New trend alert! Everyone is installing wooden floors in bathrooms!! But is it really worth it? We all know wood is prone to damage due to water spills or puddles. In this article, we will discuss installing wooden floors in a bathroom with its benefits, damaging aspects as well as precautions. But before that, let’s briefly discuss…

Why Wooden Flooring?

Wooden flooring has been a trend for a while now and there are many reasons. They’re one of the few eco-friendly construction alternatives which are pleasant in appearance, don’t lose colour or lustre and can last for generations if taken care of. The care in question isn’t much because wooden flooring is low maintenance. Moreover, hardwood goes with any décor theme, many colour hues and moreover, it improves the air quality in the environment. Best part? Installing hardwood flooring increases the value of your house!

So agreed – there are endless benefits of wooden floor installation but is it a suitable option for your bathroom?

Wooden Floors in Bathroom

Flip through any interior design magazine or scroll through endless Pinterest boards, you may find many professional designers or influencers showing off their bathrooms featuring a lush layer of sun-kissed wood. They look so clean, stylish and relaxing that one may wonder if the owners even use them or just come around once in a while to admire their pretty bathrooms as a getaway from their hectic lives.

Today, more and more people are installing hardwood in their bathrooms primarily for its appearance. And I can’t blame them! Being surrounded by the warm hues of wood grain and losing the track of time is not time wasted but time well spent. Moreover, the soft yet warm feel of the wood under one’s feet is something worth experiencing every morning. If that’s not enough, due to hardwood’s natural longevity, wooden flooring is a go-to!

However, as we all know, hardwood is prone to damage when it comes in contact with any liquid substance and bathroom is a place where you simply can’t avoid water.

For this very reason, only engineered wood is apt for bathrooms wherein wooden planks are tightly clipped together and don’t create any space for water to seep through. Moreover, engineered wood planks are comparatively stronger and stand the test of time. But installing engineered wood alone is not enough.

Here are some of the common aspects which can damage your wooden floors in bathroom:

• If your bathroom’s flooring surface is not even all across, the water will inevitably flow from one end to another and can damage the hardwood flooring.

• Accidental puddles happen. In bathroom, we use water as well as other cleaning solutions such as shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and so on, wherein many of these solutions have chemicals in their compound. Therefore, any puddles on the floor can affect the floorboards, causing damage and discolouration.

• Water leakage is another possibility that can harm your floorboards.

• If your bathroom does not have any windows or extractor fans installed, the room will be packed with moisture that can damage the wooden floor.

Is you’re thinking ‘that’s too many damaging factors!’ don’t worry! Here are some easy precautions for your wooden floors in bathroom:

• One of the most effective ways to protect hardwood is to refinish it once every few months. Hard-wax oils and Lacquers are recommended for bathroom finishes. Hard-wax oil seeps inside the grains and keeps your wood lustrous but more importantly, restricts water from damaging the surface. Contrarily, lacquer acts as a shield over your hardwood and protects it against any liquid substance.

• Having windows or extractor fans installed in your bathroom will eradicate all moisture from the environment which will ensure your floorboard’s longevity.

• Another way to protect your flooring is using mats! For this, we would suggest water-resistant and anti-slip mats and make sure to secure them around the spots where water will especially spill. Mats also make sure that once you step out of the tub or the shower your feet are patted dry, leaving no possibility for water to trail behind. Thus, mats are the perfect shield to protect your wooden floorboards.

• Always keep an eye out for any fixtures in need of plumbing. As mentioned above, leakage is common and therefore, must be taken care of as soon as possible.

• Similarly, puddles may end up on your floorboard, so make sure that you clear them off as soon as possible.

• Spot a crack in the floorboard? Get it fixed immediately. Any space left opened will allow moisture or dirt to seep through. Therefore, always keep an eye out for cracks.

Conclusion

While hardwood is famous for its low maintenance properties, we must admit that it does ask for a little precaution and maintenance in the bathroom. However, if you take these precautions properly and take care of your wooden flooring, then hardwood is the best option to grace your wooden floors in bathroom. I mean its warm feel and appearance as well as the lustre of natural grains are some factors that definitely make it worth it!

If you'd like, you can browse through our e-store for flooring options. For bathrooms, call us and one of our team members would be happy to assist you. 

Need help with oiling the floor? You’ve got it! Read How to Oil Wood Flooring - Complete Guide!

For any wooden flooring, doors or bespoke order-related enquiries, please contact us on 01205 722 700 and one of our team members will get in touch with you to discuss your requirements and provide a quote.