Bathroom flooring tile or laminate?

[Shawn Turner]

I bought a property that has tile flooring in the bathroom that is cracked. Should I replace it with tile or is there a better option?

[Max T.]

Tile is the best product. Preventing cracks requires proper installation. In many cases this means replacing subfloor to 3/4 inch plywood and level (additional labor and material cost). Other flooring products are more forgiving (cheaper) to install in those cases. If you have the right subfloor for tile, or are willing to replace what you have with what you need (plywood, hardibacker, additional labor), tile is the best product.

Search youtube and BP for installation tips, but the basics are:

-level, 3/4" subfloor - no movement (sometimes requires shimming or replacing joists)

-layer of hardibacker or cement board 

-plan and play with your start/end points and layout with tiles before mixing any thinset/adhesive

-aim to avoid "skinny cuts". try to have as many whole tiles and half tiles as possible

-for floors: use a thinset (mortar based) product to adhere tiles to floor

-for walls: use the thinset OR pre-mixed glue adhesive to adhere tiles to wall

-after proper dry time, mix grout and apply to all seams. After grout has set for 10-15 minutes, lightly wipe tile surface to remove excess grout and fill in low spots/smooth out high spots

-after proper dry time, clean remaining grout haze from tile surface

-definitely apply grout sealer! Or use the grout product that has the sealer built in. Grout will stain without sealing every few years.

Tile is often additional work and cost. Most old properties don't have the right subfloor for it. If the tile you have is cracked, that is a good indication that it was installed incorrectly and/or the subfloor is too thin/has too much movement.

If this is a place you're going to have for some years, like a primary residence or one of your early buy-and-hold'ers, try and swing the tile. Because when done right tile will last forever. You can get nice tile for less than nice vinyl/laminate if you look for it. So if you are up for doing the work the material cost is not that bad compared to vinyl/laminate. And if you do a good job it will look and perform much better in the long term.

I prefer tile.