Changing your bathroom flooring is something most home do-it-yourselfers can accomplish easily. Your choices are many, but you should consider your circumstances; for instance, is the bathroom the main or only bathroom, or is it a powder downstairs that gets used primarily by visitors? Why should that matter? If you have wood flooring downstairs, and you have a half bath off the foyer or hall you might consider using the same hardwood in the bath as it will not be exposed water damage from a bathtub or shower. Because of the potential for water damage, hardwood or laminate flooring is not recommended for full bathrooms.
Natural stone, porcelain or ceramic tile are all good choices for most bathrooms. Natural stone can be tumbled, honed or polished; these particular surfaces have varying degrees of slipperiness with polished being the most slippery; either honed or tumbled would be safer. Natural stone usually has a great deal of variation in its coloring; you should consider the overall pattern and not expect it to be uniform.
When choosing a beautiful stone floor with a high degree of variation or character, think of your cabinets; if they have a busy pattern like oak or wild hickory, you might want to think of a more “quiet” pattern for your floor so they don’t compete. If you cabinets are painted, a busier stone pattern can add drama. This standard holds true for any flooring: the busier the floor, the less busy you will want your cabinets and walls.
Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are man-made, and many mimic natural stone quite well. There will be degrees of color and pattern to maintain that “look” of natural stone. Most manufacturers state on the box a high, moderate or low degree of variation. Again, try to see large sections of tile for the overall effect.
Vinyl floors are still popular and come in all types of designs. You will find vinyl floors that look like stone, tile and wood; some will have fanciful designs to meet your decor.
All these floors can be laid by do-it-yourselfers, but know your skill level and patience; call your local contractors if any project is out of your reach.
