So, you’re considering new tiles for your bathroom floors? Tiling is the most common flooring option for bathrooms because they resist moisture and appear beautiful as well. There are different types of bathroom floor tiles you can use for your bathroom remodeling project. Let’s know more about some of them.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are made of clay and are one of the most common tiling materials. Many people prefer ceramic tiles due to their low cost. They are also easy to install because they are lightweight and easy to cut.

For bathroom walls, ceramic tiles are a cost-effective and excellent option. However, their use is not limited to walls only and they can be employed for flooring as well. You should check the specifications of the ceramic tiles to determine if they are suitable for flooring because not all of them are rated for installation as flooring.

The styles and designs of ceramic tiles are countless. There are ceramic tiles of almost every color, pattern, and design you can think of. This is a big statement but correct for ceramic and porcelain tiles (a similar tiling material that is also made of clay).

Ceramic tiles are cold to barefoot so if you don’t want your feet to feel this way, you should consider vinyl tiles or underfloor heating for ceramic tiles. However, if you go the underfloor heating route, choose porcelain tiles instead of ceramic because they are more durable.

Speaking of durability, ceramic tiles don’t fare well with even slight impacts and crack easily. So, they should not be installed outdoors, but they are still a good option for bathroom flooring.

Porcelain Tiles

We discussed a bit about porcelain tiles above. They are also made of clay but the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is that porcelain tiles are produced with more refined clay and kept at higher temperatures than ceramic tiles.

This gives porcelain tiles more strength and durability. They are also denser than ceramic tiles making them harder to chip or crack.

On top of that, porcelain tiles are more water-resistant than ceramic tiles. While ceramic tiles have a 4% water absorption rate on average, porcelain tiles have a 0.5% water absorption rate of their mass.

The design, pattern, and color choices of porcelain tiles are as much as ceramic tiles – huge. You will find many colors and designs you would want in your bathroom.

On the downside, porcelain tiles also feel cold to the feet similar to ceramic tiles. They are heavy so the installation can be more difficult than that of ceramic or vinyl tiles. Moreover, it’s also slippery when wet so it’s better to place a rug on the flooring.

The cost of porcelain tiles is comparatively low and is slightly higher than ceramic and vinyl tiles and lower than mosaic, glass, pebbles, and stone tiles. It costs almost the same as travertine tiles.

Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl is probably the cheapest tiling option available for bathroom flooring. It’s a popular flooring material all around as it’s available in sheets, tiles, and planks. Whichever type of vinyl flooring is, it’s made from plastic, fiberglass, and PVC.

Considering its low cost, vinyl flooring has many benefits. For one, it’s water-resistant and allows you to install it anywhere moist without worrying about the moisture damaging the flooring. For bathrooms, look for vinyl tiles that are 100% waterproof.

Having porcelain tiles, stone, or wood flooring has many advantages, but they all feel hard to feet. Vinyl, on the hand, feels soft and padded when you walk on it. This makes it more comfortable to walk on. Plus, the multiple layers that are utilized to form vinyl flooring give them a better insulation capacity. So, you won’t feel the flooring too cold or too hot whether it’s winter or summer. Due to the same reason, vinyl tiles allow for better noise absorption as well.

On top of that, vinyl tiles are also one of the easiest-to-install materials. Cutting and laying it on the floors is a breeze compared to other flooring options.

But vinyl has some disadvantages as well. It can be punctured or damaged easily. You will notice scratches on the surface to be very common due to which the flooring may appear ugly. Also, when the vinyl surface becomes damaged, you can’t refinish it like wood flooring. It’s similar to laminate in that you can only replace the damaged parts or the entire floor.

And as vinyl flooring is cheap, it doesn’t add resale value to your house. If you go with vinyl flooring for the entire house, it can even negatively impact the resale value. Moreover, it also emits VOCs that are harmful to the health.

Linoleum Tiles

It’s also a cheaper flooring material that’s cost is almost on the same level as ceramic tiles. Linoleum flooring is made by mixing natural materials like linseed oil, cork powders, jute, and some other materials.

Linoleum tiles have this advantage over vinyl in that the design is embedded into the entire thickness of the tile whereas in vinyl, the design is on the upper layers of the tiles or planks only.

In spite of its low cost, linoleum flooring can be expected to last for 20-40 years, but keep in mind that the surface will appear old with time and in the last 5-10 years, it may not look appealing. However, the longer lifespan of linoleum makes it more long-lasting than vinyl tile flooring which lasts for 10-20 years only. But vinyl is a bit cheaper.

From the health aspect, linoleum is better than many synthetic floorings like vinyl because it doesn’t emit harmful VOCs. This is due to the use of natural materials in the production of the material.

However, similar to vinyl, linoleum floors are also susceptible to scratches and wear. If you drag anything on the floor or use any sharp object, it can even be torn. Some linoleum tiles can be damaged by moisture so make sure to purchase linoleum tiles that are water-resistant. Plus, you may need to have it installed professionally, but the cost of installation for linoleum tiles is lower than many other types of flooring.

Stone Tiles

Stone tiles are usually some of the most expensive bathroom flooring options, but as there are many types and qualities of natural stone, you will find a stone tiling option that fits your budget.

You can choose from marble, granite, slate, limestone, and many other natural stones that provide the best aesthetics to your bathroom and make it appear luxurious. Vinyl, ceramic, and porcelain tiles have many patterns that look like natural stone, but they don’t appear as good as the real deal. So, if you have the budget and want the best appearance, natural stone tiles should be your choice. Moreover, they also have the highest lifespan among bathroom floorings because stone tiles can last for a century.

But if you want natural stone tiles, be ready for high-maintenance flooring. Other materials on the list don’t require much maintenance other than cleaning whereas stone tiles need yearly sealing as well.

Conclusion

Water resistance, stain resistance, and durability should be major factors when selecting tiles for your bathroom floors. Talk with your bathroom remodeling contractor Bowie as well to learn more about these bathroom tiling options and choose the right one for your needs.