Even though most homes have bathroom exhaust fans today, humidity from the shower still permeates the air, steams up the mirror, and settles on the floor. This makes conventional carpet, even the short nap variety, such a bad idea. That's just an open invitation to health-threatening mildew and toxic mold.
Ceramic Tile is Sturdy and Waterproof
Tile is a natural choice for moist environments. It's inexpensive (although you can go high-end if you wish), low-maintenance, and easy to install. It is important to note that a high quality grout sealer should be used.
One issue to be aware of is that tile can be heavy and can crack under pressure. This is not so much of an issue on a concrete slab, but OSB or plywood subfloors might need to be reinforced.
Natural Stone Floors are Elegant and Expensive
Masons and construction crews have been installing marble, slate, and granite stone floors for centuries. Everything mentioned above about ceramic tile applies to stone, except that it is much more expensive. The good news is that the investment cost vs return value with respect to equity is quite high with the bathroom and kitchen.
Natural travertine is a great building material for floors. You may hear it called travertine limestone or travertine marble, or even Mexican onyx or Egyptian alabaster, but that's mainly sales hype. The only real drawback is that it is a porous stone so the surface must be well-sealed.
Bamboo and Cork Floors are Sustainable and Eco-Friendly
It's never been more popular to go green and conserve the environment in many facets of life, and building materials are no exception. Cork flooring is durable and easy on bare feet since it features great compressible properties.
Bamboo has been gaining in market share in the past few years. Why is it sustainable? Because it's actually a kind grass and grows like a weed. Another organic natural material is seagrass. As the name implies, this is a grass that grows in the sea. It's harvested and woven into carpeting and rugs. Since it originates in a wet environment, it's an obvious material for the bath and can be installed as a wall to wall carpet or as decorative area carpets.
Hardwood Flooring is as Traditional as Apple Pie
It's important to make a distinction here between installing laminate flooring vs real hardwood. Laminate is not recommended for moist, wet rooms. On the other hand, hardwood, when properly finished, is a great candidate. It's affordable, attractive, and durable.
Those are some good choices for your new home or remodeling project. Anytime you can tackle the job yourself you will be able to spend more of your budget on upgraded material. The final thing to remember is to always review your homeowners insurance policy and make any adjustments.
Kelly Smith - Kelly has over 30 years experience as a journeyman carpenter and 20 as a freelance writer and photographer.
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