Which vinyl flooring for the bathroom?

Vinyl flooring has become an essential choice for children's rooms, living rooms, and hallways. Whether in your own home or a rental apartment, vinyl flooring enjoys great popularity and is gradually dethroning laminate flooring as the most popular type of flooring. But what about the bathroom? What kind of vinyl floor is suitable for the bathroom?

In this article, we'll explain which vinyl is best for the bathroom and what you should consider when installing and purchasing it.

Vinyl flooring in the bathroom – What matters?

When buying new flooring, it's important to consider the conditions in the room and the aspects that might affect the floor. Conditions in living rooms and bedrooms are often straightforward. What matters most in these rooms is comfort, aesthetics, and, depending on usage, increased durability. Factors like pets, energetic children, or specific furniture with casters can influence your choice of flooring.

The best vinyl floor for your needs largely depends on your lifestyle. If you regularly host many friends or family members, your floor should be able to withstand more wear and tear.

Different types of vinyl floors

But what is the best vinyl flooring for the bathroom? Bathrooms have entirely different conditions than living spaces. Hygiene and water resistance are crucial here. However, you also want to feel comfortable in your bathroom. Gone are the days when the "wet room" served exclusively for personal hygiene. Wellness and spa experiences are highly valued, particularly during "Me Time," which is why the bathroom should also invite relaxation.

Which vinyl flooring for the bathroom? – A matter of installation & usage

The question of which vinyl floor is suitable for the bathroom can be answered in theory. In theory, you can install any type of vinyl floor in the bathroom. However, the real question is how long the floor will last, whether it will develop mould, and how comfortable you'll feel. Few people would think of installing carpet in the bathroom, and though you may occasionally find parquet flooring in bathrooms, it's not the best choice due to its sensitivity.

Before purchasing flooring, it's crucial to consider how much maintenance you are willing to undertake. If you have children, and the floor is likely to get wet during bathtime adventures, it's advisable to choose highly water-resistant flooring. If you only use a shower cabin and are generally careful and promptly clean up spills, the floor doesn't need to be completely water-resistant.

A dark brown wood-look vinyl floor. A woman stands on a bathroom rug on the floor next to water droplets. There are many plants and ferns on the wall. When considering which vinyl floor is best for the bathroom, it's primarily about whether water can get between the seams. Unlike PVC flooring, vinyl comes in planks and tiles. Different types of vinyl flooring are more or less suitable for the bathroom. In general, vinyl doesn't mould.

We recommend installing vinyl flooring in the bathroom only if the manufacturer explicitly confirms its suitability. Proper installation is essential if you want to enjoy your bathroom vinyl floor for a long time.

What types of vinyl flooring are there?

When considering which vinyl flooring is best for the bathroom, you should also think about the different types of vinyl flooring. Not all vinyl flooring is the same. The main distinction lies in the installation methods. There are click vinyl, self-adhesive vinyl tiles, and loose-lay vinyl flooring options. In theory, all of these can be used in the bathroom, but the suitability of each type depends on the specific product, professional installation, and the bathroom's demands.

Click-vinyl in the bathroom

Click vinyl is the first choice for DIY enthusiasts. Click vinyl flooring is easy to install, but it is not always suitable for wet areas. The suitability of click vinyl for your bathroom depends on the product's construction. Unlike full-glue PVC flooring, click vinyl is usually multi-layered. Additional support layers may be used to enhance stability. Click vinyl is installed as a floating floor, which means there's always a slight gap between the subfloor and the floor covering. If water gets under the floor, it can lead to mould growth. In principle, vinyl (PVC) doesn't mould. Therefore, proper installation is essential.

With click-system vinyl flooring, always look for labels like "water-resistant" or "suitable for wet areas." Some click systems may not prevent water from penetrating between the seams. However, manufacturers like Gerflor offer advanced click vinyl floors that are 100% water-resistant, such as the Gerflor Vinyl series, which also features an exceptionally authentic and modern design.

