Jezz Ellena
Bathroom Floor Ideas Vinyl – If you’re considering luxury vinyl tiles or planks for your bathroom floor, there are a few things to keep in mind before you buy. In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing and installing LVT for bathroom applications.
Four years ago, while remodeling my old 1980s bathroom, I installed click-and-lock luxury vinyl tile directly over ugly ceramic tile.
Bathroom Floor Ideas Vinyl
At the time, such an unorthodox approach (which didn’t even break the existing basement) seemed too risky to install such a new technology, and looking back over the years I’m proud to say it was a risk.
Altro Black Sparkly Bathroom Safety Flooring / Glitter Flooring Wetroom Vinyl
Not only does a new LVT floor dramatically transform an old space, but the technology is proven to be waterproof and durable in high-traffic areas.
Even better, with the click-and-lock functionality that lends this product to beginner/intermediate DIYers, my husband and I saved a significant portion of our remodeling budget by not having to hire a professional floor installer. Not only that, but we also saved time and effort by not having to rip out the old tiles, which is bad $$.
By sharing all the knowledge I gained during the initial research, purchase, and installation process, I hope this guide will help you decide if LVT is the best choice for these unique needs.
One of the main reasons to choose luxury vinyl over traditional stone or ceramic tile (besides the above budget) is that most (but not all) click-and-lock options are completely thankless.
Not Your Father’s Vinyl Floor
As far as I’m concerned, the belly (at least the pale skin) is just waiting for a noticeable event.
I think 12×24 and 12×12 tile grid lines are not only too busy for my minimalist aesthetic, but as a mom and pet owner, clutter has proven to be a pain in the a$$. I’ve been through all of my previous experiences (I need one more brew to clear my to-do list).
After deciding whether or not I wanted to mess around, I was led to many thankless options, including vinyl, hardwood and laminate flooring. But since hardwood and laminate aren’t completely waterproof, vinyl is the safest option for my bathroom, which comes in contact with many bathtubs, showers, toilets, and sinks.
While most vinyl flooring is marketed as waterproof, I decided that luxury vinyl tile flooring was the best option because I felt it would be more upscale in my primary suite.
Best Flooring For Bathrooms For Your Next Upgrade
But… while all vinyl is waterproof, for bathroom applications, make sure that if you’re sticking with any type of LVT or LVP, the subfloor itself is suitable for wet, humid environments.
Since I wanted to install my luxury vinyl tile directly over the existing tile floor, I had to choose different layers of vinyl with thick coats so the old grout wouldn’t show through the new floor.
Note: I recommend going with a tile thickness of at least 7.5 to 8mm to avoid a telephoto effect.
For your shopping convenience, this post has affiliate links and as an Amazon affiliate, I get paid to sell your products for free.
Bathroom Flooring Options
To be totally smart, I decided to go with this tile from Mannington designed with Microban technology.
Bottom line: Before purchasing LVT for your bathroom, I recommend checking the product’s label to see if it has “antimicrobials.” After all, you don’t want mold or mildew growing on your bathroom floors in damp and steamy conditions!
While I have a detailed, step-by-step guide to installing luxury vinyl tile in this separate post, I wanted to share a few helpful tips to consider when installing a bathroom.
For cutting the LVT for the vent and bathroom, my husband found a fine-tooth blade to work best for the flexible core product we were using.
Healthy Design For Bathroom Series 4/4: Flooring — Beautiful Healthy Home
Since you will need to remove the toilet before installing your new floor, you should be somewhat familiar with basic plumbing. Fear not, this easy guide on how to flush a toilet should be all you need
To properly cut the toilet pipe, my husband used some painter’s tape we had lying around.
Align the tile or board with the bathroom and mark the width with tape as shown below. Then align the tile and mark the depth of the bathroom
The tape will form the coils and will be the place to cut the holes for the square flanges that are formed.
Choosing Vinyl For Your Bathroom
Good to know: If you reinstall your toilet on a new floor, it will now be further away from the drain. Because of this, the wax seal (even thicker) may not seal as tightly.
Where the LVT meets the shower and/or tub base, you want to make the cut as accurate as possible! The clearer the cut, the less is required to ensure that water dripping from the shower does not get under the LVT.
If the exposed joint fits the core, remove the exposed edge with a utility knife. This does not guarantee overeating
LVT and LVP have many positives (waterproof, budget-friendly, low maintenance, durable, easier to maintain, and easier to install to name a few), but this flooring option may not be for everyone.
Bathroom Flooring Ideas: The Best Materials And Finishes
If you’re the type of person who likes the feel and touch of real stone or ceramic tile, LVT will entice you. Sure… it looks real, but it’s definitely not underfoot
Subfloors are more comfortable to stand on, warmer to the touch, and definitely feel different when you walk on them compared to other hard surfaces like tile or stone.
However, I would like to add that although these flooring materials may not look as attractive as traditional options, LVT is becoming increasingly popular as a design choice.
When it came time to sell our beloved fixer-upper, the remodeled bath was a valuable feature and our resale value was impressive (even though we had LVT and LVP floors in our kitchen, laundry room, and bath).
Luxury Vinyl Tile That Defies Every Idea About Vinyl
That said, I don’t think the “feel” of the floor is what kept us as buyers, but if you’re a stickler for tactics, you might want to head to the showroom and try these things out for yourself.
Now that I’ve covered the basics of luxury vinyl flooring in the bathroom, I thought I’d break down some LVT and LVP deals for you below.
If you want to add to the look of my bathroom, the floor I used has a “j” under it…
Considering my experience with luxury vinyl tile (I’ve installed it in almost every relevant room in my previous home renovation), it’s safe to say that this new advancement in technology is truly a game changer, especially for weekend warriors like my husband. I am
Flooring Options For Kitchens And Bathrooms
To read more articles about LVT flooring, check out the links below to my other blog posts:
Thanks so much for stopping by this week! If you found this post useful, it would mean a lot to me if you shared it with a friend or on social media.
My interior design and home improvement journey began with my first fix-up home makeover while managing a budget and raising two young children. Reflecting my passion for creating beautiful, uplifting spaces, my work has been recognized by leading publications such as Good Home and Garden magazine and HGTV. I invite you to check out my website and witness the transformation of my home and the vibe we’ve created.
Hello Kim! Unfortunately, the tile I use in my bathroom is currently out of stock and I bought it on the way. With luxury vinyl flooring, you’re in luck because it’s 100% waterproof! Water is not an issue with vinyl flooring, whether you’re thinking about splash-, leak-, and moisture-resistant laminate, engineered hardwood, or real hardwood. But its moisture resistance isn’t the only reason this cheap and stylish option is a good idea for the bathroom.
Flooring Inspiration For Your Bathroom
Luxury vinyl tile is easy and quick to install, plus it doesn’t require messy grout or grout like ceramic or porcelain tile. Wood-look vinyl plank flooring is easier to cut and maneuver in those tight spaces of the bathroom.
Another advantage of a bathroom is that it doesn’t have to be vinyl flooring
Bathroom floor vinyl sheet, bathroom vinyl floor tiles, vinyl for bathroom floor, vinyl planks bathroom floor, bathroom floor covering vinyl, vinyl floor cloth bathroom, bathroom floor vinyl roll, bathroom floor vinyl waterproof, bathroom vinyl floor, vinyl plank bathroom floor, vinyl wood floor bathroom, vinyl floor bathroom installation