The Best Bathroom Flooring Options

Choosing Bathroom Flooring

There are tons of bathroom flooring options, from bathroom tile to vinyl flooring. We consulted with Ezra Laniado, founder and president of Landmark Construction in Los Angeles, to help determine the most important things to consider when shopping for bathroom flooring. Here are the top six:

Durability

In busy bathrooms with a lot of foot traffic, the flooring needs to be tough and water-resistant. For a seldom-used guest bathroom or powder room, the floor doesn’t need to be as durable. But if you’re unlikely to re-do that bathroom often, it’s worth getting flooring that will hold up over time.

Waterproof or water-resistant?

In most cases, waterproof flooring is the best choice. But in bathrooms only used by adults, or small powder rooms where standing water isn’t likely, water-resistant flooring is a good option.

Maintenance

Some types of flooring, like textured stone, require more maintenance than something like luxury vinyl. Ask about maintenance when you shop for flooring.

Installation

You can save money with a DIY bathroom floor installation. But for a remodel, installing a bathroom floor usually requires removing and reinstalling a toilet and careful attention to waterproofing details. Make sure you’re up to the task before you tackle the job yourself.

Cost

If you’re on a budget and considering a professionally installed floor, ask the contractor for an estimate on a few options that meet your needs. Luxury vinyl is typically less expensive to install than tile or stone and looks great. Also ask about deals on closeouts or overstocked flooring.

Safety

Slippery bathroom floors are dangerous. For a safer floor, Laniado recommends “a textured porcelain tile over vinyl or laminate.” He adds glazed ceramic tile will likely be the most slippery option you can choose, so keep that in mind.