Best Flooring for Bathrooms — Waterproof, Slip-Resistant, and Easy to Clean

Porcelain tile is the gold standard for bathrooms. Completely impervious to moisture, sanitizable to hospital standard, permanently durable, and the expected finish in Metro Vancouver's mid-to-high market. Specify R10 or higher COF for the floor (polished tiles are slippery when wet), and use epoxy grout for grout lines that will not stain or harbour mould.

Tips

• 12×24 or 24×24 porcelain is the current popular choice for larger bathrooms — fewer grout lines to clean
• For smaller bathrooms under 50 sf, mosaic tile or 12×12 creates better visual proportion
• Use a linear drain if you want a large-format seamless floor in a curbless shower

Quality SPC-core LVP is a legitimate bathroom floor and a particularly strong choice for basement bathrooms, rental units, and anywhere budget matters. It's warm underfoot compared to tile, installs in a day with no curing, and handles the humidity and splashing of normal bathroom use. Do not use inside showers — tile is required there.

Tips

• Check the product's IIC rating for bathroom installation — some LVP products are not recommended in wet rooms
• Use LVP only on the floor — shower walls and surrounds must be tile, solid surface, or glass
• Choose a LVP product with minimal bevel edge texture to reduce water sitting in edge grooves

Standard laminate is not suitable for bathrooms — the HDF core absorbs moisture from floor cleaning and humidity, causing swelling and buckling. Some waterproof-rated laminate products can technically handle bathroom conditions, but LVP is a better choice at the same price point with no compromises. Not recommended.

Tips

• If you have laminate in a bathroom and it is starting to swell at seams, replacement is the only fix — it will not improve

Hardwood in a bathroom is a maintenance problem waiting to happen. Even engineered hardwood — more moisture-stable than solid — will eventually warp, cup, or discolour from chronic bathroom humidity. High-end homes with heated hardwood bathrooms require diligent maintenance and humidity control. For most homeowners, tile or LVP is the sensible choice.

Tips

• If you have hardwood in a bathroom, run the exhaust fan during and after every shower to reduce ambient humidity
• When renovating a bathroom, always replace hardwood with tile or LVP

Carpet in a bathroom was common in the 1970s and is now universally considered a hygiene and mould problem. Moisture from showers, wet feet, and toiletries penetrate to the subfloor, creating permanent odour and potential mould conditions. If you are purchasing a home with bathroom carpet, budget for immediate replacement.

Tips

• Bathroom carpet removal is typically affordable ($1.50–$2.50/sf) and dramatically improves the space
• The subfloor under bathroom carpet almost always requires inspection and potential remediation