What's a good alternative to Tile in a Bathroom Floor?

[CO Hummer]

It's looking like we're going to tile our two new bathroom floors unless I can find an alternative.

Is there any good product OTHER than tile to use? Maybe a cement product? I don't really want something that's cold on the feet though, and I'm NOT going to use the water heated floors (it's a long story, but you can't get it done for a reasonable price where I live).

What can I do? Stacy, are you there? :D

[Steve - SanJose]

Not Pergo for sure.

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Dirt Floors are great !

You can freshen them up everyday with just a shovel. you can change the pattern by adding sand lines and when it gets cold cover the dirt totally with sand as it doesn't get cold if kept dry. During the summer months just add a little water and the bathroom will stay nice and cool. By microwaving your dirt and sand you will keep bacteria to a minimum. And of course the cost is minimal compared to other surfaces...

[Steve - SanJose]

Dirt Floors are great !

You can freshen them up everyday with just a shovel. you can change the pattern by adding sand lines and when it gets cold cover the dirt totally with sand as it doesn't get cold if kept dry. During the summer months just add a little water and the bathroom will stay nice and cool. By microwaving your dirt and sand you will keep bacteria to a minimum. And of course the cost is minimal compared to other surfaces...

Not a fan of the third world country decor myself....

[CO Hummer]

Dirt Floors are great !

You can freshen them up everyday with just a shovel. you can change the pattern by adding sand lines and when it gets cold cover the dirt totally with sand as it doesn't get cold if kept dry. During the summer months just add a little water and the bathroom will stay nice and cool. By microwaving your dirt and sand you will keep bacteria to a minimum. And of course the cost is minimal compared to other surfaces...

Now that's what I like, some creativity. :D

[KenP]

When we were browsing on the 'net looking at places out there, we noticed alot of homes have carpet. EEeeewwww....

You could go with a linoleum product. They've come a long way since the garbage of the late seventies and early eighties.

You probably already have this planned, but in the full bath/baths, put in a heat lamp just outside the shower/tub so when you're drying off you have that nice warm heat bathing you. That should help if you have to use tile.

I'd use tile with multiple rugs.:shhh:

[DRTYFN]

Now that's what I like, some creativity. :D
:jump:

[Adam in CO]

Didn't you get my email about the flooring guy? Just call him and ask. He may have some really cool ideas for a bathroom floor.

[KenP]

Prefinished hardwood.

NO laminate. It won't hold up in the humidity of a bathroom.

[Agriv8r]

astro turf!

[Agriv8r]

its like peeing outside:giggling:

[bparker]

There are some really good "peel and stick" slate looking tiles out now that are NOT laminants (printed pattern with a clear gloss laminate top) - they are made by solid melted stock and are tough as nails. They stay room tempreture and are easy to "fix" in the event you have a water problem. Most people can not tell that it is fake until you tell them. They even have grout lines and everything.

They are a nice, affordable easy to maintain floor.

[HummBebe]

There are some really good "peel and stick" slate looking tiles out now that are NOT laminants (printed pattern with a clear gloss laminate top) - they are made by solid melted stock and are tough as nails. They stay room tempreture and are easy to "fix" in the event you have a water problem. Most people can not tell that it is fake until you tell them. They even have grout lines and everything.

They are a nice, affordable easy to maintain floor.
That looks OK, but it's a little too shiny.


I like slate. Or travertine. Even granite comes in tile now.

[bparker]

I am trying to find the product so you can see the one I am talking about. It is NOT shiny at all in fact its a very flat mat finish.

The shiny stuff has the plastic shiny laminant top on it like cheap vinyl. The stuff I am talking about has no laminant top on it.

Again, its made solid from melted product so there is no need for a laminate finish on top.

:beerchug:

That looks OK, but it's a little too shiny.


I like slate. Or travertine. Even granite comes in tile now.

[bparker]

Crap, I cant find it online, but I know the HomeDepot design centers have it. I am not sure about HomeDepot Expo have it or not. And I am sure that the normal HomeDepots do not have it either.

If you have a HomeDepot Design Center near ya you can see it there. Its not as cheap as the shiny vinyl stuff but much cheaper than installing real tile or slate.

[bparker]

Your right, and granite is absoutley pimp too! That would be a nice touch.

Even granite comes in tile now.

[bparker]

Here is somthing similar. Note, not shiney :D

http://www.armstrong.com/resflram/na/tile/en/us/prod_detail.asp?itemId=76377.0


http://www.armstrong.com/pdbupimages/21181101047.jpg

http://www.armstrong.com/pdbupimages/21181123716.jpg

[HummBebe]

Here is somthing similar. Note, not shiney :D

http://www.armstrong.com/resflram/na/tile/en/us/prod_detail.asp?itemId=76377.0


http://www.armstrong.com/pdbupimages/21181101047.jpg



looks like 10 inch squares, but it's on a roll, correct? ( like linoleum?) If they had that in 20 inch, I'd be lookin at it for sure.

Thanks BP

[bparker]

Naw, these are on a 12x12 tiles peel and stick easy as pie to put down

[dеiтайожни]

Shag carpet for 2 reasons. It never goes out of style and it hides all the toilet paper and poo crumbs. Which makes it virtually maintenance free, plus you can dry your feet on it after a shower. I really wouldn't risk it with laminate, tile or hardwood... it's easier to break a hip than you'd think, that stuff is just too slick.