The low-maintenance alternative to parquet flooring is wood-look click vinyl like Gerflor Senso Natural Vintage Style "0996 Sunny Light"

Adhesive vinyl in the bathroom

Theoretically, adhesive vinyl flooring can be installed in the bathroom. Adhesive vinyl is particularly thin and can be considered pure vinyl flooring. Since it doesn't include click systems or support layers, adhesive vinyl is almost entirely made of vinyl. As a result, adhesive vinyl is often more expensive than click vinyl, and it is also commonly used in commercial spaces.

The question of which vinyl flooring is suitable for the bathroom can indeed be answered with adhesive vinyl. Due to full-surface adhesive, this flooring is not only very durable and long-lasting but also minimizes the risk of water penetration. Since the installation process is more involved and requires more skill, many people opt for professional help when installing adhesive vinyl.

The adhesive vinyl Gerflor Vinyl Design 30 "0579 Amarante" (18.4 x 121.9 cm) is ideal for a bathroom with a natural charm.

Self-adhesive vinyl flooring in the bathroom

You can also install self-adhesive vinyl flooring in the bathroom. However, self-adhesive solutions are more recommended for smaller spaces with light foot traffic. During installation, you only need to peel off a film from the back of the vinyl tiles or planks. It's a good idea to use self-adhesive vinyl in smaller guest bathrooms. Still, it's essential to ensure that as little water as possible reaches below the floor.

Loose-lay vinyl flooring in the bathroom

Loose-lay vinyl flooring is a unique option. You can use self-laying vinyl in the bathroom as long as water doesn't penetrate below the floor. Loose-lay vinyl stands out due to its special backing construction and increased weight, which allows the vinyl planks and tiles to adhere to the floor as if by themselves. Since this vinyl floor can be easily removed and reinstalled, it's even used at trade shows and is available for areas with higher wear and tear.

HDF or Rigid Vinyl? Which vinyl flooring for the bathroom?

In addition to the four installation methods, there are different subcategories of click vinyl flooring. Particularly when you want to install click vinyl on top of tiles, opting for vinyl flooring with a stabilizing base is a smart choice. This type of multi-layer vinyl (sometimes called vinyl parquet) can bridge tile joints or other minor irregularities, while very thin full-glue vinyl with a click system can get imprinted over time.

However, when considering which vinyl flooring is suitable for the bathroom, you should not simply opt for HDF vinyl. This click vinyl flooring is reinforced with a layer of high-density wood fibres and may not always be suitable for wet areas. If the click system is not adequately prepared to prevent water penetration, the core may swell upon contact with moisture, potentially damaging the flooring.

If you want to install click vinyl over tiles, rigid vinyl is an excellent choice. In contrast to HDF vinyl, rigid or SPC vinyl features a core made of stone or calcium carbonate. When it comes to determining which vinyl, flooring is suitable for the bathroom, Rigid-click vinyl is a great answer. Water-resistant rigid flooring can not only conceal the old tile floor in the bathroom but is also less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, making it suitable for areas with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Additionally, you can find Rigid vinyl with integrated soundproofing. Many options come with a cork underlay for enhanced comfort. While most Rigid vinyl floors are suitable for the bathroom, it's a good idea to look for a specific indication of suitability for wet areas to be on the safe side.

Installing vinyl flooring in the bathroom – What to consider

Once you've answered the question of which vinyl flooring is best for the bathroom in your home, it's time to plan the installation. In addition to preparing the subfloor, which is particularly critical for adhesive and self-adhesive vinyl flooring, you must prepare the floor to prevent water from infiltrating between the seams.

In particular, click vinyl floorings often require a few millimetres of expansion gap between the floor and all solid objects rising in the room, such as walls, door frames, radiators, and other structural features. This is because floating vinyl floors can expand and contract depending on temperature.

To prevent water from entering these expansion joints, they are often filled with silicone. However, this can limit the floor's flexibility and is not recommended by many manufacturers. It's better to work with flexible acrylic or, even better, use a filler cord. It's best to follow the manufacturer's installation guidelines precisely.