Bathroom flooring

Bathroom flooring differs from other rooms as it is exposed to the daily bathroom routines of showers, baths and general washing all of which creates steam and spillage.  This can quickly lead not only to the deteriation of your flooring but of the surfaces beneath your flooring.

Marble tiles before grouting

A simple bit of carpet will rot and smell in no time which is why there are more water resistant and durable forms of bathroom flooring:

Vinyl - Available in sheets or tiles vinyl is hard wearing and water resistant and available in an multitude of designs.  Some have cushioned backing making it softer and warmer under foot.  Not much good for old floorboards as it has to be laid on an absolutely flat surface. 

Tiles -  Ceramic tiles are more commonly available but porcelain tiles are more durable.  They can be printed, textured and glazedallowing for a wide range of designs.  Without underfloor heating they can be a bit cold and slippery.

Stone - Slate, limestone and granite or popular due to their durability, style and water resistance, and they are less slippery than marble or other polished stone.  All porous stones will need some sort of sealant or coating.

Bamboo - Is a recent eco friendly edition to bathroom flooring.  It doesn't expand when wet and can be sanded down if it gets damaged.

Rubber - Perhaps the perfect flooring type for bathrooms as it is soft, waterproof, easy to clean and very hard wearing.  Studded or smooth rubber provides an excellent non slip flooring and is available in a range of colours.

Rubber tiles

Vinyl and tile are the most affordable options with prices ranging from £5-50 a square metre, stone and bamboo flooring start from £20 per sq m and rubber is the most expensive at around £40 per sq m.

For more information on bathroom tiles have a look at the bathroom tile design section.