A tradesman’s guide to tiles vs click flooring

When it comes to bathroom flooring, there are various options that your customers might want to consider, the main ones being tiles and click – or vinyl – flooring. Although tiles are the traditional go-to for bathroom floors, increasingly, click flooring has become a popular choice for many homeowners, while for others, its attributes remain as yet unexplored …

If your customers are trying to work out which type of flooring to choose, then it’s good to know the key benefits of tiles vs click flooring – and vice versa – so you can advise them appropriately. We’ve therefore compiled a handy guide to these two types of bathroom floors, for your convenience.

What is tile flooring?

It might seem an obvious question but tiles and click flooring are very different and it might just surprise you how little people know about the differences between them. It’s therefore good to have a simple explanation to hand.

Tile floors obviously use tiles of varying materials and shapes – porcelain, ceramic, acrylic, to name a few – and will require an underlayment, as well as grouting between the tiles.

What is click flooring?

Click flooring can be either vinyl or laminate and is defined by its easy installation, where it simply clicks and locks together, negating the need for nails, screws, or any other tools. Vinyl click flooring has the look of tiles but is a synthetic material, making it better suited to bathrooms than laminate, as it’s water-resistant and/or waterproof and therefore works well in moisture-rich rooms.

Tiles are the traditional choice of flooring for bathrooms but click/vinyl flooring is now a popular competitor.

Pergo vinyl floors

At Bathshack, we supply high-quality Pergo vinyl click flooring, a leading brand whose products are ideal for installing in bathrooms. Manufacturing reliable, hardwearing vinyl flooring which will last for years to come, Pergo products include their special Rigid Click Vinyl Flooring feature, which makes it very easy to install.

Benefits of Pergo vinyl flooring include:

• Rigid Click feature: The floor simply clicks and locks into place, so there’s no need for adhesive or any fitting tools, saving you time and effort.
• Scratch-resistant: Ideal for high-traffic areas like bathrooms, your customers can rest easy knowing their vinyl floors will withstand frequent footfall without looking tired or getting damaged.
• 100% waterproof: This is obviously very important for bathrooms, where water is easily spilt and moisture is guaranteed in the air. Being fully waterproof subsequently means the floor is protected and won’t warp, so is suitable for this environment, thanks to its water-repellant layer. It’s also fully watertight once sealed.
• Compatible with underfloor heating: This is a useful feature if, as many homeowners like to do, underfloor heating is installed in the bathroom, as not all flooring supports this option. It therefore makes the Pergo vinyl floor even more versatile.

Both tile and vinyl flooring come in an array of colours and patterns.

• 20-year Manufacturer’s Guarantee: Pergo flooring is of premium quality but, should anything happen, you can rest assured knowing there’s a 20-year manufacturer’s guarantee in place.
• Multiple designs: Whether your customers want wood-effect flooring, patterns or any other designs, Pergo vinyl floors comes in an array of colour palettes, with lots of choices available in terms of style and aesthetics.
• Low maintenance: Without grouting, vinyl floors require less cleaning and are straightforward to maintain with an easy-to-clean surface.

Pros and cons of tiles vs vinyl flooring

Versatility and longevity: While tiles might tend to last longer when it comes to overall endurance, they’re more difficult to replace, while vinyl floors are fairly long-lasting and very easy to lift up and replace, should your customer decide to update their décor. Vinyl floors are also less prone to damage in terms of cracking and chipping, as tiles would be.

Cost: Tiles have traditionally been pricier than vinyl flooring, which is still generally the case, though with improvements in vinyl floors, the price can sometimes creep up more here as well.

Variety: Both tiles and vinyl come in a range of colour palettes and patterns, with tiles also available in different materials, such as porcelain, ceramic and acrylic. As a result, they both offer a variety of choice when it comes to choosing something to suit someone’s individual style preferences.

Comfort: Vinyl flooring offers more cushioning to feet than hard tile flooring and can also be slightly warmer to the touch in colder months.

Cleaning: Vinyl flooring is easier to maintain, thanks to a lack of grout, while tiles usually require a bit more elbow grease in this respect.

Installation: Click flooring is much quicker and simpler to install, as you can just lay the flooring down and then click it into place without the need for tools and adhesive. Tiles, on the other hand, require an underlayment and grouting, while you’ll often have to cut them to fit around bathroom furniture and plumbing, which requires tools and expertise.

Examples of Pergo vinyl flooring

An example of some of Bathshack’s Pergo vinyl flooring range includes the Grey Heritage Oak Wood-effect Vinyl Floor, which is a robust, sturdy floor finished with Pergo’s TitanV Surface Protection. It’s therefore a great long-term investment when it comes to bathroom flooring.

The Pergo Premium Click Vinyl Flooring in Grey Heritage Oak Wood-effect Vinyl Floor.

With a realistic wood-effect finish, the design has authentic notches and graining reminiscent of timber – without the cost and upkeep required for real wood. Meanwhile, the grey colour palette will go with a range of décor so is versatile while also giving the floor an interesting appearance, differing from the usual go-to brown wood tones.

Installation is also straightforward, thanks to Pergo’s PerfectFold™ Click System, which means it’s a great time-saver and won’t require those tradesman’s tools.

The Pergo Premium Click Vinyl Flooring in Italian Marble is an example of a marble-effect vinyl floor which has a high-end look without the matching price tag. It comes with all the same great features, so is tough and water-resistant as well as having that easy click assembly. It’s also compatible with underfloor heating. Meanwhile, the white background with marble-effect veining throughout gives it an elegant aesthetic which will complement a range of interior design.

The Pergo Premium Click Vinyl Flooring in Italian Marble.

Fantastic flooring at Bathshack

Whether your customers are keen on floor tiles or want to know more about vinyl flooring for bathrooms, if you’re equipped with the key facts about both, then it’s much easier to inform them about their options. This may also speed up the process when it comes to fitting their floors and will ensure they have all the facts upfront.

At Bathshack and Tileshack, we have a wide range of tiles and vinyl flooring to suit all styles – and our friendly team is always happy to recommend popular ranges and trending products.

For more information about our tile and vinyl flooring just email our team at info@bathshack.com or give us a call on (028) 9077 0188. Alternatively, why not visit us in Antrim or Duncrue, Belfast and we’ll be happy to help.