Is hardwood flooring a safe option for a bathroom?

Hardwood flooring safe for a bathroom?

The beauty of a hardwood floor is undeniable. Beautiful things are nice; however, keeping them beautiful can be stressful. Hardwood flooring does not have the same chance of survival in every room of the house. Specific influences can cause the floor type to lose its timeless appeal. A particularly risky and potentially troublesome room for a hardwood floor is a bathroom.

What makes hardwood flooring risky for a bathroom?

Two words: moisture vulnerability

Wood is a porous material. Porous is defined as “having minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass”. Water can seep through the seams of a hardwood floor and cause visual deficiencies such as cupping and/or curling. If water finds a way to settle at the core of any given wood plank, your reliable and costly purchase could be at risk. As you could imagine, general bathroom use can threaten hardwood flooring. Whether it be vapor from a long hot shower, water spraying from the shower, or water spewing from a leak, hardwood is in for a stressful life when installed in a bathroom.

Does this mean you absolutely cannot install hardwood in your bathroom?

Not necessarily. As long as you are cautious and conscientious, a hardwood floor should have little problem surviving in your bathroom. In fact, hardwood can be a great option for guest bathrooms that are barely ever used. Restrooms used frequently; however, are risky. Your careless teenage daughter may have a difficult time paying attention to and respecting the “common” floor that exists in her bathroom.

If you are gung-ho about installing hardwood flooring in one or more of your home bathrooms, be sure to seal it. A sealant placed over hardwood will better protect it from moisture. The hardwood will not be 100% moisture free, but its moisture resistance will be much improved from an unsealed version.

Alternatives to hardwood flooring

There are a couple of flooring options that are eerily similar to hardwood, but that can better withstand moisture. Specifically, engineered hardwood and vinyl plank flooring.  Both options are layered with varieties of fiberglass and plywood to make it tougher for liquids to reach the core of a plank. This composition differs from hardwood, as hardwood is 100% wood all throughout.

The difference between engineered hardwood and vinyl plank is as follows…

Engineered hardwood is topped with a hardwood veneer. Any type of hardwood can complete the composition of the engineered version, whether it be oak, maple, cherry, walnut, or any other type. Because engineered hardwood is topped with a legitimate layer of hardwood, it holds the same appearance as a true hardwood floor. Ultimately, you’ll be getting the same look, only your floor will be stronger against moisture.

Vinyl plank is not topped with a layer of true hardwood. Rather, it is topped with a high-resolution image of a particular type of hardwood. Don’t let this description fool you. Technology is now so advanced that the look of vinyl plank floor will hardly suffer, if it suffers at all. Visitors will likely be able to tell vinyl plank from hardwood; however, you’ll still have a quality looking floor for much cheaper.

Whatever floor type you decide on, give Daka Construction and Remodeling a call at (214) 997-6899 for installation. Our knowledge and experience will contribute to a very smooth and precise installation. You’ll have your bathroom looking just as you want it in no time! Please visit our website—dakaconstruction.com—and our blog for additional flooring and remodeling input.