Which tiles are best for a bathroom floor?
When selecting bathroom floor tiles there are a couple of things to consider to increase the longevity of your floor and ensure the safety of you and your family. Whether you have a shower, a bathtub or both, the bathroom floor is extremely susceptible to splashing, drips and humid conditions. To counteract this, your bathroom floor tile should have a slip resistant surface as well as a high vitreosity to prevent any moisture being absorbed into the body of the tile. A tile with a matt glaze finish ticks both of these boxes. Non-vitreous tiles absorb water and are appropriate only for accent areas, whereas the vitreous variety work well in those splash-prone zones such as the floor and splashbacks.
As long as the finish of your tile is suitably anti-slip and non-absorbent then you have some flexibility with the material of the tile. Glazed porcelain and ceramic is favoured. Or if you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, you can opt for natural stone such as slate, granite and marble. As natural stone can be quite porous, it might be best to consider marble or limestone tiles.
What is the best floor to put in a bathroom?
In wet and humid spaces such as a bathroom or wet room, a surface that is anti-slip and non-absorbent is by far the best option. Tiled floors provide a cost effective, hardwearing solution that meets these criteria. Tiles are also easy to keep clean and will therefore prove much more hygienic in the long run. Non-waterproof flooring such as carpet and real wood floors are not suitable as they absorb water and will not fare well in a wet environment.
How much is it to tile a bathroom floor?
This will depend on the size of your bathroom and on the tiles you choose, so the cost can vary considerably. Glazed porcelain and ceramic tiles are more cost-effective options, whereas natural stone tiles are more expensive as they are a very luxurious and hardwearing option. Porcelain tile flooring usually costs around £20/m² and stone can cost up to and around £30/m². With this in mind, the cost to have an averaged sized bathroom floor professionally installed ranges from around £480 to £550, including all materials.
How much does it cost to retile a small bathroom?
It will cost a bit more to retile a bathroom as the existing tile will have to be pulled up and removed. Also there will be the additional cost of repairing any damages underneath that have been exposed once the existing tile is removed.
How do I tile my bathroom floor?
Tiling your bathroom floor can be tricky, but is definitely doable if you are well prepared. It is highly recommended that you do your research before deciding to tackle your bathroom floor yourself.
Then make sure you have all the materials ready and any tools you will need to complete the job.
Purchase more tile than you’ll need. 10-15% more is the recommend amount. This should account for tiles you may need to cut to fit in narrow, awkward spaces and to replace any tiles that will break in the shipping and cutting process.
There are three main stages to tiling a bathroom floor – preparing the foundation, laying the tiles and grouting the tiles. Each stage is equally important to ensure you achieve a lasting and good looking finish.
Do you have to remove the toilet to tile?
Tiling around the toilet can of course be done with a little skill, but it is highly recommended that you remove the toilet prior to starting the process. If you decide to leave your toilet in place, you will have to tile around it, and you will likely find it difficult to cut the tiles to fit snugly around the toilet base. The result will not be as clean and professional looking. You will find that tiling is much easier without the toilet in place, so if you’re looking for a high quality finish with a better seal against water damage, then always tile the floor first. What is more, if you ever need to replace your toilet, then the tiling will already be neatly finished underneath and ready for your new toilet to sit on top.
Do you tile under a toilet?
Tiling under your toilet will give a smarter finish and improved protection against water damage to your subfloor should the sealant fail. It is possible to tile around the toilet but you will need to cut tiles into awkward shapes to fit around the base, which can be time-consuming and intricate work. So, not only is it easier to tile under the toilet but the completed job will look better.
