If you are looking for the best tiles for your new bathrooms or to renovate your bathroom, I am here to help you.
Bathroom tiles come in several materials, styles, sizes, and designs. The most common and practical bathroom tiles are ceramic, porcelain, and vinyl tiles.
They have certain features that help them to qualify as the best tiles for bathrooms. However, there are more variations as well.
To choose the one that would best suit you in terms of budget, appearance, durability, and water resistance, read ahead!
Factors You Need To Consider Before Selecting The Best Tile For The Bathroom
You need to understand the significant factors before selecting the type of tile you want for your bathroom.
Once you have followed these points, it will be easier for you to choose the right pick.
Water Resistance
For bathrooms, this is the most essential factor. You don’t want the water to enter through the tile seams and settle down beneath, causing significant issues.
Tiles should have outstanding water resistance. Before purchasing any tile, do check its moisture control rating.
Anti-Slip Flooring
Tiles in bathrooms should have a surface texture that makes them non-slippery. This is a preventative measure for all the bathrooms that will have water exposure.
Budget
When you head out to make a purchase for your new bathroom, you will come across thousands of options. Price does not promise quality.
Therefore, please do not fall for pricey tiles as their maintenance cost could also be high. Choose the one that best suits your needs and your budget.
Selecting The Type Of Tiles
Now that you have understood what to look for in the best bathroom tiles. Let’s move on to selecting the type of tiles that would suit your requirement.
Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl tiles are very common in most bathrooms as they offer an exquisite combination of practicality and affordability.
There are two types of vinyl tiles; vinyl sheets and vinyl planks. Both types of vinyl flooring offer immense water resistance.
Vinyl sheets come in large sizes and are better at moisture control. I would recommend vinyl sheet tiles for bathrooms that have a higher expectancy of water splashes.
Vinyl tiles are easy on your pocket and can be installed seamlessly. I have to be honest with you, although vinyl tiles are best in terms of specs, they have low resale value.
Therefore, if resale is a factor you are considering, these tiles may not be for you. Nowadays, there are massive designs in vinyl that can give your bathroom the most luxurious outlook.
Porcelain or Ceramic Tile
If you are one with great taste, porcelain tiles will satisfy your appetite for a style like no other tiles.
If you love stone effect or wooden tile, look for your bathroom while maintaining water resistance, porcelain tile is the choice!
Porcelain tiles offer rich solid texture at a reasonable cost. These tiles come in different sizes and shapes, which you can adjust according to your bathroom.
You must be thinking, why did I not mention ceramic as yet? That is because porcelain and ceramic are from the same family.
However, porcelain is denser and harder with a higher water absorption rate. Porcelain tiles are best suited in bathrooms that are more exposed to water.
Half baths can do well with ceramic or vinyl tiles. The best feature of these tiles is the easiest maintenance. However, nothing in the world is perfect, right?
Similarly, porcelain and ceramic tiles have their disadvantages as well. Since porcelain is so dense and hard, it makes it uncomfortable for the feet.
The surface of these tiles gets cold, which is not ideal. Although, this can be solved by installing heated tile beneath that gets the cost to go up.
Larger flat tiles have a slippery surface, which may cause accidents in the bathroom. Thus, choose textured tiles that have a non-skid surface.
The resale value of porcelain and ceramic tiles is high, which vinyl tiles lack. Moreover, if you can set porcelain with the correct measure, you are in for a package!
Natural Stone Tiles
The tiles I mentioned above are humanmade. Natural stone tiles include marble, travertine, limestone, slate, and granite.
These are all expensive options, and you should only consider them if you have a big budget for a new bathroom.
You must be wondering what is the need to spend so much on a natural stone when you can get a similar effect from porcelain tiles?
Well, porcelain and ceramic tiles offer stone textures, but they are not as real as natural stones. Although natural stone is beautiful, luxurious, and durable, there might be some moisture problems.
If you are considering natural stone tiles, make sure they are sealed to stop water from penetrating. Stone tiles are high maintenance, asking for regular cleaning and sealing.
If you are ready to spend a big budget on natural stones, you might as well add radiant heating to void the coolness.
Oh, and not to forget the excellent resale value of the aesthetically pleasing natural stone tiles is also a plus.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has a chip base that provides the photographic effects of oak, cherry, or wood. It is durable and easy to clean.
However, I will not recommend laminate flooring because the slightest moisture can ruin the chip base and result in a bubbly surface that will have to be replaced.
Laminate flooring does look cool, but it is difficult to maintain its water resistance by sealing the seams.
Cork Tiles
You will come across cork tile options as well in the market. These tiles are comfortable for the feet and have a warm touch to them.
They can be glued down to the floor and are easy to maintain. However, water resistance is questionable.
If you want them for your bathroom, then be ready to apply several polyurethane coats to control moisture.
I would not recommend cork tiles. There are other types of tiles for bathrooms that offer high water resistance and durability.
I have done my bit for you and covered all the popular and most common tiles for bathrooms. Now, it is time for you to select the one you think is best for your bathroom.
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