Bathroom LVT Flooring

Why LVT Beats Waterproof Laminate in a Bathroom

Laminate is built around a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core. Even on the best “100% waterproof” laminates, the core is still wood-based and the warranty is dependent on a perfectly sealed perimeter and an undamaged surface. One swollen edge, one chipped corner near the shower and the warranty is gone and the floor is failing. LVT has no wood content. The plank itself is 100% waterproof through its full thickness, the wear layer is a clear PVC film that does not absorb water and a properly fitted glue-down install removes the perimeter joint problem entirely. For a bathroom – the one room in the house where the floor is going to get wet on purpose, every day, for fifteen years – this is the right product.

Glue Down Only – and Sealed at the Perimeter

For a bathroom we will only ever specify glue down LVT. Click LVT is a floating system with a perimeter expansion gap and joints between every plank – no matter how good the click joint is, you do not want hundreds of joints in the floor of a wet room. Glue down bonds every plank continuously to the subfloor, the perimeter is run up under the skirting and silicone-sealed and the result is effectively a single continuous waterproof membrane across the bathroom. Loose lay is unsuitable for bathrooms.

Wear Layer for a Bathroom

A bathroom is normally a low-traffic room in pure footfall terms but a high-spec room in finish terms. 0.3mm is enough wear layer for the room itself; we usually recommend 0.55mm if the bathroom is a family bathroom or en-suite that runs continuously from a hallway, simply because customers like the longer warranty and the consistent spec across the upper floor.

Bathroom LVT Ranges at a Glance

The Bathroom Ranges We Stock

Amtico Spacia – Amtico’s most popular glue-down range at 0.55mm wear layer, the most popular bathroom LVT specification we sell.

Karndean Knight Tile – Karndean’s entry glue-down range, 0.3mm, an excellent bathroom answer with a strong stone-effect tile selection.

Karndean Van Gogh (0.55mm) and Karndean Art Select (0.7mm) – premium wear layers for family bathrooms and en-suites that need to match an adjoining bedroom or hallway floor.

Amtico Signature – Amtico’s flagship glue-down at 1mm wear layer, the right answer for high-end principal bathrooms and luxury hotel-style en-suites.

Amtico Form – herringbone and parquet glue down at 0.7mm. Excellent for a feature herringbone in a principal bathroom.

GF LVT – our own-brand glue down at premium European spec, sharp pricing, full online checkout and free samples.

Stone-Effect and Tile-Effect Designs

Most bathroom customers want a stone or tile look rather than a wood look and the design libraries above all carry strong stone-effect tile, stone-effect herringbone and pattern tile selections. The advantage over real porcelain is warmth, comfort underfoot, no grout to clean, no risk of cracking on a flexing upper-floor subfloor and no need to overload the floor joists.

Underfloor Heating

UFH is the right pairing for an LVT bathroom – no cold tile shock first thing in the morning. All glue-down ranges we stock are compatible with both wet and electric UFH up to a maximum surface temperature of 27C. Acclimatise the boxes in the room for 48 hours before fitting and follow the manufacturer’s commissioning sequence.

Subfloor and Sealing Notes

Three things to get right. First, the subfloor must be flat, clean, dry and primed – on an upper-floor bathroom, marine ply over the joists is the right base. Second, run the LVT up under a fully-fitted skirting and silicone-seal the perimeter. Third, around the shower tray, basin pedestal and toilet base, use a silicone bead at every contact point. Done properly, the floor will outlast the bathroom suite by a generation.

Key Takeaways

• For a bathroom, luxury vinyl tile is the right choice over waterproof laminate: the vinyl plank does not absorb water and glued down with a sealed perimeter it forms a continuous, highly water-resistant bathroom floor.
• We only specify glue-down LVT for bathrooms, not click or loose lay, because a bonded, silicone-sealed floor removes the perimeter and joint weak points of a floating system.
• A 0.3mm wear layer is enough for a bathroom, but 0.55mm is worth it where the floor runs on from a hallway or bedroom; stone and tile-effect designs are the most popular bathroom look.
• GF LVT is available to buy online with free samples; Amtico, Karndean, Project Floors and Invictus are Request a Price with supply and fit across Cheshire and South Manchester from the Altrincham showroom.

Explore Related Categories

• Other rooms: kitchen LVT, utility room LVT, bedroom LVT.
• By design: stone-effect tile, stone-effect herringbone, pattern tile.
• By install format: glue down LVT (recommended), click LVT.
• By brand: Amtico, Karndean, GF LVT.

How to Buy or Get a Quote

GF LVT is available to buy online with full pricing displayed and up to 5 free samples per order. Amtico, Karndean, Invictus and Project Floors are sold on a Request a Price basis – get in touch via our enquiry form, WhatsApp or phone with the range you have shortlisted, a rough bathroom measurement and any competitor quote you have already received and we will come back the same working day with a tailored, competitive price. Supply-and-fit is available across Cheshire and South Manchester from our 24/7 smart-lock Altrincham showroom.