Bathroom Flooring, Heating & Tiling
Porcelain or Ceramic Tiles
Advantages
- There are so many different types of ceramic tiles and you can create the exact floor you want. You will find ceramic tiles that look like wood or stone and there is a vast variety of size and shapes, from square and rectangular to octagonal and hexagonal.
- Smaller mosaic tiles are pre-mounted on plastic mesh sheets, so you do not have to individually set each tile and if you wish to be even more creative you can use tinted grout.
- A great advantage is that they clean up well and will resist standing pools of water.
Disadvantages
- Like stone, tiles are cold however you can opt for underfloor heating also.
- Wet tile is slippery. But texturing solves that problem. Smaller tiles are less slippery because more grout is used and the grout acts as a non-skid surface.
Vinyl Sheet, Plank or Tile
Advantages
- Most vinyl flooring can be a very much a do-it-yourself job and with thousands of style options available it is still popular.
Disadvantages
- Vinyl flooring is only as good as its seams and a poorly laid floor will give a detrimental look to the overall completed bathroom project.
- Sheet vinyl is generally a difficult task for the DIY enthusiast to install.
Natural Stone
Advantages
- Natural stone is hard, durable, and aesthetically pleasing.
Disadvantages
- Stone flooring can be cold and slippery. Coldness can be solved by installing radiant heating. The slip factor can be mitigated by having the stone textured with sandblasting or by purchasing naturally textured stone, such as slate.
- One issue that tends to pull down bathroom flooring option down is high cost. Real stone flooring is by far your most expensive flooring option.
Laminate Flooring
Advantages
- Laminate can work in bathrooms if you take precautions to protect the wood base from moisture. With the tight seams between the planks, it is difficult for moisture to work its way downward.
- Laminate is easy to clean however it still has a wood chip base therefore should it happen to have contact with moisture, it will expand and bubble, and the only way to fix it is to tear it out.
Disadvantages
- Fully waterproof laminate flooring has not yet come onto the market even though several manufacturers have tried (and not completely succeeded)
Engineered Wood
Advantages
- Engineered wood has a plywood base that holds up well against moisture and looks authentically like wood because the top layer is real wood.
If you choice is natural wood in a bathroom then engineered wood would be your best choice.
Disadvantages
- Any type of wood product no matter how well protected is prone to damage in bathrooms.
To speak to Stewart about your design ideas call 01622 616065 to book a free no obligation design consultation.
Heated Towel Rails & Radiators
Most radiators are part of a whole bathroom refit therefore you will need to consider the look and impression you want to create within your new bathroom, not forgetting that the size of your heated radiator should reflect the size of your bathroom. You will also need to consider how many people use the bathroom and how many towels you will want to keep dry and warm.
More on Bathroom Heating
For traditional bathrooms a towel rail with a heritage touch will add a touch of beauty as well as being practical.
White finishes always look great in any style and are timeless, so you can be confident your heated towel rail will stay looking good in the future.
For something a little different there are many customers who are breaking from traditional white or chrome towel rails and choosing coloured towel rails, which look beautiful and are available in many designer-colours.
Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is a modern high-spec feature which allows you to enjoy the benefits of a warm floors especially during cold winter mornings. It is an efficient way of heating a room as the heat rises slowly around the whole room, while radiators heat a more isolated area. Depending on the size of the system it is also possible to remove radiators, however please bear in mind that this is generally a secondary form of heating
It can be used under many floors both wooden and concrete but their a few floorings where it is not suitable which are “regular” vinyl flooring & carpets.
Below I have listed a few pros and cons to help you decide.
The Pros & Cons of Underfloor Heating
PROS
- Underfloor heating is a modern and high-spec feature which will allow you to enjoy the luxury of warm floors.
- It can be an efficient way of heating a room.
- Depending on the size of the system you may feel that you no longer need a radiator/s in this room.
- It is a flexible heating option that can be fitted in a new room or an existing room.
- It can be used in Wet Rooms as well as Bathrooms & Kitchens.
CONS
- Underfloor heating can take longer to heat up than radiators.
- With smaller systems you may find that they won’t be able to totally supplement radiators.
- An underfloor heating system can be pricey to install (especially when it if retrofitted) maintain and run, particularly if it’s supplementary to your main heating system. For example a well-insulated 2M2 system would cost approx. 7-8 pence per day depending on your tariff and heating schedule.
Wall Tiles & Panels
Choosing the right size tile matters especially in a small bathroom where an oversized tile can end up making the bathroom look smaller plus you could end with a lot of uneven sized tiles where they have to be cut to fit a space.
Ceramics Tiles
Red or white clay are the most widely used materials, though the final colour and appearance of ceramic tiles is dependent on the production process.
You can expect to find a wide variety of sizes and colours available, though the price will vary accordingly.
Porcelain Tiles
They are often compared to marble tiles as they are similar, however porcelain tiles are far less likely to stain than marble. Porcelain tiles are a viable choice for deluxe, elegant bathrooms and will bring a touch of class to your bathroom.
Stone Tiles
Stone tiles are cut and polished to set sizes, though they do range between moisture-sensitive and moisture-resistant, depending on the type of stone used.
All stone tiles reflect a timeless beauty and elegance however they do require more maintenance compared to ceramic or porcelain tiles.
High quality ceramics and stone tiles are tough and long lasting and will look great for years to come.
Porcel Thin Tiles
These elegant tiles are strong and durable and will not deform, crack or fade. Their ultra-low water absorption allows them to resist dirt and stay cleaner for longer. They come in a choice of colours, textures and finishes and are a perfect choice for your walls
Nuance Wall Panels
To speak to Stewart about your design ideas call 01622 616065 to book a free no obligation design consultation.