Your Bathroom floor must be smooth, dry, firm and clean before you lay any floor covering. It should also be resistant to damp, since nothing you lay down will be unaffected; even with ceramic tiles damp will seep through the grouting. The join between the floor covering and the wall is particularly vulnerable; if your family do a lot of splashing, it is advisable to fix narrow skirting there.
Plastic flooring
Flexible plastic materials such as vinyl are very practical, especially if there are young children about. Vinyl is waterproof and easy to clean, but rather cold underfoot and slippery when wet. This is available in sheet or tile form; water seepage is less likely with vinyl sheet, but tiles are easier to work with and give you more scope with design. For safety and comfort you should use a rubber-backed bath mat with vinyl floor coverings although cushioned vinyl sheeting has a raised design which helps to reduce accidents. Again, plastic floor coverings must be laid on a sound, even surface and stuck down securely especially at the edges, where the smallest amount of water leaking underneath could loosen the material.
Carpet
A fitted carpet is a good choice if the floor is not going to be subject to constant soaking. It is cosy and soft and provides a safe non-slip surface, which is particularly suitable for elderly or handicapped people to stand on. Also bottles and jars are much less likely to break when dropped on carpet. Synthetic pile with synthetic backing is preferable to a natural wool carpet because it absorbs less moisture, but the use of a thick bath mat should prevent either getting too wet and being seriously damaged.
Carpet tiles are suitable for bathroom because they are easier to cut around awkward fittings and you can lift them out to dryif they do get soaked. Because the room is comparatively small, it need not be expensive to carpet. You may even be able to do with offcuts from other rooms.
Tiles
Cork is one of the best choices in terms of looks, warmth and practicality. You can buy easy-to-lay tiles sealed with vinyl or seal them after they have been laid. It is wise to renew the seal every year or two to keep it waterproof. View Full Article »
There is no reason why you should not introduce the same decorating flair to your bathroom as you may do the rest of the house. Everything you use, however, must be resistant to damp and moisture; since many modern materials incorporate this quality, you will have a wide choice.
Before you start decorating make sure all your bathroom walls are free from damp penetration, otherwise you may ruin your new coverings, even though you may cover the damp for a while. If you choose to paint most of this area, be sure you use a good quality vinyl matt or silk emulsion. Gloss paint is impervious to moisture but shows up every bead of consideration in a room that is subject to considerable changes in temperature.
Ceramic or vinyl tiles
Area around the basin, bath and shower need extra protection and ceramic or vinyl tiles here are ideal. They have waterproof, easy to clean, hard-wearing and come in enormous range of styles, quality, sizes and price. If you can afford it, and your walls are strong enough, tile the whole room, except for the ceiling, since this can provide a potential hazard if these heavy tiles ever fall off. Plain tiles are cheaper and also give you more freedom to change your scheme than other more sophisticated patterns. You can make them look less clinical by choosing different shapes than the usual square, such as rectangles or tiny mosaics.
If you do not want to cover the paint or wallpaper with tiles in the ’splash’ areas (such as round basins or baths), protect these parts with a glass or perspex panel. If you do, remember to round off the edges to avoid the possibility of getting cut. Small metal tiles, often with their own self-adhesive backing, are available and do the same job as ceramicones.
Warning Before fixing any tiles, make sure your wall is clean and dry and free from flaking paint or plaster, old tiles make an excellent base as long as they are sound and securely fixed. View Full Article »
All to often the bathroom is the coldest and bleakest room in the home. With a little tought and a minimal cash outlay, you can transform it into the comfortable and efficient place it should be. But before planning too far, check that any major plumbing or structural alterations comply with current building regulations.
First consider the number of people who will be using the room, their ages and their needs. If you have space for only one bathroom, try to stretch its capacity by adding a separate shower or an extra wash-basin to ease the morning rush when everyone wants to use the facilities at the same time. Remember that the basic fixtures are costly so it is worth investing a lot of time and thought in finding the most suitable ones for your way of life. Visit bathroom showrooms and study manufactures’ catalogues. It could be, for instance, that by using a corner bath instead of a long one, you have room for something extra like a bidet. View Full Article »
Plastic flooring
Carpet
