Bathroom flooring is one of the areas that call for a lot of research. Bathroom flooring is prone to moisture damage, which leads to dampness and mold. They are limited suitable materials for the bathroom. Many luxury floorings are unsuitable for a humid environment.
Vinyl flooring has become very popular due to its great value. Vinyl is available in a range of colors, style, and design that correlates any decor. Stone and ceramic tile are extremely slippery which is a major drawback. Vinyl options today have advanced in grades in the form of sheets and tiles.
What is vinyl flooring?
Vinyl is a synthetic product like linoleum. Its water and stain-resistant. It’s also durable and versatile for such an investment. It has desirable characteristics that make it very popular.
There are two types of Vinyl Flooring:
- Sheet Flooring– available in 6 or 12 ft wide. Easier to install and has better water resistance.
- Tile Flooring– Available in 9″ X 9″ or 12″ X 12″. Most preferred by homeowners and replicates ceramic tiles at a more affordable price. The vinyl tiles are more desirable in high traffic areas or commercial buildings
However, consider below advantages and disadvantages when deciding on resilient vinyl flooring.
Pros of Vinyl Flooring in Bathroom
Inexpensive
Vinyl Flooring is waterproof and stains resistance. Its price is inexpensive for relative to its quality and value.
Beautiful Appearance
Vinyl comes with a variety of almost realistic wood and stone looks and texture. The look and texture are incredibly consistent, convincing and extremely beautiful.
Technology advancement has produced vinyl with improved color, clarity, texture, and patterns. The appearance has a realistic look and feel of stone, ceramic or wood with minimal cost. It’s hard to beat these winning innovations!
Water and Stain Resistant
Vinyl is 100 % waterproof, which makes it awesome for your bathroom. They are also stained resistant, cleaning your bathroom hence requires little or no scrubbing.
Durable with low Maintenance Cost
Vinyl planks and tiles are easy to maintain. They are water and stain resistance. Vinyl is durable when installed in the bathroom since they are fully waterproof. Just to add more protective layers choose a thick layer to help prevent scratches and scrapes.
Easy to install
Vinyl flooring planks and tiles offer easy interlocking that makes it possible for the homeowner to do it on their own. This may help to reduce flooring installation costs for your bathroom.
Resilient and Comfortable underfoot
Vinyl flooring is more resilient, you can get wood or stone-like tile. It’s extremely hard but still, have a comfortable feel on your feet. It’s more comfortable to stand for longer than concrete.
Quiet Underfoot
Vinyl is known for being quiet underfoot.
Value addition
Vinyl flooring can add value to your house. If you are considering raising your house value, vinyl is right for you.
Good Insulator
Vinyl is a good insulator than tiles giving you a slightly warm feel on your feet than ceramic tiles.
Cons of Vinyl Flooring in Bathroom
Toxic
PVC in a newly installed vinyl flooring emits VOCs (Volatile organic compounds). It may also give off a slight odor. In case of fire, it gives off poisonous gas.
Difficult to repair
Low-quality planks scratch and dents easily. This makes it hard to replace them without destroying. you got to go for the high-quality vinyl planks and tiles.
Not Eco-Friendly
Some products are certified for indoor air quality (in the US) while others are not. Vinyl is known to produce toxic gases. Vinyl flooring is not biodegradable and rarely recycled hence may bring an ecological waste problem
Subfloor Damage
Few subfloor imperfections may affect your vinyl flooring. Ensure your subfloor is free of dirt and particles that can cause lumps to appear. These lumps may cause damage over time
Easily damaged by sharp objects
Vinyl flooring may be destroyed by sharp objects. It can be extremely hard to repair such damages.
Susceptible to chemical stains
Vinyl flooring can be permanently damaged and discolored by strong chemicals. Even if they are stain resistance, they are not good for outdoor use since they fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV rays.
Things to Consider?
Before deciding, installing and purchasing flooring materials you need to answer the following questions: Is it water-resistant? Is it durable in a moist environment? Is it slippery to stand on it? is it slippery for kids to stand up? Does it suit your home or house style and design?
