Bathroom Hardwood Floors

More from the Bathroom Remodeling Gallery

Yes, you can enjoy the warmth of hardwood floors in your bathroom. Kitchens are ground zero for water splashes and humidity. The bathroom is no different. That being said, water and wood don’t mix.

There are precautions you must take to protect your floor.

Humidity and water splashes are inevitable. These elements will warp the wood and encourage dangerous mold. Wood breathes; it expands and contracts based on the relative humidity. When it contracts, it leaves the sub floor vulnerable to water damage.

Proper installation is the first step to protect the sub floor. The floor needs a layer of hardy backer cement board to ensure that water doesn’t seep through the hardwood floors to the sub floor. This is the same material used under tile countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. Its sole purpose is to act as a barrier between water and wood.

Next, you need to choose your wood wisely. Avoid softwood and stick with hardwood. Good examples of hardwood include:

• walnut
• hickory
• maple
• ash
• oak
• cherry

Apply an oil-based polyurethane varnish to the floor. The depth and slight ambering will emphasize the natural beauty of the wood grain and make it highly resistant to stains and moisture.

Once your floor is installed, you’ll need to maintain it. Clean up water spills right away and periodically refinish the floors to ensure a tight seal.

Related Links:

• Hardwood Flooring in the Bathroom
• Hardwood Floors in Bathroom Generally A Bad Idea
• Putting Hardwood Floor in the Bathroom Practically Guarantees Damage
• Hardwood Flooring Frequently Asked Questions

For information about remodeling your bathroom using wood floors, contact our bathroom remodeling contractors.

Bathroom Carpet / Engineered Wood Flooring / Hardwood Floors / Laminate Flooring / Vinyl Bathroom Flooring / Stone Bathroom Flooring / Ceramic Bathroom Tiles