Whether you’re building a new home in the Rochester area or remodeling your existing home, what’s under your feet in your bathroom is a big deal. The good news is that you have a lot of choices. The bad news is that you have a lot of choices. How do you choose the flooring that’s right for your home?
Of course you want to pay attention to style—to how things look. The material you choose for your floor really sets the tone for the whole room. And there are a lot of really attractive options available. But as you make your selection (particularly if you’re deciding on flooring for your master bathroom) you’ll want to consider more than appearance.Three of the main things that should influence your choice are: comfort, safety and durability.
With those things in mind, let’s take a look at some of your options.
Wood: If you’re after a warm, natural look, a hardwood floor can really deliver. You’ll be able to choose between a wide variety of shades and patterns (oak, maple, cherry and bamboo are just a few). Even wood that has been treated, however, is susceptible to water damage. So wood may be a great choice for a guest bath or powder room—but may not be the best selection for a master bath. Plus, the danger of slipping on a wet wood floor may make it less than desirable.
Ceramic Tile: Glazed ceramic tiles give you lots of color choices. And you can use different sized and colored tiles to create subtle (or not-so-subtle!) patterns in your floor. You’ll want to stay away from tiles that haven’t been glazed (because of the presence of water). Tile tends to be cold, so installing heated tiles (with heating wires below the tile) may be something to consider for those cold Rochester winters. Also, ceramic tiles can be very slippery. So make sure you have rugs with rubber backing near tubs and sinks.
Stone: Whether you choose marble,granite, slate, limestone or sandstone you’ll end up with a gorgeous floor. The naturally occurring patterns are simply beautiful. Like ceramic tile, however, stone floors tend to be cold in the winter, so installing a heating element below is advisable. For safety, it’s probably a good idea to go with stone that has been honed (rather than polished) because it’s a bit more slip resistant.
Translucent Glass Tile: Glass tile flooring is becoming increasingly popular because of the wide range of color and design options this material offers. It can look stunning against white bathroom fixtures with clean, simple lines. Like some of the other surfaces we’ve mentioned, glass tile can be slick, so you’ll want to compensate with throw rugs.
Recycled Wood: It’s become increasingly popular to use wooden planks—rescued from demolished buildings—as bathroom flooring. These “old wood” materials have a unique, antique look to them and add a lot of character to a floor. In addition to the look, some homeowners simply like the idea of recycling/repurposing existing building materials. You’ll want to make sure the wood is properly treated to protect it against moisture.
Whatever material you choose, however, you’ll want to think through the comfort level, the durability, and the safety. And don’t forget about the ease of cleaning and maintenance. If you have an idea of what you might like to try, give us a call or shoot us a note and we’ll help you think through the pros and cons so you can make the decision that’s right for you.
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