[bparker]

Yea, I agree, the smaller the tiles the less attective. The larger the tile the larger the room appears to be. 6" tiles are too small. I myself like 12" and above.

But this is only 1 style of many many tp choose from. I used 12" slate look in my last house and it was perfect.

Have a look at that link for more.
:beerchug:

looks like 10 inch squares, but it's on a roll, correct? ( like linoleum?) If they had that in 20 inch, I'd be lookin at it for sure.

Thanks BP

[evldave]

There are some really good "peel and stick" slate looking tiles out now that are NOT laminants (printed pattern with a clear gloss laminate top) - they are made by solid melted stock and are tough as nails. They stay room tempreture and are easy to "fix" in the event you have a water problem. Most people can not tell that it is fake until you tell them. They even have grout lines and everything.

They are a nice, affordable easy to maintain floor.

Peel & stick = not a good idea in a bathroom. No matter how much you pay for high-end stuff, the 'sticky' can't handle the humidity changes in a bathroom and you'll have problems. I'd suggest travertine (less expensive) or 12x12 or 16x16 slate tile (more expensive).

Actually, I wouldn't recommend tile at all unless you have heated floors (that's my personal preference) - I hate having cold floors getting out of a warm shower and no matter much you try and heat the room, the tiles will always feel cold on your feet.

I think a good alternative is thick linoleum as mentioned earlier. It's softer (nice to walk on) will be warmer on your feet, and easy to clean (no grout, single sheet). It's also super-simple to install and easy to repair. If you want the tile look, get a thick linoleum with the square tile pattern (and those are even easier to repair).

[HummBebe]

Use a bathmat :fdance:

[bparker]

Actually, the stuff I am talking about was specifically designed for bathrooms and kitchens. High traffice areas. The solid stock i am talking about could even handle commercial use. Its about as strong as Azrock tile which is what you walk on in Wall-Mart.. and guess what? Thats peel and stick too :D

Peel & stick = not a good idea in a bathroom.

[CO Hummer]

Alright......I think I'm now convinced to stay with tile or slate. I'm going to work with my electrician to see if he can help out with those warming grids that you mount below the tile to keep it warm.

I was hoping there was some miracle material out there that I hadden't seen. Guess not. Thanks guys.

[CO Hummer]

Alright......I think I'm now convinced to stay with tile or slate. I'm going to work with my electrician to see if he can help out with those warming grids that you mount below the tile to keep it warm.

I was hoping there was some miracle material out there that I hadden't seen. Guess not. Thanks guys.

[BKLYNH2]

I would go for real slate (over the aforementioned peel and stick) no matter what its better quality. Slate can come in a variety of finishes that are both pleasant to the feet and aesthetically appealing, and not slippery either. It will naturally feel warmer than a tile floor, however you can also get a small heater which fits under the toe kick space of a vanity which will blow hot air low to the floor, they work well, are not super expensive, and you'll never see it. If you go with slate don't go with something that has a lot of variance in the surface as all the nooks and crannies will collect water deposits that will look like stains over time, especially if the water is hard.

[evldave]

Actually, the stuff I am talking about was specifically designed for bathrooms and kitchens. High traffice areas. The solid stock i am talking about could even handle commercial use. Its about as strong as Azrock tile which is what you walk on in Wall-Mart.. and guess what? Thats peel and stick too :D

That's good info, didn't know about that stuff. Sounds like solid flooring material.

Our work uses 18x18 carpet tiles w/molded rubber bottoms. They aren't peel&stick, they just fit in place and never come up. If something stains them or they get cut, just stick a blade under a corner and lift up and replace that carpet square. You can't see the seems at all! They were replacing a bunch at work and I picked up a couple cases - they worked great in the garage, just laid them out on the floor. Soaked up all kinds of abuse, then after awhile I just sprayed them out let them dry and put them back down. Best garage flooring I've ever used...

[CO Hummer]

I would go for real slate (over the aforementioned peel and stick) no matter what its better quality. Slate can come in a variety of finishes that are both pleasant to the feet and aesthetically appealing, and not slippery either. It will naturally feel warmer than a tile floor, however you can also get a small heater which fits under the toe kick space of a vanity which will blow hot air low to the floor, they work well, are not super expensive, and you'll never see it. If you go with slate don't go with something that has a lot of variance in the surface as all the nooks and crannies will collect water deposits that will look like stains over time, especially if the water is hard.

Good Info, P! I just heard about those toe-kick heaters yesterday. I might investigate that.

[bparker]

I thought you were asking for "affordable" floors :D

I also have slate throughout my house in all the hallways, kitchen and carpet only in the bedrooms and that stuf in no way shape or form is "affordable" haha

But I must admit, its one of the finest besides granite. :D

Granite sure is slippery though with wet feet.

[KenP]

Good Info, P! I just heard about those toe-kick heaters yesterday.Our HVAC has an outlet built into the toe-kick of the kitchen cabinet right under the sink. Good for keeping CP's toes toasty warm on the cold winter nights...






while she's doing the dishes....:giggling:

[bparker]

Speak up I didnt catch that...

Wait let me turn it up..

while she's doing the dishes....:giggling:

There we go.... now I will wait for the echo sound of a slap hehehe

[KenP]

Speak up I didnt catch that...

Wait let me turn it up..



There we go.... now I will wait for the echo sound of a slap hehehe:jump: