Authored by Donna Johnson in Bathrooms
Published on 10-05-2009
One of the most popular types of bathroom flooring over the years has been ceramic tile. When you remodel your bathroom, you may choose to use ceramic tile flooring again or to install ceramic tile flooring in place of whatever type of flooring your bathroom has before the remodel. But like all types of flooring, ceramic tile has pros and cons you should consider before you make your final bathroom flooring decision.
Ceramic tile flooring has many benefits. One of the biggest benefits of ceramic tile flooring in the bathroom is that you may be able to install it yourself, since the installation process is fairly simple and most bathrooms are small areas. This will save you a lot of money in labor costs. Ceramic tile is also very easy to clean and is resistant to germs and bacteria, which is a must in any bathroom. Ceramic tile is also extremely durable.
Ceramic tile is available in a wide variety of colors, designs, and textures. You can even custom design your own floor pattern by using solid colored tiles in a pattern that you find pleasing. You can draw such a pattern out on graph paper very easily.
There are some disadvantages to ceramic tile bathroom flooring, however. Some disadvantages of ceramic tile are easily overcome and others are not. The major disadvantage of ceramic tile that cannot be overcome is color variances between lots or runs. This color variance can be very slight, but it can also be quite noticeable. This means that you or your contractor will have to figure the amount of ceramic tile your job requires very carefully, and include enough extra for waste caused by cutting tiles to fit around fixtures, cabinets, and walls or to fit into your desired pattern’s layout. Very often, you cannot buy extra ceramic tile once the job has begun, as the original lot or run number may no longer be available. You must be sure to buy enough for the entire job at one time.
Other disadvantages of ceramic tile flooring in the bathroom are much easier to overcome. For example, ceramic tile is very cold and uncomfortable on bare feet. This problem can be remedied by installing a radiant heating system before laying the ceramic tile. These systems typically consist of pipes that warm water flows through. The water heats the tiles to a comfortable temperature. If a radiant heating system is out of your budget, you can put down skid-resistant bath mats instead. Bath mats can also remedy another disadvantage of ceramic tile, which is that they are often slippery. Ceramic tile designed for floors generally has a rougher surface than ceramic tile for walls does, but when water is splashed on the tiles they can become slippery nonetheless. Bath mats help by catching this water and by giving you a stable surface to stand on.
Despite some cons, ceramic tile flooring is generally a great choice for flooring in any bathroom. Consider your preferences and budget carefully before committing to having ceramic tile flooring installed, and you will end up with a floor that will last for years and add value and beauty to your home.
