Bathroom Flooring Options Come Down to Slip Resistance, Water Tolerance and Care

Bathroom flooring options differ in slip resistance, how long they tolerate water and how they are cared for, so choose for the wet zones first and ask each supplier for the slip rating and care steps in writing. This is general information and not design advice, and Good Haus is a free matching service and not a contractor.

Why does slip resistance come first?

The National Kitchen and Bath Association says slip-resistant surfaces should be specified for the general bath flooring, shower floors, and tub/ shower bottoms, and that state or local codes may apply. The U.S. Access Board says its standards do not specify a minimum level of slip resistance (coefficient of friction), and that some flooring products are labeled with a slip resistance rating based on a laboratory test procedure. The Access Board standards cover accessibility rather than private homes, so ask each supplier for the slip rating of the exact product and the test it came from.

Which hard surfaces suit a wet bathroom?

The Access Board says hardened materials such as concrete, asphalt, tile, and wood are sufficiently firm and stable for accessibility. That statement is about firmness, not water, so ask the supplier how each hard surface handles standing water, how it is sealed or grouted and what that upkeep involves.

Where does laminate fit?

Oklahoma State University Extension says laminate flooring can be installed in kitchens, bathrooms and other places with high relative humidity, but it will not tolerate direct contact of water for long periods of time similar to other wood based floorings. Picture a small bathroom with a shower that splashes the floor: ask whether laminate suits the area outside the splash zone and what a supplier would use inside it.

Where do vinyl and porcelain tile fit?

The Resilient Floor Covering Institute says luxury vinyl tile is a flexible resilient flooring made in either tiles or planks, and that sheet vinyl is typically offered in 6 foot and 12 foot widths for residential and commercial spaces. The Tile Council of North America says porcelain tiles are dense and, by definition, have water absorption of 0.5 percent or less, and that a tile carrying the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency mark has been certified as true porcelain. It says glazed porcelain is usually a little easier to clean, while unglazed porcelain may have better slip resistance. Ask each supplier where the seams of a vinyl floor or the grout joints of a tile floor would fall in the wet zones, and which exact product its slip rating belongs to.

How do you care for the floor and keep it dry?

Oklahoma State says spraying a light mist of soapy water to wipe the flooring is an ideal way for cleaning laminate, and that no sanding or refinishing can be applied to laminated flooring, and any heavily damaged pieces should be replaced. The University of Georgia Extension says overflow from tubs, toilets, or sinks needs to be cleaned up and dried out quickly, and to install and use exhaust fans vented to the outdoors when cooking and bathing. Ask each supplier for the care steps for the exact product and ask what to do after an overflow.

What should you ask before you request quotes?

1. Ask for the slip rating and the test it came from.
2. Ask how each surface handles standing water.
3. Ask which areas suit laminate and which do not.
4. Ask for the care steps in writing.
5. Ask how an overflow should be dried.

Put the Wet Zones and Slip Rating in Every Quote Request

Give every contractor the same wet zones and slip rating questions when you request bathroom remodeling quotes, so each bid prices the same bathroom floor.