When it comes to choosing flooring for a bathroom, homeowners often focus on finding an attractive, durable material that suits their style. But there’s one major difference between bathroom flooring and the flooring of other rooms—bathroom surfaces should be waterproof. Picking a floor material that meets that need should be priority number one. In this article, we’ll identify the most common materials and list their pros and cons to help you choose the right floor for your bathroom.
Why Should My Bathroom Floor Be Waterproof?
Water can splash from the sink. The toilet can overflow. Steam from the shower typically mists the entire bathroom, potentially more than once a day. A wet bathroom is not the exception but the norm, and water will wreak havoc on the wrong type of flooring. So while designing a beautiful bathroom may be your goal, keeping it waterproof should be your biggest concern.
The Best Materials for Bathroom Floors
There are so many choices out there when it comes to flooring—it can be hard to know where to start. Below, we’ll run through six popular options for bathroom floors, touching on the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Porcelain and Ceramic Tile
There’s a reason why porcelain and ceramic are classic bathroom flooring choices. Not only are they waterproof and easy to clean, but they’re also relatively inexpensive and can mimic the look of pricier materials such as natural stone. Ceramic tiles are made of coarse clay fired in a kiln and, when used in bathrooms, are glazed for water resistance. Porcelain is a type of ceramic in that’s made from more refined clay and fired at a higher temperature, making it more durable and less porous. However, this also makes porcelain more brittle and thus more likely to chip and crack.
In terms of styles, porcelain and ceramic are offered in an endless array of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors, so your design choices are practically limitless. Ceramic tiles are also relatively easy to install yourself—if a bit time-consuming. Porcelain tiles are harder to cut and install, but this can still be a DIY job with the right tools and enough patience. Watch the video below to learn how to install tiles yourself.
Porcelain and ceramic are cold to the touch, but they’re also very conductive if you have radiant heating laid underneath. In fact, if you desire a bathroom with heated flooring, porcelain and ceramic are the most popular options.
A con to these materials? They can be slippery. Choose a tile with a textured surface or smaller tiles that require more grout, which provides better traction. Ceramic tiles also vary quite widely in price based on size and quality. Smaller tiles will cost less for materials but more for installation. While both ceramic and porcelain tiles are low-maintenance, the grout in between them requires periodic cleaning and reapplication.
Natural Stone
Durable and attractive natural stone always exudes an air of luxury, but it’s pricey and not completely waterproof. Softer materials like travertine and limestone need to be resealed every couple of years, while harder stones like marble and granite can last up to five years before resealing. If you can afford natural stone and don’t mind refinishing the floor once in a while, this is one way to raise the resale value of your home.
Like porcelain and ceramic, stone feels cold to the touch, and it can be a very slippery material. We recommend considering a stone option that’s been honed or tumbled instead of polished, or something that’s been textured with sandblasting. There are also naturally textured stones such as slate—just keep in mind that textured and honed finishes are more porous and require more frequent resealing. Stone is heavy and difficult to work with, so it’s best to have it professionally installed.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a very popular bathroom flooring material due to its water-resistance, reasonable pricing, and ease of installation. This has resulted in a wide variety of styles and designs, since vinyl can be colored and patterned to mimic the look of more expensive materials like porcelain, wood, and natural stone. The material comes as sheets, planks, or tiles, but sheets are the best option for bathroom vinyl flooring because the installation is virtually seamless, making it waterproof.
However, vinyl planks and tiles generally provide a greater variety of designs and a more luxurious appearance than sheeting. There are two types of vinyl planks—wood plastic composite (WPC) and stone plastic composite (SPC). Both are made with a waterproof core, but WPC is thicker and softer underfoot, and SPC is more durable and impact-resistant.
However, while vinyl is durable, it can develop bumps, gaps, or curls after a period of time. Vinyl can also be hard to fix if it is pierced by a sharp object—if sheeting is pierced, the entire sheet may need to be replaced. And because the material is so well-priced, it won’t do as much for your home’s resale value as more expensive materials might.
Laminate is often confused with vinyl, but the former has a wood-chip base that makes it an inferior bathroom flooring material. If the wood-chip base comes in contact with water, it will absorb it and bubble up, and eventually, the flooring will need to be replaced. We don’t recommend laminate for bathroom floors.
Concrete
Concrete bathroom floors are typically found in homes with slab foundations. You can also choose to have a concrete slab or overlay poured for a bathroom floor. The slab can be dyed, polished, stamped, or painted to create a sleek look that fits well with a modern aesthetic. It can even be stained and textured to look like wood.
The advantages of concrete are its water resistance, durability, and relatively low cost. Getting concrete stained or stamped isn’t expensive, and when you consider how long this type of flooring will last, it becomes even more cost-effective. Additionally, if you change your mind or redo your bathroom down the line, most other forms of flooring can be laid down atop the concrete without needing to remove it.
However, concrete is cold and very hard to the touch, as well as extremely slippery if it’s finished with a smooth surface. It’s also not a good choice with a radiant heating system. If you’re considering a concrete slab for your bathroom floor, have the finishers leave a little bit of texture for traction. Though water won’t damage the concrete itself, the material needs periodic refinishing to prevent staining. Pouring concrete for a bathroom floor is also not a DIY job if you want a finished appearance.
Engineered Wood
While wood and water don’t typically mix, engineered wood features a plywood base that holds up well against moisture. If you must have a real wood floor in your bathroom, this is your best bet. Engineered wood looks like real wood because the top layer is made of hardwood veneer.
However, this is a relatively expensive material. Another potential downside is that engineered wood is prone to damage, and you can only sand and refinish it once or twice before you penetrate the veneer. Still, it’s a viable option that can work if you’re careful and opt for professional installation. Engineered hardwood is best for well-ventilated bathrooms that won’t have a lot of water spilled directly on the floor. Thus, it’s not a good choice for a child’s bathroom.
Solid hardwood, on the other hand, is never a good idea for bathrooms. It’s extremely sensitive to moisture and will likely eventually warp and rot, even with a topcoat of protection.
Cork Flooring
If sustainability is important to you, consider cork as a flooring material. Waterproof, naturally insulating, and comfortable underfoot, it can be an excellent choice for bathrooms. It’s naturally textured, which makes it a non-skid surface. Plus, cork can feature some beautiful and unique grain patterns.
While cork is naturally resistant to mold and mildew, it isn’t waterproof and can warp if subjected to high humidity or standing water. Like engineered wood, cork is best for low-traffic bathrooms used by adults. To protect your cork flooring from moisture, reseal it every couple of years.
Our Conclusion
The bathroom flooring materials you choose will depend on your needs, budget, and style preferences. Ceramic and porcelain combine a classic look with high water-resistance. Vinyl flooring is a budget-friendly choice that’s well within the capabilities of most DIYers to install. If you have more room in the budget, natural stone is a luxurious option that will retain its value over time. Less common choices like concrete, engineered wood, and cork require periodic finishing and maintenance, but in the right bathroom, they provide a distinctive look and feel.