Is it better to use ceramic or vynil tile in the bathrooms and why?(example: how it feels on your feet if you live in a state where it gets really cold in the winter, how easy are they to clean, etc.)Thanks!
Tile is definetly more astheticly pleasing to the eyes. However it is alot harder to keep clean in the bathrooms. I am on my 4th home...and have had both vynil and tile. Although vynil will not last as long, it is inexpensive to replace, warmer in your feet, and a heck of alot easier to keep clean.. I reccomend vynil over tile anyday.
Vinyl floors can be dangerous in bathrooms. They're VERY slick if the floor gets wet or if you get out of a shower/tub with wet feet. You can put heaters under ceramic tile or place rugs on the floor if you're worried about coldness.
Vinyl is really only an option if money or handyness is an issue. Tile isn't difficult to install, but stirring thinset is tough (tore my rotator cuff). But for the money, the extra $1/sqft for the ceramic vs vinyl will pay off in 5 -10 years when the vinyl starts to crack and needs to be replaced or the toilet overflows and ruins the subfloor through the gaps in vinyl.
Ceramic tile is just nicer than vynil.... period. If you are woried about the coldness of the tile. I noticed at Lowe's the other day a heater coil that was made to be put under the tiles to keep them nice and toasty for your feet. I spoke to the lady about them and she said that they were becoming fairly common place. I am tiling my laundry room, so I don't think I will heat it.
I like ceramic tile. Yes, it will be cold on your feet in the winter, I just use bathroom rugs and have no problem with this. I prefer ceramic, especially for the bathroom, because that is going to be the wettest room of the house...and even more so if you have kids! Make sure you get textured tiles...we didn't know to do that for the bathroom and needless to say there have been lots of slips and falls when our kids start running through the house with wet feet. I have cleaned many many ceramic floors and many many vinyl floors....not much difference in how well they clean up. Tile has grout, but it won't show dirt depending on the color you choose.
