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Flooring Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Subway tile - bathroom floor?

4 years ago

I'm looking to do something a little different in guest bathroom. I don't want to spend a lot of $ for a guest bath that doesn't get used that much, but still want it to be nice. I was thinking about running white subway tile on the floor with dark grout. I can't seem to find any pics online, is that because it's a bad idea? Thoughts?

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Comments (6)

PRO
User
4 years ago
That’s because it’s WALL tile. It’s too soft and slippery for use as floor tile. Tile has a wear rating, and a slipperiness rating both. Both have to be considered for use as a floor tile in a bathroom.
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thinkdesignlive
4 years ago
There are lots of options available rated for floors in a rectilinear shape. And how you lay out that shape is up to the overall design. Just make sure you select something rated for floors like ProSource said.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/tribeca-loft-renovation-transitional-bathroom-new-york-phvw-vp~119037388
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foxy, are you still around? Oddly enough, for our next bath we're thinking of using the smaller Hollviken and Danze Parma, and here you are using the same things! (we have our big hollviken in our master bath and love it every day). Would you share your thoughts on how the Parma is holding up? Would you use it again, knowing how it's been so far? TIA -- hope you see this...OH, we're also using some mosaic tile accent in and amongst larger format tiles lol...I *swear* I wasn't intentionally copying :)
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I don't know about subway vs square. But here is a picture of a bathroom at the hospital I work at that was built in the early 50's. I took these several months ago as I was getting ready to tile my 4x4 wainscot. In my old bathroom it was plastered to replicate 4x4 tiles. This bathroom was built either in the 30's or 40's. Hospital bathroom: Here is my new tile: Here is the old plaster embossed tile shapes from the 30's or 40's. Note the versatile white duct tape to cover the gaping holes in the plaster: This room had reached the end of its life 15 years ago!
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@Slough Shark we are just getting started with the master bath in our new (budget) build- although we have hired a reputable tiler to do the tile work. 4x16 white glossy subways for the shower walls and grey pebble mosaic for the shower floor. Bathroom floor tile is a dark grey and I am struggling to pick a grout for the floor tile. I want to use the same color for the mosaic and hexagon floor tile. Looks like your floors might be about the same color... could you post a pic of the floor tile? Im considering pewter or dove gray from custom building products. i am now debating choosing rolling fog instead of platinum for the subways after seeing your results!!
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Correct, the same, also in matt: https://www.tile-shop.com/products/tuxedo/tuxedo.html So happy with the outcome in our tiny bathroom after the original nightmare, thanks to the help on this site.
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ShoppingChef
Original Author
4 years ago
I should have clarified... I am aware of the difference between wall & floor tile. I've been looking for floor subway style tile with no luck, just wondering if anyone has had any luck with finding a subway style floor tile.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
They do not exist and you can find many inexpensive 12 x24 tile to do a bathroom floor and IMO a lot fewer grout lines and easier to install.
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PRO
Beth H. :
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
ProSource- they do 12x24 glossy tiles all the time on the floor. (think marble tiles) So you saying a subway tile isn't suitable for the floor is not actually true (slippery-wise) . it actually has more traction than a larger tile because of the grout. (as long as it's rated for floor usage, the size of the tile shouldn't matter) Yes, some ceramic tiles are not suitable for floor usage because they will crack.

before using wall tile on the floor, you have to make sure the manufacturer says it's also rated for the floor. Some ceramic wall tile is not rated for floor tile.

However, if suitable for floors, you can easily do a 3x6 size tile on the floor, Since the grout acts as traction.

I just did a 2x6 Zellige tile (Glazed) in a herringbone. let me tell you, that grout acts as a strong traction gripper! you could easily do this on the bathroom floor and be fine

but since cost is an issue, why don't you just use one of the less expensive sheet mosaics for the floor?

this is a matte porcelain tile on a sheet that would work for the floor. (comes in all colors) It's less than $3 a sheet. each 3x6 subway tile runs about .25 cents, and needs to be installed one by one. the sheets are faster to install.

I also like these gray, wood-look tiles that come ready to install in a herringbone
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ShoppingChef
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks for the great suggestions!
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