The 3 Worst Possible Choices for Bathroom Floor Ideas

Feb 8, 2012 by Frank Scherer

If you take a moment to stop and think about it, your bathroom really is the only room in your house were you can expect that water is going to end up on floor in a significant amount at least once each day. So before you install any type of flooring product there you should know that some for sure work better than others in wet settings. Now there are three types of flooring products in particular that you’ll want to avoid when remodeling your bathroom and those are carpet, laminate, and hardwood flooring.

Don’t take this to mean that you absolutely cannot use any of them because that just isn’t the case, and in fact all three of the above listed products are commonly included in many homeowners bathroom floor ideas. It’s just that each one of them does carry with it at the very minimum certain maintenance requirements. Or in worst case scenarios water damage can have you ending up having to redo your floor all over again when you thought that you were through with it.

There’s Much Better Choices Than Carpet for Bathroom Floors

Of the three above listed flooring products the one that comes in at 1st place as the all time worst possible choice to make for bathroom floor ideas is carpet.

Now even though there are types being advertised today as being applicable in wet and damp conditions it eventually become a problem if it’s exposed to water on a regular basis.

“The presence of moisture in the pad will lead to the growth of decay fungi on the wood or oriented strand board (OSB) sub-floor. The sub-floor will be decayed and weakened by mold. Mold also releases spores that can cause respiratory ailments, especially for those with certain health problems.”

Being careful to avoid splashing water on it while you’re bathing and showering isn’t enough either enough because eventually the higher volume of ambient moisture in the air will eventually lead to mold problems and discoloration.

There are some definite positives that come with carpeting in a bathroom though and this is why in spite of all the downsides people do occasionally use it. In a colder climate for instance it is by far the most foot friendly. Particularly on a concrete slab floor carpeting is nice and warm. Carpet also look great and with so many color options it’s always an easy fit into any design and color scheme.

It’s also by far the fastest easiest of all possible bathroom floor ideas. Make your selection, sign off on the sales contract and within a day the installation process can be over and done with. This versus something like perhaps tile that can be a days long project that involves tearing out and replaceing baseboards and paint tough up. Even so, all it takes is one overflowing toilet to turn a carpet covered bathroom floor into a nightmare.

The Pros and Cons of Hardwood for Bathroom Flooring

Wood is yet another bad choice for bathroom floor ideas and once again it’s the moisture issues that make it the poor choice that it is.

Now most homeowners who weigh up the pros and cons of wood flooring tend to view the potential for water damage to its finish as the primary risk. While this may be true repairing a surface issue like this really isn’t a major task.

It’s the risk of bowing that’s a major downside of wood flooring in a wet environment.

“The inevitably humid environment in a bathroom as well as unavoidable spills and splashes have the power to warp wood flooring, rendering it unattractive and encouraging the growth of potentially destructive and dangerous molds. However, new finishes for hardwood flooring and creative designs are making wood floors in bathrooms a more viable option.”

Also again just as with carpeting, no matter how careful you are, most particularly if you have children or teens in your home direct water exposure is inevitable.

Then there’s also the risk of an occasional backed up toilet as well that can over time lead to more substantial damage issues. Even so, you no doubt have already seen hardwood being used on a bathroom floor, so there has to be some benefits that way in its favor.

The first big “pro” in its favor is looks and appearances. Hardwood flooring just looks good and there can be no arguing that fact. It’s also an easy match with hardwood cabinets and other natural materials like slate, stone, and granite form instance. Hardwood is also included in so many bathroom floor ideas because it’s light, so it doesn’t require the level of structural support in a wood framed floor that heavier products like stone and tile do.

Laminates For bathroom Flooring Aren’t a Great Idea

Then finally #3 on the bad choices for bathroom floor Ideas list is wood laminate products, and there’s a lot of them out there now.

Now if you’ve already been checking them out you may have already noticed that most all of them list on their informational literature that they’re resistant to water – and they are.

For sure more resistant to water damage than standard hardwood. However, the operative word here is “resistant”.

“Moisture has long bedeviled the laminate flooring industry, and has been one of the major reasons why many homeowners choose not to install laminate in wet places. The problem is not with the top layer, but rather with the core.”

Resistant means just that. That they resist water damage and that should in no way be construed to mean that they’re “waterproof” because they’re not. If given enough exposure to water, over enough time eventually even the best and most water resistant wood laminate flooring products will develop problems. Surface finish issues at the minimum but laminates can come apart in worst-case scenarios.

Once again though, just like hardwood wood laminate products look great on a bathroom floor and there’s a whole lot to choose from now too. Then another big selling point is the growing  selection of easy install systems for do-it-yourselfers that require no nails or glue. “Floating floor” systems that are easy to cut and fit, click together in a tongue and groove fashion then lay down just as they are over a thin film mat.

The Bottom Line on Materials for Bathroom Floor Ideas

When it comes to bathroom floor ideas today there are just so many options in quality materials that are meant to be used in damp environments. Ceramic tile and polished stone for instance are an excellent choice but even they have their share of drawbacks as well, such as cost and weight. Vinyl however, trumps them all and comes in at #1 on the list of best products for bathroom floor ideas because it’s light, goes down quickly, is among the most affordable, requires no maintenance, and it is completely, 100% waterproof.