Never Settle for a Home You Don't Love

If you're remodeling your bathroom, you might find yourself stuck on choosing what type of flooring might be best suited for your remodel. There are plenty of things you need to take into consideration when choosing the right flooring for your bathroom, and there are many different options to choose from depending on what you are looking for in a bathroom floor. Not every flooring choice is right for every bathroom, but knowing your options can help you decide what flooring option is best for your home's bathroom.

Natural Stone 

Many natural stone options, such as travertine, are resilient and water and stain resistant. A wide array of stone types and finishes are available, from matte finishes to polished surface finishes, and it's extremely versatile. On top of that, it looks great and ages very well. Another pro to natural stone is that it's very easy to clean.

Natural stone is an expensive investment-- it tends to be heavy and is labor-intensive to install. However, it is incredibly durable, stands up to moisture, and is easy to maintain. All these things make it an excellent choice in the long run. 

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tile flooring has a lot of great qualities—it's water resistant and relatively inexpensive, and the options are endless when it comes to design. Ceramics are low maintenance and can be difficult to scratch, crack, and chip, meaning it can last forever if maintained and installed properly. 

If you feel like ceramic tiles would be a bit too cold underfoot for your liking, you have the option of installing heated ceramic tiles in your bathroom. Heating elements can be installed underneath the ceramic floor that can be turned on and off with the flip of a switch, giving your floor a warm, pleasant feeling.

Hardwood Flooring

The most appealing thing about hardwood flooring in a bathroom is that it can seamlessly flow with the rest of your home, if the rest of your home has hardwood flooring, and will also feel warm under foot. It's easy to clean and improves with age, but can also be sanded and refinished over time if it is damaged.

Keep in mind, however, that hardwood flooring may not be ideal for some households. If you have children, tend to be careless with where you drip, or are a fan of long, steamy showers or baths, natural hardwood might not be the best option. Frequently splashing water onto the floor not only exposes the wood to moisture, it also makes it more slippery and dangerous.

Since the bathroom is likely the most humid room in your home, cracks and warping in the floor could occur from the water damage and moisture. If your heart is set on hardwood in your bathroom, and you know that you will be exposing your bathroom floor to larger-than-average amounts of water and humidity, it is best to go with a faux hardwood or engineered hardwood that can stand up to moisture better than natural hardwood.

Engineered hardwood has the advantages of having a solid plywood base that is resilient against moisture, with a beautiful, natural thin layer of real hardwood on top. 

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is cheap and easy to clean, making it an appealing option for many homeowners. The fact that the seams are usually glued in means that it's harder for water to get into the cracks between the floorboards.

However, laminate is not without its disadvantages. It has a wood-chip base that will expand and bubble upon contact with moisture. The only way to fix the blistering and warping is to tear it out. If you know that you tend to be a bit careless with water in the bathroom, you might want to avoid laminate flooring. 

For more information about your options, contact a local bathroom remodeling company.