The bathroom is a separate room in a house. It must meet many specificities, both technically and aesthetically. But it is also necessary to take into consideration that the bathroom is a humid room , water splashes and steam are legion, which requires the use of suitable materials, especially for the floor covering.. If these elements are not taken into consideration from the outset, you risk choosing a floor covering that will not be suitable, leading to significant deterioration of the floor, water infiltration at the level of the slab but the surface being more slippery, the risk of falling is also greatly increased. Choosing between tiling, parquet, PVC flooring or waxed concrete is not always easy. Even if the aesthetic aspect must obviously enter into the selection criteria, the choice must also be based on meeting very specific technical criteria.
Unlike a passage room such as a hallway, living room or kitchen, wear and tear is not the number one enemy of the floor covering.. It is rather the ambient humidity and splashes of water that must not alter the materials. If you are in a perspective of renovating your bathroom to improve its aesthetics or to have greater comfort, do not hesitate to take an overview of the different existing floor coverings to make your choice in complete safety. knowingly.
The use of tiles in a bathroom
bathroom-tiling For a very long time, tiles have been the material par excellence for dressing the bathroom.. Used both on the floor and on the walls, it is still very popular. Its constitution is based on a concentration of silica and clay, so it is absolutely not afraid of water or the mop. Porcelain stoneware is the model that you will find much more easily on the market. It is available in an infinite number of styles, with sober or, on the contrary, much more showy finishes. The designers play with the effects of materials and colors to break away from the standard white tile. Obviously, the choice concerning the color and the patterns belongs to each one. This is not a technical aspect, but simply a decorative element that you must adapt according to your desires. The great difficulty consists in technically comparing two tiles with each other. Even if certain indications are present on the technical sheet, if you do not know what they correspond to, it will not enlighten you. To do this, it is necessary to refer to the UPEC classification to make your choice in relation to your various criteria.
Indeed, this classification is essential to take into consideration the resistance and the wear symbolized by the letter “U”. “P” stands for punching, water “E” and finally chemicals “C”. Next to each letter, you then find a scale from one to four to define the level of quality . The lower the number, the poorer the quality of the tile . Conversely, the higher the number, the higher the quality of the tiles. When you have spotted a tile to install it in your bathroom, you will need to base yourself on the U2P2E3C1 classification at a minimum. If the numbers are lower, the tiles may deteriorate much more quickly or may be too slippery.
Moreover, concerning this last element, the risk of falling in a bathroom increases with age. If the renovation of the bathroom is carried out mainly for a senior, it is imperative to turn to anti-slip tiles . It has a structured surface for better grip. Polished finishes can certainly be visually pleasing but are unfortunately far too slippery for a humid room.
But tiling will not be the only choice you can make, the use of natural stone such as slate and marble can be perfectly suitable in a water feature. Although marble is a porous material, it is directly treated with a water-repellent product to become waterproof. Natural stone also brings a particularly successful touch of charm, but you should know that it is a much heavier material. Its rendering will express itself more in much larger rooms than in a bathroom, unless you have a large surface area.
