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Engineered Wood Flooring

Among wood flooring options, engineered wood is the best choice for the bathroom. It consists of several layers of unfinished plywood with a thin layer of finished wood on top. The layers are bonded together under heat and pressure and stacked in opposite directions for strength and stability. In the bathroom, this means that engineered wood has more dimensional strength and reacts less to humidity changes.

Unlike its counterparts, solid wood and laminate wood, engineered wood is the best choice for light moisture exposure in the bathroom. Solid wood must be installed without error, because moisture entering between planks will eat away the body of the wood. Laminate floors are not made from real wood but consist of a wood chip base with resin-coated paper on top. After contact with humidity, laminate floors can expand and bubble.

Another benefit of engineered wood is simple installation. Engineered wood floors can be nailed, stapled, or glued down. They can also be installed directly on a flat bathroom surface as a floating floor. Another way to think of floating floors is as planks attached to one another versus being attached to the subfloor. A floating floor will spare you from lugging around nails or heavy equipment. In addition, you’ll be spared the labor of sanding or finishing the engineered wood because the top layer already comes sanded, sealed, and ready for wear. It is also highly resistant to warping.

One negative aspect regarding engineered wood’s thin top layer is that it cannot be sanded down too far when heavy dents or nicks occur. Although it can be sanded one to three times, it will likely need complete replacing once it gets worn.

Remember, engineered wood floors may be the best option to achieve the hardwood look in your bathroom. However, because it’s made from real wood, it still prone to water damage from heavy splashing or frequent puddles. Consider engineered floors side by side with tile, stone, ceramic, and other options for your bathroom remodel.

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