Vinyl panels are among the increasingly popular materials used for flooring in bathrooms. They are mainly valued for being completely waterproof. One cannot forget their exceptional aesthetic effect.
If you are in the process of renovating or furnishing your bathroom, be sure to pay attention to vinyl panels, available in a wide selection of colors and patterns.
Wondering if vinyl flooring will work in your bathroom? In this article, we will try to find out why it is probably the best solution.
Vinyl Panels - What Is This Modern Solution?
Vinyl flooring panels are made of several layers of durable PVC (polyvinyl chloride), with their most important component being a mineral core (polymer-stone composite), which makes them resistant to water and prevents deformation when in contact with moisture.
The layered structure of vinyl panels makes them flexible and resistant to mechanical factors such as abrasion.
Advantages of Using Vinyl Panels in the Bathroom
The bathroom is a place where there is increased humidity and temperature fluctuations, and the floors and walls are exposed to splashes. Therefore, when finishing the bathroom floor, it is worth choosing vinyl, a material that will handle such conditions much better than traditional laminate panels.
In the case of bathrooms, most professionals recommend only vinyl panels. Why? Here are the most important arguments in favor of this choice:
- moisture resistance – vinyl panels are waterproof, making them an ideal solution for the bathroom – even in the shower. You don't have to worry about flooding the floor while bathing;
- stain resistance – the panels are designed so that not only water but also other substances, such as grease, juice dyes, fruit, etc., do not penetrate them;
- durability – vinyl panels exhibit a high abrasion resistance class. One of the latest solutions is panels with a rigid core, known by labels such as HD Mineral Core, SPC, or RIGID. They stand out because they use a hard core as the most important part of the floor. They are suitable for both medium and high traffic areas;
- ease of installation – the Uniclick system allows for the installation of vinyl panels to be done by yourself, saving money on professionals. Installing the panels involves connecting the boards by sliding one into the other until you hear a characteristic click indicating the proper connection;
- slip resistance – the top layer of the panels guarantees safety and protects users from slipping, even when the panels are wet;
- ability to be installed over underfloor heating – LVT panels can be installed without worry over underfloor heating. Higher temperatures do not affect the shape of the boards in any way;
- aesthetic appearance – vinyl panels available on mexen.pl offer a wide range of colors and patterns - you are sure to find a design perfectly suited to the decor of your bathroom;
- easy maintenance – vinyl floors are very easy to keep clean, requiring regular vacuuming and wiping with a damp cloth or mop.
As you can see, vinyl panels for the bathroom are an excellent solution that will successfully work in your home. These types of boards are also suitable for kitchens, which are also exposed to humidity.
Why Do Vinyl Panels Perform Better Than Other Flooring Materials?
For many years, ceramic floor tiles have been dominant in bathrooms. This solution is still used today, but more and more often customers are abandoning tiles in favor of vinyl panels.
Vinyl flooring is not only more durable and resistant but also much more pleasant to the touch, especially compared to cold tiles or stone flooring.
The durability of vinyl panels is just one argument for their choice. Their complete waterproofness is the most important.
Also noteworthy is the ease of installation. If you know how to install vinyl panels, you can successfully do it yourself. In the case of ceramic tiles, it is easy to make a mistake that would result in an unsightly floor.
Can Vinyl Tiles Be Laid Without Demolition?
Remodeling a bathroom is associated with chaos and mess for many people; however, if you decide to choose vinyl panels for your bathroom, it may turn out that you can avoid breaking up the existing ceramic tiles on the floor.
If you decide to combine vinyl panels with underfloor heating, you cannot avoid making proper leveling. In other cases, simply prepare a clean and even surface on which the panels can be laid.
On What Surfaces Can LVT Panels Be Laid in Bathrooms?
When renovating an apartment, you do not have to remove the existing flooring in the bathroom. If you do not opt for underfloor heating, the old floor covering will then serve as an additional insulating layer.
This leads us to another advantage of vinyl panels: they can be laid on virtually any surface. In the process of finishing the bathroom, it could be a classic concrete subfloor, or if you're remodeling, the existing floor.
Vinyl panels can be laid over ceramic tiles, gres, and even parquet or wooden planks. This way, you can achieve new, elegant flooring quickly and relatively easily.
Importantly, when laying LVT flooring, you must use the appropriate underlayment. What underlayment for vinyl panels will work best? Of course, the one intended for this type of flooring. A well-chosen underlayment will influence their durability and acoustic properties.
Vinyl Panels – Aesthetics and Functionality
When considering what type of flooring should be in the bathroom, it is also worth thinking about its aesthetics. Modern technology allows vinyl panels to be decorated with virtually any print or embossing. Most commonly, LVT flooring mimics wood, but you can also find shades inspired by natural stone and even colors of raw concrete.
The use of vinyl panels in the bathroom is not just about aesthetics; it is about functionality as well. In the bathroom, panels with slip-resistant surfaces will provide complete safety in use, even if the floor is wet.
What Makes Vinyl Panels Better Than Traditional Flooring Panels?
Vinyl panels are an excellent alternative to traditionally used flooring panels. They are a durable, high-quality product that closely resembles natural boards. Traditional panels cannot always be used over underfloor heating and often deform when exposed to water.
Many people emphasize that vinyl panels are very pleasant to the touch, and vinyl flooring gives a feeling of warmth similar to that of natural wood. Laminated panels, ceramic tiles, and other finishing materials used in bathrooms are definitely colder to the touch.
Can Vinyl Panels Be Used in Bathrooms? Summary
Remodeling a bathroom is a real challenge that requires making many important decisions. One of them is choosing flooring and wall coverings. Nowadays, there is a shift away from previously used solutions, such as ceramic tiles or linoleum, not to mention wooden floors, which are unsuitable for bathrooms due to their absorbency.
Among currently chosen solutions, vinyl panels stand out significantly. This modern material allows for creating a bathroom floor that will be not only aesthetic but also very comfortable to use.
To summarize, let’s list once again the most important properties of vinyl flooring:
- waterproof – vinyl panels are completely resistant to water;
- resistance to mechanical factors such as abrasion;
- elegant appearance – vinyl panels are available in a very wide range of patterns and colors;
- compatibility with underfloor heating – vinyl flooring conducts heat excellently;
- easy installation – both click panels and glued ones can be laid by yourself;
- easy to maintain cleanliness – vinyl flooring can simply be cleaned with warm water and a conventional detergent - there is no need for scrubbing, polishing, etc.
Vinyl panels are modern and functional solutions – thanks to them, you can create fashionable interiors, and replacing the flooring can turn out to be really simple and not requiring the demolition of ceramics.
If you are looking for the right material to finish your bathroom, be sure to check out the entire offer of vinyl flooring panels available in our online store mexen.pl.