We’re rapidly transforming from a nation of carpet lovers to a nation where hard floors are king.
Sales of carpet have fallen 24% in the last decade, and have been in decline since IKEA first hit the UK retail parks in the late 1980s.
Carpet used to be the default choice for a bathroom, now it seems outdated and unhygienic.
Laminate might appear to be the obvious choice, but are all laminates suitable for using in a bathroom?
You may be thinking can I use laminate floor in the bathroom.
What exactly is laminate?
Laminate flooring is a product which is made with several layers of chipboard and other materials, with a photograph of a section of wood laminated onto the top.
A good quality laminate might look like real wood, but it is a lot cheaper to make.
Laminate is generally made to look like real wood and can be bought in a variety of shades from very pale beech colours right through to dark walnut shades.
As well as wood, laminate flooring is made to look like tiles which means laminate is a very popular choice for heavy traffic areas like a hallway or bathroom.
Is all laminate suitable for the bathroom?
Because laminate flooring is made in layers, the danger is that if you lay laminate which is not designed for a damp bathroom atmosphere, moisture can get into the layers of the flooring, causing it to split or to swell and rot.
For these reasons, using a laminate which has been designed especially for bathrooms will keep the moisture out.
Much of the laminate flooring on the market is not suitable for using in a wet room.
Prices for laminate vary considerably, and you can expect to pay anything between £10 and £20 per metre squared for bathroom laminate flooring.
As bathrooms are generally smaller than other rooms in the house, check out the reduced to clear or end of line sections as you may be able to pick up enough to floor the room at a bargain price.
Cost for Fitting Bathroom Laminate Flooring
Lots of the laminate flooring products on the market are designed to be fairly simple to fit, and in larger rooms where you just have to click planks together, this is a job many amateurs take on.
Bathrooms are more awkward spaces with corners and angles which means more cutting of planks to fit and it can be harder to get a professional finish.
Any local joiner or carpenter will be able fit your laminate flooring professionally and quickly.
Expect to pay around £10 per square metre to get someone to lay your laminate flooring for you.
Finding Someone to Fit Your Laminate Flooring
Finding a professional, local tradesperson to fit your laminate isn’t as hard as you might think.
Start off by asking friends and family for recommendations, or check out the companies listed on Top Tradespeople.
Contact at least three companies in the local area, then ask them to provide you with a written quote for the work. Compare the quotes based on price as well as other factors such as timescales before choosing the best person for the job.
Working with the right flooring company or contractor you will be advised best regarding can I use laminate floor in the bathroom.
