So, you want new restroom floor but don’t know where to start. That’s fine, we have handy advice that we hope will assist you in your new flooring finds. Whether you’re outfitting a guest bath, a busy kids’ bathroom, a master retreat, your restroom flooring should be ready for anything – all while looking presentable. Your new restroom floor doesn’t have to look plain. At A1 Carpet, we have a vast collection where you can choose from. If you still have questions about restroom flooring, you can talk to one of our experts who are more than happy to assist. Our design experts can aid you with any installation questions. We advise that you take into consideration the size of your bathroom.
What Kind of Flooring Is Best For Restrooms?
As you consider new restroom floor ideas, your top concern (along with many others who are renovating) is how well it resists moisture. At A1 Carpet you are sure to fine flooring collections that are waterproof and built to withstand! Vinyl sheet, Porcelain or ceramic tile, natural stone and laminate flooring all offer a high level of water, stain, and wear resistance.
Porcelain And Ceramic Tile
- Pros
- Many style choices
- Good resale value
- Works well with radiant heating
- Cleans up well
- Cons
- Cold under foot
- Hard under foot, so it is difficult to stand on for long periods
- Often sterile-looking
- Slippery
Vinyl Flooring: Sheet, Plank, or Tile
- Pros
- 100% waterproof
- Cost-effective
- Plank seams are waterproof
- Tile and plank are easy for DIY projects
- Floating vinyl flooring is easy to replace
- Cons
- Often has poor resale value
- Bumps and gaps on the underlayment or subfloor can telegraph to the vinyl surface
Natural Stone
- Pros
- Excellent resale value
- Very durable
- Cons
- Expensive
- Difficult for do-it-yourselfers to install
Laminate Flooring
- Pros
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install for do-it-yourselfers
- Cons
- Water-damaged laminate flooring cannot be repaired
- Laminate flooring can collect static
When updating your new restroom floor, you need to seal the grout annually. Bacteria, mold, mildew and other pollutants absorbed into the floor are the primary cause of grout odor. Due to the fact that grout is porous and difficult to clean, bacteria can easily thrive. Mopping can actually worsen the situation, because it does not penetrate the surface to remove the impurities. Restroom malodors often emanate from cracks in the floor tiles. The odor does not come from the tiles themselves but rather from a buildup of urine droplets over time.
You want your new restroom floor to be durable and capable of handling the test of time, foot traffic, but also the capability to handle the constant presence of moisture. There are flooring materials that should not be allowed in a bathroom setting, such as carpet and hardwood. Stone floor tiles such as granite, marble, limestone, and slate are well suited for flooring. They’re beautiful, durable, and water/stain resistant. Polished stone tile can be slippery when wet, so choose stone that has a textured, skid-resistant surface. At A1 Carpet you will find rustic textures that provide good slip resistance.