Bathroom floors take a beating from steam, splashes and the occasional overflowing bath, so the wrong choice can warp, lift or grow mouldy within a couple of years. Having fitted bathrooms across Leicester and Leicestershire for years, we have seen what lasts and what fails. Here is our honest take on the options.
For most bathrooms we fit, LVT is the flooring we recommend first. It is fully waterproof, warm underfoot compared with ceramic, and modern ranges do a convincing job of mimicking wood planks or stone tiles. Expect to pay roughly 25 to 60 pounds per square metre for the material, plus fitting, depending on the brand and wear layer.
The main caveat is subfloor preparation. LVT shows every lump and dip beneath it, so older Leicester homes with uneven floorboards usually need plywood overlay or a levelling compound first. That adds cost, but skipping it is why cheap LVT jobs end up with visible ridges and lifting edges.
Tiles remain the most durable bathroom flooring by some distance. Porcelain in particular is dense, almost non-porous and will comfortably outlast the rest of the bathroom suite. Ceramic is cheaper and lighter but chips more easily. Material costs vary hugely, from around 15 pounds per square metre for basic ceramic up to 80 pounds or more for large-format porcelain.
The trade-offs are real, though. Tiles are cold without underfloor heating, unforgiving if you drop a glass bottle, and grout lines need occasional resealing to stay mould-free. Always check the slip rating: a matt or textured finish rated R10 or above is far safer than polished tiles, especially in family bathrooms or wet rooms.
Sheet vinyl is the most affordable waterproof option, often 10 to 25 pounds per square metre, and because it comes in one piece there are few joins for water to find. It suits rental properties and quick refreshes well. The downside is that it can tear, and poor-quality vinyl looks dated quickly.
Standard laminate, on the other hand, is one we would generally steer you away from in a bathroom. Even water-resistant laminate relies on perfectly sealed joints, and one leaking toilet connection or a splashy bath routine will swell the boards from the edges inward. If you love the laminate look, waterproof LVT planks give you the same effect without the risk.
Solid wood and engineered boards can look beautiful, but a bathroom is a hostile place for them. Humidity swings cause expansion and cupping, and most manufacturers will not honour a warranty for bathroom use. Natural stone such as slate or travertine performs better but needs sealing on installation and periodically afterwards, and it is heavy, so upstairs bathrooms may need the joists checked first.
Electric underfloor heating pairs well with porcelain and most LVT, and in a typical Leicester family bathroom of 4 to 6 square metres it is a modest add-on rather than a luxury. It takes the chill off tiles in winter and helps the floor dry faster, which keeps mould at bay. Just confirm your chosen flooring is rated for underfloor heating before buying, as maximum floor temperatures vary by product.
For most homeowners, the shortlist comes down to LVT for comfort and value, or porcelain for maximum durability, with sheet vinyl as the budget fallback. The right answer depends on your subfloor, whether you want underfloor heating, who uses the bathroom and how long you plan to stay in the house.
Whatever you choose, the fitting matters as much as the material. A properly prepared subfloor, sealed perimeter and correctly siliconed junctions around the bath and toilet will do more for the lifespan of your floor than spending extra on a premium brand. If you are planning a bathroom refit in or around Leicester, we are happy to look at your existing floor and give you a straight answer on what will work.
Neither is objectively better. LVT is warmer, quieter and kinder on the budget, while porcelain tiles last longer and cope better with standing water. If you want underfloor heating and a floor that outlives the suite, choose porcelain; for comfort and value, choose LVT.
Sometimes. Sound, flat tiles can often be overlaid with LVT or vinyl, but soft, damaged or uneven surfaces need removing or levelling first. Adding layers also raises the floor height, which can affect door clearance and the toilet pan connection.
For a typical UK bathroom of 4 to 6 square metres, supply and fit usually lands somewhere between 300 and 1,200 pounds depending on the material, subfloor preparation and whether sanitaryware needs lifting. It genuinely depends on the state of what is underneath, so treat any fixed quote given without a site visit with caution.
