LVP Vs Tiles in a bathroom, which is best?

Question

Hey guys, I've decided on using luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout my rental unit I'm about to start renovating, and trying to decide if I should just continue it through into the bathrooms as well seeing as it's scratch proof and water proof, or just tile it. Anyone have any experience with this or thoughts on best route to take? Thanks!

Dawn P. · Answer

I've come to really like the vinyl click-lock tile in rental bathrooms, it gives that tile look but I don't have to worry about cleaning cruddy grout lines and it's not so cold under people's feet. And it's a lot faster than tiling. They make all kinds of colors/textures. This is a 12 x 24 concrete-look vinyl tile I installed last year (not a great pic but you get the idea):

JD Martin · Answer

We used to use only tile in bathrooms but switched to vinyl planks about 5 or 6 years ago and they have held up fantastic. Caulk the ends good around the tub and perimeter and it will be just as waterproof as tile. Make sure you use 100% vinyl; I wouldn't use the vinyl coated sawdust like Pergo in a bathroom.

Jim K. · Answer

There are some omnipresent and perennial problems with using tile in renovation. I prefer impervious porcelain tile floors in my bathrooms and kitchens. The big benefit I have in my handyman portfolio is that I am either laying the tile or closely supervising the job as it's done by people whom I've personally trained.

That's part of how I've come into this business, as a handyman investor with quite a bit of prior experience in laying tile.

My portfolio is also almost completely occupied by health care professionals, who in general are trained to appreciate the advantages of ceramic tile as a sanitary surface. These people know that most diseases that are transmitted readily through surface contact have more trouble with glazed ceramic surfaces than they do with plastic surfaces. So for my C-class portfolio, ceramic tile and porcelain-on-steel tubs make a lot more sense than they do for other people in other cities catering to other renters.

So I really think for most people getting into this business, it's tempting fate to pay someone else to put floor tile in a property. Decorative wall tile like a backsplash is less of a concern. But wet-area tile...there really aren't that many people who are worth trusting to put in good shower wall tile, and absolutely none of them can be persuaded to do work on a small investor's portfolio at bargain prices.

Eric James · Answer

I install tile if there's a concrete slab floor. It lasts forever. Otherwise LVP. I don't like installing tile when the subfloor is wood.

Isaiah Williams · Answer

@Xavier Brinkman

I have always gone with LVT and have never had issues! Just make sure 1.) There is a good moisture barrier underlayment and 2.) The job is done PROFESSIONALLY! You might get away with a centimeter or 2 of space between 2 planks in the living room or kitchen for example, but in a high moisture area like a bathroom, if some water gets under those floor boards it can be HELL! Most especially if the subfloor is wood! Make sure you get slightly thicker LVT I would say at least 6mm for a bathroom.

Tile works just as well just its harder to install,  takes longer, and is more easily damaged if something cracks the tile.  One unit I bought had ceramic tile In the bathroom. Nothing wrong with I left it as is. 6 months later a tenant dropped their bowling ball on the tile and cracked it into jagged pieces! Ending up just putting LVT over everything and covered up the tile and it was as good as new!

Marc Rice · Answer

@Xavier Brinkman

Tile lasts longer but is more expensive for backer board and tile and labor while LVP is cheaper and can be installed $2-3/sqft + ~ $2/sqft for material. If you’re refinancing a tile vs LVP won’t make a big difference.

William Collins · Answer

I would also say- tile the bathroom. Kitchen's LVP is fine!

Bryan Eltzroth · Answer

@Xavier Brinkman I would look into QuicTile by Daltile. It’s a floating tile floor that clicks and locks together like LVP. You do need to use their own grout which is a little different than tile grout but if you’re efficient, you can tile a bathroom floor in a day from start to finish.

It’s a little pricey but has the durability of tile and is much more waterproof than LVP and the speed at which it can be installed definitely helps the value proposition vs traditional tile.

Aaron W. · Answer

@Xavier Brinkman Our preference is to tile it as it's more durable and probably more waterproof than LVP.

Best of luck!

LVP Vs Tiles in a bathroom, which is best?

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