Now that the decision has been made to renovate your bathroom into what you have always envisioned, there are crucial considerations to keep in mind. In an environment that can often be beset with moisture, materials that are durable, moisture resistant, yet contemporary are essential. This blog will cover various bathroom renovation materials including some of the best choices available. A clear bathroom remodel materials list is also outlined to inform you of several available options before meeting with your designer/contractor.
Bathroom Renovation Materials for Flooring
Especially for those with mobility issues, bathroom flooring should be chosen with care. The best bathroom materials are anti-slip, waterproof, and durable. Beyond function, flooring also sets the tone for your design, so selecting the right texture, finish, and style will balance practicality with aesthetics.
Anti-Slip Tiles
Textured porcelain or ceramic tiles have uneven patterns and ridges built into their surfaces while luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is very slip resistant and has excellent waterproof properties. In flooring, look for an R-value (Ramp Test) rating between R9 and R13 when seeking bathroom renovation materials.
Large Format Porcelain Or Marble Slabs
These have a seamless look and are generally easy to clean. Porcelain is hardwearing and can be textured for slip resistance while marble is more porous and is normally slippery when wet.
Marble/Slate/Granite
These more luxurious materials offer a high-end appearance with outstanding durability. Granite is naturally non-slip, slate is available is various colours and can be textured for traction, and marble is more slip resistant when laid in smaller tiles.
Vitrified Tiles
These are made with a blend of natural materials to produce a scratch-resistant, glassy, durable tile. Not all vitrified tiles are anti-slip but can come with additional patterns that can make surfaces more textured.
Shower Remodel Materials for Walls
When compiling your bathroom materials list for your renovation, excellent choices for walls and surfaces include ceramic and porcelain tiles. Both are low maintenance surfaces and extremely moisture resistant although porcelain perseveres better in the face of moisture and humidity.
Large Marble or Porcelain Slabs
Larger slabs of marble or porcelain offer a stylish look with relatively grout-free walls. Marble, however, needs to be regularly resealed to avoid mold or mildew growth.
Textured 3D Tiles
These offer a 3D physical depth with their raised textures and patterns. These are moisture resistant and provide visual dynamics, but they are a little more difficult to clean due to the textures and grooves.
Tadelakt and Limewash
More high-end materials for a bathroom remodel, Tadelakt is a waterproof, seamless lime plaster that is perfect for wet, moist areas. It is labour intensive and expensive to apply. Limewash is ideal for bathroom walls, but it is not be applied in an area with direct exposure to water like in a shower stall.
Bathroom Remodel Materials for Niches & Vanities
While composing a list of materials needed to remodel a bathroom, don’t forget to include a bathroom niche in the shower or bathtub wall. Vanities and their associated countertops require that they be water resistant to moisture and errant splashes.
Bathroom Niches
For a seamless look, match the material applied to the walls of your shower stall to your bathroom niche. To create a visual accent, ceramic or porcelain tiles are enduring and waterproof. More upscale options include marble, granite, or glass mosaics which add a splash of colour.
Countertops and Vanities
On your bathroom remodel materials list, consider if you are replacing a single sink or upgrading to a double sink vanity. Marble, quartz, granite, and tiled countertops are waterproof and effortless to clean. Cultured marble is less expensive and waterproof, but may not have the vibrancy of real marble.
Fixtures & Finishing Touches
When contemplating renovation, the remodeling materials you choose should be appropriate for the moist, damp atmosphere of a bathroom. Fixtures need to be durable and resistant to corrosion. A standard and practical option for faucets, towel bars and hooks, and other accessories is stainless steel. They fit the bill as sturdy and rust resistant making them ideal for use in a wet environment.
More stately bathroom renovation materials are available, for example brass, nickel, and copper, for a more extravagant feeling. Unlacquered brass, more than just a classic look, has antimicrobial qualities that can help to kill bacteria and viruses. Modern bathroom fixtures, such as linear shower drains, wall mounted toilets, and freestanding bathtubs offer a minimalist design and, combined with your choice of waterproof flooring and wall surfaces, produce a customized, modern space that can display your personality.
How to Decide Essentials vs. Upgrades for Bathroom Materials
When thinking about materials needed for a bathroom remodel, there are essentials and secondary items. So, how do you determine what is essential and what are additional nice upgrades to have?
No one expects a new shower to leak, so a waterproof membrane on the walls and floor along with a sturdy shower pan to direct waste water are crucial. Your choice of tile that is anti-slip and reflects your personality is important to make the shower and bathroom safe and welcoming.
Replacing a leaky vanity with a double vanity that features plenty of storage options for linens and towels is an essential.
More optional items as shower remodel materials include a glass partition for an open design concept for the room. Professionally installed LED-lit bathroom niches add elegance and storage for the bathroom, but it’s not always essential. Textured 3D tiling around the room adds character. Depending on the type of tile, you can choose between standard designs or opt for the luxury collections. Mosaic tile accents centre attention to focal areas in the bathroom. Work together with your designer/contractor to refine your bathroom remodel to your individual tastes. Again, more details added, leads to more upgrades.
At the end of the day, it’s important to communicate with your contractor what the issues are with the bathroom that you want remodeled. It is the responsibility of your remodeling team to lead you in the right direction, listen to your concerns, and come up with proposals based on what you like and don’t like. Professionally, they will tell you what needs to be done and what can be a nice added touch.
Bathroom Materials List
Regardless of all the choices available, there are several must haves for a bathroom remodel. Here is a summary of what to keep in mind:
- Flooring that is moisture safe and anti-slip. Vitrified or porcelain tiling on the floor, with at least an R9 value for anti-slip, is durable and stylish;
- Wall finishes that are long-wearing and stylish. Textured 3D tiles, in small or large formats, are in fashion;
- Waterproof shower niches, with or without LED lighting, keep your shower organized;
- Counter and vanity materials that are sturdy, waterproof, and easy to clean;
- High quality durable fixtures starting with familiar stainless steel or upgraded materials;
- Lighting for safety and ambience, ventilation for moisture elimination, and storage to keep your room organized.
In discussions with your designer/contractor, your bathroom construction materials list needs to touch on all of these to outline your elegant dream bathroom.
Conclusion
Forewarned is forearmed, and having a bathroom materials list that covers the essentials as well as a range of choices from standard to more indulgent makes you prepared. Your choices need to focus on functionality, longevity, and allure to create the bathroom that you have always wanted. In discussions with your designer/contractor, use your materials list to guide you on your journey to your new comfortable and coveted bathroom.
Contact Greenview Renovation to plan your next bathroom remodel in Palm Beach and Broward County.