Smart Choices in Bathroom Flooring

Tile is still the traditional choice, but it’s not the only floor that performs in this wet environment

A bathroom floor should be stylish, durable, and comfortable. But it also must be able to handle moisture and humidity from daily use as well as any possible leaks that could occur in the future. Contributing writer Matthew Teague profiles seven flooring options for bathrooms: wood, tile, linoleum, cork, rubber, vinyl, and concrete. He discusses their characteristics, installation, costs, and how they respond to moisture and humidity. As the most popular flooring option, tile gets the most in-depth treatment, including a discussion of grout and a list of potential problems with tile-floor installation. But Teague also discusses in detail the circumstances under which a wood floor can work in a bathroom. A sidebar describes electric, in-floor heating systems that can be used with a wide range of flooring systems.