From a luxurious master suite to a guest bathroom, the flooring you choose for the bathrooms in your home is crucial in terms of aesthetics and functionality. In order to ensure that you’re getting the best use from your bathroom flooring, it’s important to install products that can handle constant exposure to moisture and water. Each material you explore should be considered in terms of your budget, your style preferences, ease of maintenance, and of course, the way it looks. From stunning porcelain tile to stone and ceramic, read on for a list of five recommendations for waterproof bathroom flooring you can enjoy in your home.

CERAMIC OR PORCELAIN TILE

The most popular choice for bathrooms is tile. Specifically, ceramic and porcelain tiles are great options for bathrooms. Tile flooring is resilient, waterproof, available in a variety of colors and designs, and generally less expensive than other hard surface options. Porcelain tiles specifically absorb less water than any other ceramic product. Ceramic and porcelain can handle even pools and puddles of standing water, which makes them great options for shower tile. 

Tile does have some features that are often perceived as “cons” by some buyers. Tile is a hard surface, so it’s often called “hard” or “cold” or even “sterile”.  While it’s true that standing for extended periods of time on tile can be uncomfortable, that is true for any hard surface, and temperature of the floor can be addressed as porcelain and ceramic both works well with radiant flooring systems. As for sterile, that’s great! Tile doesn’t absorb water and germs and cleans easily, which makes it a great option for sterile environments. 

NATURAL STONE TILE

Another great bathroom flooring option is natural stone. There are a wide variety of natural stone options from granite to marble and even limestone. Natural stone tile offers many of the same positives of ceramic and porcelain tile. Resilience to wear, waterproof, variety of naturally-occurring colors and patterns, stone is offered in tiles, planks, even mosaics backed with mesh to hold the smaller tiles together. 

There are a few things to consider when looking at stone as an option for bathroom flooring, however. Stone can be difficult to install for the do-it-yourselfer. Be aware of this if you attempt this project on your own. Stone can be slippery like tile, but grout patterns and finishes applied after to “rough” the surface can minimize this. It can also require more regular maintenance than other options, as some stone products require periodic applications of sealant to maintain the stone finish and prevent penetration of dirt and debris, or absorption of moisture.

STAINED CONCRETE

Of course, if you’re in an area or building where you have a concrete foundation or subfloor, you can always stain and finish the concrete floors. Be aware, however, concrete is not waterproof unless it has been properly finished and sealed. This is not really a do-it-yourself type project as it generally involves acid etching the concrete in order to prepare it for staining and typically extensive filling, patching and grinding. But stained concrete is an inexpensive and beautiful option for flooring, offering a variety of color finishes, each unique to the concrete, so no one else will have the same floor as you. However, they can be slippery when wet like tile and require a non-slip additive, and many prospective homebuyers will find them cold or a bit too risky, so factor this in if you are remodeling to sell. Your partners at The Good Guys can help guide you to this choice too!

HAVE FUN WITH IT!

One other thing to consider when looking at bathroom flooring is size. They say size isn’t everything, but if you have a small bathroom, it’s a great opportunity to stretch your flooring wings and dollar. A small bathroom lets you experiment with pattern tile, which can really make the space look bigger, and you can get a more expensive tile, as you won’t require as much material as you would in a larger bathroom. Go bold, and don’t be afraid to try something different or unusual for your particular tastes.

Finding the right bathroom flooring doesn’t need to be a chore or feel limiting. As you can see, there are many more options now than you may have had in years.