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Aging in Place by Room - Part 41 - Bathroom Flooring

3/26/2020

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By Anna Hazard
Bathroom Floor Picture

Introduction

According to the Center of Disease Control, around 235,000 non-fatal injuries are suffered in the bathroom per year within the USA with over 80% directly caused by falling. This is often due to the slippery surface of the room's waterproof flooring. Thus remodeling the bathroom floor for greater safety and accessibility should be a priority when it comes to preparing a household for aging in place, especially as 80% of all falls by those aged 65+ also occur in the bathroom (with an estimate of around 1/3rd of the senior population potentially suffering a fall during the year).
 
Flooring can be measured with a dynamic coefficient of friction whereby the higher the number, the better the slip resistance. For the bathroom, a coefficient of 0.42 or higher will be needed. While the ceramic tile industry has adopted these friction ratings for safety reasons, other materials are optimally recommended for floor use in the bathroom.
Sheet Vinyl Flooring Picture

Flooring Material

Most pre-installed bathroom floors are tiled and are usually made from ceramic (or potentially porcelain, glass, or marble).  This is done as an inexpensive & easy-to-maintain way to create a waterproof surface. However, these types of flooring tend to be very slippery when wet which poses a great falling risk when the bath or shower is in use. In addition tiled flooring can create another tripping hazard if its tiles or connecting grout are uneven.
 
It's generally recommended that ceramic and other tiling be replaced with textured waterproof sheet vinyl or sheet rubber which will not become slippery when wet. While rubber flooring is generally viewed as the safest choice due to its greater cushioning for shock absorbance during falls, it's also the more pricey option with non-slip vinyl being a good inexpensive alternative. In addition, sheet vinyl flooring comes in a wider array of decorative patterns such as those that mimic hardwood, marble, or ceramic tiling.
 
Sheeting that has been cut to the exact dimensions, size, and shape of the bathroom is recommended over normal tiling as the solid surface creates a more waterproof environment without the potential for moisture to collect at the edges of the tiles (which then can seep into the insulation beneath). The lack of grouting also adds to a more even surface with less potential lips, corners, or edges to trip over.
Slip Doctors Non-skid Surface Applications Picture

Floor Texture

The bathroom flooring, both within its main section as well as in its bathing or shower area, should have a textured surface in order to help prevent slippage. Generally it's best to have a non-skid surface directly molded into the floor and bottom of the bath & shower so that extraneous mats and rugs will not be needed (as the edges of the mats as well as the sudden change in surface has the potential of posing its own tripping hazard).
 
If the floor of the bathroom is not naturally textured, then a slip resistant treatment is highly recommended. This would include the addition of gritty no-slip paint or other coatings with a friction coefficient of at least 0.42 or higher as well as adhering heavy duty anti-slip strips directly to the floor.
Gorilla Grip Extra-Large Bathtub Mat Picture

Additional Flooring Options

If the tub or shower does not have a non-skid textured surface, then non-skid rubber mats, waterproof treads, or shower strips made specifically for bathing areas will need to be added to the floor surface. Care must be taken that the mats or strips are tightly bonded directly to the surface so that they don't pull free or bunch up, which would then pose their own tripping hazard.
 
If the general floor area of the bathroom is not comprised of waterproof textured vinyl or rubber, then it may be necessary to have non-skid, low threshold bathmats in potential slippery sections where moisture might collect on the floor. This would include the entrance & exit of the tub or shower as well as the front of the sink.
 
These bath mats should be low pile and on the thinner side with preferably sloped edges to help mitigate the potential of tripping over the mat threshold due to the change in surface height. The mats should be slip resistant with rubber backing that fastens directly to the floor using anti-slip rug tape (preferably the type rated for use in the bathroom or other moist areas) to make certain that the rug will not easily bunch up or slide around during use.

View the Rest of the Series

Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Exterior
Part 3 - Landscaping & Gardens
Part 4 -  Patio,  Porch, & Deck
Part 5 - Garage & Carports

Part 6 - Entrances, Exits, & Thresholds
Part 7 - Exterior Steps & Ramps
Part 8 - Threshold Lighting & Windows

Part 9 - Interior Doors & Halls
Part 10 - Interior Steps & Staircases
Part 11 - Interior Stairlifts

Part 12 - Interior Elevators
Part 13 - Interior Lighting
Part 14 - General Interior Flooring
Part 15 - Interior Flooring Comparisons
Part 16 - HVAC & Energy Efficiency

Part 17 - Power, Communications, & Other Interior Systems
Part 18 - Living Room
Part 19 - Kitchen Layout, HVAC, & Electrical Systems
Part 20 - Kitchen Lighting, Flooring, and Sink Faucets

Part 21 - Kitchen Countertops & Cabinets
Part 22 - 
Kitchen Refrigerators, Freezers, and Dishwashers
Part 23 - 
Kitchen Ovens, Ranges, Stovetops, and Cooktops
Part 24 - Kitchen 
Microwaves, Blenders, & Food Processors
Part 25 - 
Miscellaneous Kitchen Items
Part 26 - Dining Room Layout, Tables, & Other Furniture
Part 27 - Dining Room Flooring, Lighting, & Meal Serving Equipment
Part 28 - Bedroom Layout & Closets
Part 29 - Accessible 
Beds 
Part 30 - Bedroom Furniture, Electronics, & Other Accessories
Part 31 - Bedroom Flooring
​
Part 32 - Bedroom Lighting
Part 33 - Bathroom General Layout
Part 34 - Bathroom General Tips for Showers & Tubs
Part 35 - Bathroom Accessible Tubs
Part 36 - Bathroom Accessible Showers

Part 37 - Bathroom Accessible Toilets
Part 38 - Bathroom Sinks & Vanities

Part 39 - Bathroom Cabinets & Shelving
Part 40 - Bathroom Grab Bars
Part 41 - Bathroom Flooring
Part 42 - Bathroom Lighting
Part 43 - Bathroom Ableware - Toilet Aids & General Accessibility
Part 44 - Bathroom Ableware - Shower, Bathing, & Grooming Aids
Part 45 - Laundry Room Location, Layout, & Spacing
Part 46 - Laundry Room Carts, Rolling Hampers, & Chutes
Part 47 - Laundry Room Dumbwaiters
​Part 48 - Laundry Appliances (Washers & Dryers)

Part 49 - Laundry Room Cabinets, Shelving, & Countertops
Part 50 - Laundry Room Storage & Organization

Part 51 - Laundry Sinks, Lighting, & Flooring
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