There are many options for your bathroom flooring, and it is important to find the right one for your budget and needs. The most used flooring in bathroom designing today is vinyl sheet, linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl tile, stone tile, glass and/or glazed ceramic tiles.
Vinyl is an inexpensive and durable material for a bathroom floor. Vinyl flooring comes in many designs, and can even be made to mimic stone or wooden flooring. Vinyl tiles can leave seams where water can seep through and damage the area below. Vinyl sheets come in rolls and are virtually seamless except for where the sheets come together. With less seams, they are easier to seal and maintain. Vinyl is very durable, and can last about 20 years. Smooth vinyl can be slippery when wet, but there are textured varieties of vinyl that provide better traction. Vinyl is good for a child’s bathroom because of it’s damage resistance, stain resistance, and the amount of design options available with it. Vinyl costs about $1-5 per square foot, plus installation.
Linoleum is a durable and water resistant tile option made of biodegradable materials such as cork and linseed oil. This “green” flooring option has returned to popularity because of its versatility and environmental awareness. The drawback of linoleum is that it can stain easily, but many manufacturers add protective coatings to resist scratches and stains. Linoleum costs about $2-5 per square foot, plus installation.
Ceramic tile is the most popular choice for bathroom flooring. It is durable, comes in many shapes and sizes, and is available with tons of custom patterns. Most designers look towards ceramic tile for bathroom flooring. Ceramic tile is resistant to chips, scratches, and cracks. The downside to tile is that it can be cold to the touch, especially in the morning. Radiant heating under the tile is a quick remedy to the issue. The cost of ceramic tile is about $1 to $20 per square foot; plus installation.
Glass and glazed tiles are durable and provide the most traction. Smaller tiles create more grout lines, for increased traction. Glass tiles are not ideal for the shower stall, because they dull with heavy cleaning. When designing with glass tiles, use a thin, lightly colored set behind them to allow them to reflect light better and sparkle more. Glass and glazed ceramic tiles cost $1 to $20 per square foot; plus installation.
Stone tile is often a high-end option for a bathroom, but there are less expensive choices in stone tile. Stone is durable, beautiful, and water-resistant. Polished, smooth stone is more expensive and can be slippery when wet. Textured stone is more skid resistant. Marble looks beautiful in bathrooms, but can change color if the veins have a lot of iron. To check if the marble you are choosing for your bathroom has a large amount of iron, soak a sample in water for 2 days, then wait 2 more to see if it changes, and how drastic it is. Stone can cost anywhere from $2 to $100 per square foot; plus installation.
To discuss bathroom or kitchen remodeling options that would be best for your home please contact us at (718) 273-6233 or visit our showroom at 711 Port Richmond Ave., Staten Island, NY 10302.