No matter your design objectives, remember that above everything, your bathroom floor needs to be safe. Let’s be real. What good is a gorgeous but slippery floor that sends you and your loved ones to the emergency room?
Injuries and falls are absolutely terrible, so instead of going for the shiniest and most slippery material, select a floor that suits your family’s lifestyle needs. Make sure that your material of choice has plenty of traction to avoid slipping and sliding wet feet.
You also want to be sure that the bathroom tiles are easy to clean from slimy soap remnants that may lead to health hazards and accidents. The sliminess of a bathroom floor is probably the greatest hazard to bathroom safety. Your tile dealer must be sure they provide you with the right tiles that are easy to clean, and dry up pretty fast.
Rule number 1: Avoid carpets
In a bathroom, they are difficult to clean and will grow mildew as a result of dampness. Imagine a carpet that is always wet, moldy, and difficult to dry. The bad situation that carpet creates will become even worse when the bathroom begins to smell like mildew. You will tempted to relocate to a town far away from that stench.
Rule number 2: Avoid hardwood
Moisture will cause dramatic wear and tear in a short amount of time. If you absolutely must install hardwood floors, make sure that you hire professionals for the installation. The floor should be crack-free in order to prevent water damage. Instead of installing real hardwood floors, you can install a false one.
Faux-hardwood floors are made from vinyl and photos of real types of wood. Many people use these false wood designs as an environmentally conscious decision or to replicate a material that is otherwise expensive.
Use stone
Stone is among the more expensive options, but it can create the luxurious look and feel of similar but more water damage-prone materials such as marble and limestone. In spite of the benefits of a luxurious look and feel, stone floors have their drawbacks: they are slippery and need to be retextured every so often to maintain traction. You can buy pieces of stone that are already textured, but you may end up spending more money. If you tile your bathroom floors with stone, make sure that you invest in some high-quality bathroom rugs since these surfaces can feel cold.
Ceramic tiles
This type of flooring is inexpensive, durable, and water resistant: three important qualities for practicality and longevity. Installation is straightforward, and you can choose a variety of colours, styles, and shapes: square, rectangle, and hexagonal. Experiment with ceramic tiles to create unique and creative patterns in your bathroom.
If you are looking for a do-it-yourself project, ceramic tiles are among your best options and are readily available. When shopping for ceramic tiles, make sure that you buy a couple of extras.
If you drop something heavy, your tiles may crack or chip and can be difficult to fix. Years after you install your floors, you may have trouble finding the same or similar tiles, especially if you choose a unique colour or design. Keep spares accessible to help with your repairs.
