Bathroom Flooring

Flooring Material -

About 90% of all bathroom flooring is ceramic tile. It's the traditional floor because it's waterproof and fairly easy to clean. Tiles are available in so many colors, patterns, sizes and styles that you could shop for weeks before selecting that perfect tile.

But some people don't like tile. Maybe they feel tiles are too common, or too hard on your joints. There are other options for these mavericks. Laminated floors, hardwoods, and engineered floors are all viable options for bathroom flooring.

Having said that, I have to add that the bathroom is not the best place for hardwood flooring. You would have to coat it with varnish periodically to keep the moisture from expanding the wood. Who needs the extra work?

But if you want the look of wood, laminates and engineered floors are both good choices. Besides the look, the other difference from ceramic tiles is that these products have a little give when walked upon. Therefore, they are much easier on your feet and joints.

Radiant Flooring -

All 3 of these bathroom flooring options can be used with radiant heat. This method of heating bathrooms (and kitchens as well) has become very popular. Sales of these systems jumped 40% in the 1990s and another 20% since 2000.

Radiant floors give more comfort, and use less energy, than the more traditional heating methods. They are clean, quiet, and efficient.

There are two types of radiant heating systems - electric and hydronic (running hot water through pipes). Very small tubing gets laid out below a new floor in a uniform pattern. With an electric system, wiring is connected to a separate circuit in your breaker panel. That way you can turn it off if you are going away for a while.

With the hydronic system, a pump circulates hot water through the tubing in the floor. The water temperature can be as low as 105 degrees F, whereas a baseboard heater typically requires 160 degrees F. Operating costs can be 20% to 40% lower than forced air systems.

Your comfort is determined by two forms of heat working simultaneously. Air temperature combines with the temperature of the surrounding surfaces. So if the floor is warm, the air temperature can be lower than 70 degrees F and you can still be comfortable.

Another advantage of radiant bathroom flooring is versatility. With zoning, you can install separate thermostats in every room that has radiant heat. Further, you could easily add a towel warmer to the system.

Hydronics will cost more than electric initially, but the operating costs will be much less. Which ever system you choose, it's not something for do-it-yourselfers. It's pretty technical and the settings can vary depending on the installation.

This doesn't work with carpet, and could cause wood to expand, but I think it's a great way to heat a room that has the flooring material mentioned above. Check out the alternative prices. You might be pleasantly surprised.

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