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Ceramic tiles

If ever a product has stood the test of time, it is the ceramic tile. Popular since the days of the Romans, ceramic tiles are still the most versatile of the bathroom surfaces. They can be used for both floors and walls and are available in a huge variety of colours, shapes and prices.

When choosing tiles, select ones that are in scale with your bathroom. If you choose a fancy shape, such as the ogee or Moorish designs, keep the colours simple: too much variety looks over-fussy.

High-gloss tiles are not suitable for floors as they are slippery, especially when wet. Choose unglazed or mosaic tiles for maximum non-slip qualities. Small tiles also provide good ‘grip’ — so the small tessellated tiles, which are unglazed and of varied shape are excellent from a safety point of view. Floor tiles should always be washed with a mild detergent solution and never polished as this would make them slippery. Dark floor tiles will show talcum powder dust.

Bathroom surfaces need to be moisture and stain resistant, durable and easy to keep clean

Marble and granite

These materials carry the luxury price tag but, as people are becoming more prepared to invest money in their bathrooms, marble and granite are increasing in popularity. Their advantages are that they can be durable, water-proof and very good- looking. The disadvantage is that they can be slippery unless finished with a matt surface — and the matt surface on marble tends to be slightly porous, which can pose problems with spilt oils, nail polish remover, hair colours, make-up and the like. Good installation is essential: poorly finished marble and granite can have dangerously sharp edges and with such an expensive material you don’t want shoddy workmanship.

Slate

The qualities that make slate good for roofing, make it good for bathrooms, too. It’s durable and impervious to water. It also has a slightly irregular surface which gives it a natural non-slip property. Its main disadvantages are to do with installation. It’s heavy, irregular in thickness and, as with other stones, its good looks depend on good workmanship. Slate needs to be sealed to protect it from staining and to bring out its beautiful colouring. This sealing needs to be repeated every few years, so there is an ongoing cost to consider.

Terrazzo

This composite of marble chips set in concrete has long been popular in public entrances — a testimony to its durability. It is laid in situ to give a seamless finish and can be made up in almost any colour. Terrazzo tiles are now available which offer the same

Lifespan, although not the same continuous look.

Vinyl

This product has greatly improved over the years in terms of looks, durability and comfort. It is available in sheet or tile form and both are suitable for bathroom use if properly laid. Sheet vinyl should be cut oversize and left for a while to allow for shrinkage. The edges must then be firmly sealed, as any dampness will weaken the adhesive. In a small bathroom, tiles are often easier to fit and lay. If laid over timber flooring, vinyl tiles must have a reliable underlay, such as fibre- cement sheet.

Wood and cork

Warm to the touch and mellow to the eye, wood and cork can be very successfully used in a traditional or country-style bathroom. But their suitability depends entirely on their being properly sealed — otherwise moisture will play havoc with the finish, causing, at best, discoloration and, at worst, warping and rotting. Two or three coats of a clear polyurethane finish will give good protection but you should be prepared to reseal exposed timber every few years.

Carpet

It’s very cosy underfoot in chilly weather, but carpet is not really a practical floorcovering in the bathroom. If comfort comes first, choose a rubber or synthetic foam- backed carpet (it’s less likely to rot than a natural jute-backed one) and make sure it can be lifted for drying should the worst (burst pipes or an overflowing bath) occur. Much more practical and almost as cosy are thick fluffy bathmats. Any loose mats or carpet should always have a nonslip backing.

Beneath the surface

Whether you are dealing with floors, ceilings or walls, the materials you choose for your bathroom will only be as good as the base on which they are laid. Flimsy partitions, damp walls and springy floorboards spell disaster for rigid materials. Before you invest your hard- earned money in expensive tiles, make sure the subsurface is absolutely sound and is itself unaffected by moisture. Tiles laid on an ordinary partition wall will look fine at first, but as soon as moisture gets behind them (as it inevitably will — steam can sneak through the tiniest gaps in grouting) the partition material may begin to swell and distort. It won’t be long before the tiles crack or fall off and paint finishes are spoiled. The only cure will be to start again, working with water-resistant materials, such as fibre-cement sheets, which are immune to water damage.

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