reasons. One of its most problematic aspects is its inability to handle moisture, as wood and water just don’t mix. Plus, like tile, hardwood is generally cold and is also slippery. So, while hardwood may look great, its performance issues don’t make it a good choice for the bathroom.
The Benefits of Vinyl Plank for Bathroom Flooring
That leaves just one flooring product that works on all fronts – . Unlike other materials, vinyl plank flooring works well in the bathroom because it is waterproof, it’s not nearly as slippery as tile or hardwood, there are no grout lines, it’s relatively inexpensive, care and maintenance are a cinch, and best of all, there are plenty of customization capabilities with products like Karndean Design Strips.
What’s more, vinyl plank is very easy to install and it can usually be laid right over the existing floor. Moreover, vinyl plank has a nice lifespan, so it will stay looking beautiful over the long term. And, best of all, it comes in a number of styles, colors, and shades, making it so versatile that it can work in any space.
To learn more about vinyl plank flooring for bathrooms, speak with a professional flooring expert who can tell you more about this product and its many benefits.