Thinking about installing solid hardwood flooring in your bathroom? While wood adds warmth and elegance, moisture can be a challenge. Is it worth the risk? In this guide, we’ll explore the pros, cons, and best practices for using hardwood in bathrooms.
What Do You Think About Hardwood Flooring In Bathrooms?
There are so many different waterproof options for flooring these days, but solid hardwood floors are still a stylish trend for homeowners. It can add a modern touch to any space. Hardwood flooring is known to be very temperamental when it comes to moisture. This makes it a less popular option when it comes to rooms like the bathroom. However, it is still possible to choose wood flooring for your bathroom there are just a few factors you should consider before making your final decision. Looking at photos on the internet is a great wat to bet bathroom ideas.
Wood Flooring Type
It’s important to look at wood type when you’re choosing a wood flooring for your bathrooms. There are certain types of wood flooring that’ll be better at combating moisture and humidity. You should avoid soft wood flooring types because they are more likely to absorb water. You want to prevent water damage by choosing a stronger wood type. Oak, Cherry, Maple, and Walnut are all better choices of species for wood flooring in bathrooms. One species of flooring that you should avoid installing in high moisture areas of your home is Hickory.
Hardwood Floor Finish
Choosing a high quality floor finish is extremely important if you decide to put wood flooring in your bathrooms or other areas with excessive humidity and narrow traffic patterns. Unfinished flooring is very vulnerable to water. Adding a finish will help seal your floor preventing any unwanted water damage. The best way to protect your bathroom floor is by applying a finishing agent several times creating a tough seal that is hard for water to penetrate.
Cost of Wood Flooring
When it comes to choosing solid wood bathroom flooring, you’ll notice that it can have a high price tag. You can still get great deals on wood planks you just have to shop around. Another thing to consider is the cost of repairing your bathroom floor in the event that damage occurs. You should make sure you check the warranty when you purchase your flooring. Sometimes the manufacturer’s warranty has exceptions when the flooring is installed in a room with a high chance of moisture, like a bathroom or utility room. You’ll want to consider this when it comes to calculating the cost, including installation.
Water Damage
Nobody wants to deal with water damage, but especially when it comes to their nice wood floor. The bathroom is a high moisture space which means you have to pay attention to spills on your flooring. You should wipe up any spills as soon as they happen, as well as excessive water from a shower or bathtub. This will help keep your floor safe from water damage. Engineered hardwood is known to be more moisture resistant and some people do select it for bathroom remodels. However, we recommend a good waterproof floor like luxury vinyl plank or tile to avoid expensive water damage repairs popping up. LVT makes a great bathroom floor as it is engineered for moisture resistance and will not be bothered by water spills.
Quick Tips on How to Prevent Water Damage
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If you see water on the floor, then you should clean it up immediately. You don’t want water to rest on your hardwood floor at any point.
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Buying bath mats for your bathroom can be a life-saver. You can put the bath mats down at points in the room where water is more likely to hit the floor, like in front of a toilet or shower.
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Routinely check your plumbing to make sure you don’t have any leaky pipes.
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Clean and inspect your floor regularly. You want to spot water damage before it reaches the point of damaging your flooring material.
These are all things to consider before choosing wood flooring for your bathroom. Solid wood flooring can be a great option for the bathroom as long as you routinely check it. At ReallyCheapFloors.com we offer amazing flooring options for a reasonable price tag. Check out our guide on hardwood flooring for more information.
