Bathroom update question

[fasternu]

I am going to be a DIYer and redo our bathroom. I want to pull out the existing carpet and replace with laminate flooring. First off, is this a good thing to do with water nearby? Secondly, should I go around the toilet, or take the toilet out, put the flooring down, then replace the toilet? The vanity will be replaced, so that is no problem. Thanks in advance for help/suggestions/opinions.

[echo2010]

I dont know about the laminate, but you definitely want to take the toilet out to put the flooring down

[traveler]

usually laminate isn't recommended for potentiallly wet locations, although there may be some types that are OK with it. be sure to check. Pull the toilet, it'e easy.

[Stratosman]

Laminate is not water friendly...especially if it has a tub/shower. I personally would never install laminate in a bathroom, but that's me. Go the tile route, a bit more work, still doable for a DIY'er and will last a lifetime in done correctly.

[hondarider550]

I like vinyl laminate better than carpet for the possible water applications. If there is not enough ventilation carpet has a tendency to hold moisture.

You will need to start with a perfectly flat surface. If you do not have a flat surface imperfections will show very easily through the laminate and evenutally wear through. You may need to lay down a underlayment such as 1/8" plywood to provide that flat surface.

Definitely remove the toilet before putting this flooring down. It will be a more of a professional look when you have this finished...

[fasternu]

Laminate is not water friendly...especially if it has a tub/shower. I personally would never install laminate in a bathroom, but that's me. Go the tile route, a bit more work, still doable for a DIY'er and will last a lifetime in done correctly.

I'm somewhat handy, but have barely any carpentry background. I have thought about doing tile, and know it is better, but I just don't think I can do it myself. The laminate I know I can do without any problem. That leaves linoleum, which has already been ruled out.

[Surface Tension]

Anything is better then carpet in a bathroom.

I guess if the bathroom is small and you don't mind replacing the laminate if/when it becomes water damaged then go for it. I mean its cheap and easy to install. Not sure why you wouldn't go with vinyl though.

Immediately getting any water wiped up is going to a for sure deal. A proper fitting and sealed shower door will help.

What you can do even though the flooring is a glueless, some glueless flooring you can still use glue on it. That will help keep water from getting into joints and under the lam.

Most water damage in bathrooms happen where flooring meets the tub. That gets into the subfloor and then you have a bigger problem. Your not going to leave room for expansion at the tub for obvious reasons. Again if the room is small its OK to seal that lam floor down as long as the rest of the flooring has the correct space along the walls to expand and float.

[Stratosman]

Another option if you like the look of tile but not the headache involved is a product called Duraceramic...it's alot more durable than vinyl and easy to install. Use an embossing leveler over the existing vinyl as long as it's adhered well, and spread the adhesive and lay it down, it is even grouted like tile and is very difficult to tell the difference between that and real porcelain tile. Much warmer on the feet too..Google it and check it out. I think Menard's even carries it or at least can order it. Relatively new product made by Congoleum, I've installed probably about 3-4,000 feet of it in the last two years in residential applications, anywhere you would install ceramic....

Another comparable product is Adura, made by Mannington, and might even be more durable. Installs the same way.

I would simply avoid the laminate deal unless your heart is set on it...

[Down Deep]

About 5 years ago I had laminent installed in the bathroom. After about 2 years I was looking up from the basement and I noticed some black water marks around the sill in the area of the bathroom floor. I pulled an inside peice of laminent up and there was water caught between the laminent and the foam liner laid under it. The water was leeching toward the sill of the outer wall of the house. I would imagine that left undiscovered the sill would have evenutally needed to be replaced. I replaced the laminent with vinyl.

[echo2010]

Originally Posted By: Stratosman

Laminate is not water friendly...especially if it has a tub/shower. I personally would never install laminate in a bathroom, but that's me. Go the tile route, a bit more work, still doable for a DIY'er and will last a lifetime in done correctly.

I'm somewhat handy, but have barely any carpentry background. I have thought about doing tile, and know it is better, but I just don't think I can do it myself. The laminate I know I can do without any problem. That leaves linoleum, which has already been ruled out.

Ok, i thought the same thing as you but once i got to it, tile was eaassssyyyyy.

They have sheets of waterproof boards you can screw down before laying the tile... it will get rid of the "flex" a lot of floors have and I would think you really would need in a bathroom.

There are spaces to keep things evenly spaced. Renting a wet saw is cheap.

I think Lowes on line has instructions on how to do it.

Grouting just involves smooshing the grout in between the tiles with a rubber thingy and then you wipe the tiles down.

Yeah as you can tell i am not a professional either but was please with how easy tile was.

[crothmeier]

ECho Good Choice. I will be doing tile in my bathroom this summer. Its alot easier than one would think.

[CrazyLabs]

FYI...the big orange box has a tile class on Saturdays at 11am. I'm doing my own bathroom and kitchen in porcelain tile and the class has helped tremendously! A very scary sounding project now seems almost easy when it's broken down and the steps are clarified.

[Redlantern]

Never understood why carpet was in the bathroom. Maybe it was to soak up moisture from a sweating toilet, or worse, one that was overflowing? No, replacing the carpet is a great idea. I've worked on some homes that had hardwood floors in the bathroom. I don't think it's a good idea, but hey, they were paying my wages so I put it in. They called me later to pull the toilets so someone else could do the ceramic. Go with ceramic, vinyl or some other man made material but stay away from wood, unless you want to put in a mixing valve to warm the water used to flush your toilet. Tile is nice. It looks good and lasts a long time.