shutterstock_79368904When installing new floors in any room of your house, every room has its requirements. The bathroom is no different. It has a unique set of requirements that must be met to make a new floor effective and practical. In fact, practicality is perhaps the most important consideration of all.

The best question to begin with is “What kind of flooring should I not put in my bathroom?” As long as you avoid a few fatal mistakes, you will probably end up with something beautiful and functional. Let’s review the different types of flooring that you sthould avoid using in your bathroom.

Carpet

This may seem obvious. When has anyone seen carpet in a bathroom? However, for some more creative thinkers, this is a good rule to point out. Whatever you do, do not put carpet in your bathroom. There are a few simple reasons for this. First of all, carpet retains moisture, which is the opposite of what you want to happen in a bathroom. Mold and mildew run rampant in a carpeted bathroom. Any mess or leaks from the shower will just get soaked up into the carpet, and before you know it, your bathroom will have a permanent smell of mustiness.

Solid hardwood

This is perhaps a less obvious one. Solid hardwood is not good for bathrooms because all the moisture can warp the floors. Unlike some other types of flooring, wood that has been damaged  simply cannot be repaired -- and that means you will have to shell out extra money for new flooring.

Laminate

While laminate is a superior choice when compared to hardwood floors or carpet, there are certain things to keep in mind. Laminate floors are either locked in or glued together. Laminate floors that are glued together will keep water from soaking in, and, therefore, can work fairly well in bathrooms. Laminates that are locked in, however, will allow some water in. Over time, this can lead to the blistering of the layer below the laminate itself.

Glass tile

While there are certainly a number of advantages to having glass tile in your bathroom, there is one major disadvantage. It can be more slippery than other similar bathroom flooring options making it a poor safety choice for many. Glass tile has a wide variety of colors and patterns, and it can even be an eco-friendly option by coming from recyclable materials. However, for anyone whose household includes the elderly, or other people who might be prone to accidents, this is not a good idea.

Linoleum tile

Linoleum is better than some options because its oil base makes it effective at water resistance, but linoleum tile floors include seams. These seams are where water can fall through, and that will cause the tiles to warp or pull apart from one another over time.