Vinyl plank flooring in bathroom – is it worth installing? The bathroom flooring renovation.
Is it worth installing vinyl plank flooring in bathroom?
– when it’s time to replace old flooring this question will occur. Currently, luxury vinyl is in trend due to its affordable price, luxury wood look, and waterproof abilities. Yes, it’s a great solution for the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and hallways. But would it be a great solution for the bathroom, which can be small and at the same time very humid, compared to other rooms in the house? This is a question to which we have an answer.
Starting the research from the most obvious place – the construction store. Some of the options for the flooring are:
- tile – most people wouldn’t be able to install themselves, and the price for the installation is the highest compared to all other available options.
- sheet vinyl – installation price is decent, but not many people want their bathroom to look like it was built in 1990s.
- peel and stick vinyl tiles – easy to install, cheap material, but reviews are awful. Some homeowners would say that their tiles started to fall apart in less than a week. Not many will feel safe making such an investment.
- floating interlocking vinyl plank flooring – reasonable price, easy DYI installation, looked like natural wood, but at the same time 100% waterproof. I’ve decided to go with this option.
Can I use vinyl plank flooring in a bathroom?
Compared to laminate flooring, lvp is 100% waterproof and can be installed in high humid areas, like kitchen bathroom, laundry, basement, etc. Not only it’s easy to install and maintain, but also it’s affordable and can be installed over the original vinyl/tile floor.
To save some money you can purchase all materials in our online flooring store.
How to install vinyl plank flooring in a bathroom?
Time needed: 10 hours.
Because the installation manual indicates that installing vinyl plank flooring is an easy DYI project, you can install the flooring yourself. Here are the steps to follow:
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Remove all personal belongings from the bathroom
Take out or hide in drawers all personal belongings, such as towels, hygiene products, decor elements, etc.
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Remove toilet
Shut down the water supply on the wall by turning the valve. Unscrewed the water supply pipe. Pumped water out of the toilet. Cut old silicone between old floor and toilet using a utility knife. Unscrew two bolts on the site. Lift the toilet and put it in the tub on a carton.
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Remove old baseboards
Without pulling or damaging drywall paper, use an angled scraper with a hammer to remove baseboard from the walls.
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Remove old flooring
For example, if you have sheet vinyl, use an angled scraper or multitool with a wide blade to remove it, this will save a lot of time.
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Leveling subfloor
Use a 6-ft leveling tool to first check leveling. Then purchase self-leveling compound and float the whole floor. It will take a couple of hours before it dried out.
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Installing new flooring
Adjust to cutting and measure vinyl planks. Leave a 1/4-inch gap between the flooring and any solid surface, including the cabinet, wall, and tub. Start to install from the entrance, left to right. Use flooring scrapes to maintain the gap.
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Installing baseboards
Baseboards vary in size, the most common one is 3-1/4-inch vinyl baseboards. Use a 10″ miter saw to cut planks and liquid nails to glue them to the wall.
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Installing transitions
Use liquid nails to install a transition in the door entrance and by the tub.
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Caulking baseboards
To get a finished look, it is recommended to caulk with white color all baseboard seams.
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Installing toilet
Before reinstalling the toilet, replace a wax ring with a new one. Screw down the toilet, connect water pipe, and turn on the water. Also, to make sure there are no leaks use silicone to close the gap between toilet and flooring.
Tips for installing vinyl plank tile flooring in bathroom
It’s better to remove it before flooring installation, so the flooring can go under the vanity.
Yes, you can. However it will take a lot more time and very precise cutting to make it perfect. Taking the toilet off and installing it doesn’t require as much time.
Cut a circle of carton board the same size as a toilet hole and use it to draw a cut-off hole on the vinyl. Very simple.
It depends on the personal preference but in most cases it is easier to start from the tub and move toward the exit door.
Vinyl planks in bathroom pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| DIY project | Takes some time and effort |
| Is 100% waterproof and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance | You need to make a lot of cuts because the area is tight |
| Looks like real wood, luxury appearance |
Installing vinyl flooring in the bathroom can take more time and effort then most will plan, but with the right tools the job is done much faster. If you don’t have time or courage to do the installation yourself, give us a call at 808-466-8735 and we wil be happy to help you with your project.
Check Best Flooring Honolulu Instagram for completed jobs and reviews.