Is Wood Flooring in the Bathroom a Good Idea? Is Wood Flooring in the Bathroom a Good Idea? Q.: We are renovating our home, and my wife wants to put hardwood floors in all the bathrooms, to match the hardwood we’re installing throughout the rest of the house. I have my doubts. Is wood flooring in the bathroom a good idea? A.: Hardwood is a better bathroom flooring choice than, say, carpet, but it can still be very problematic. Moisture kills hardwood, and a bathroom is probably the most humid area of the entire home. Showers in the morning, warm baths for the kids in the evening… bathtub overflows, spills and splashes can severely damage the floor. Of all hardwood flooring options, engineered is a better choice for a bathroom than solid, as plywood or solid wood bottom layers hold up against moisture relatively well and are very dimensionally stable. An engineered hardwood floor could hold up well in spacious, well-ventilated bathrooms that doesn’t receive much traffic.

This is not the case in large family households with kids, where no matter how responsible you try to be, there is always going to be more water left on the floor than you think. Additionally, bathroom floors in large family households are bound to be damp most of the time, and this can lead to growth of mold. Although some harsh chemical cleaners can kill harmful mold and bacteria, they are likely to dull or damage hardwood floor finish as well. Bathroom Floors that Look Like Hardwood Faux-hardwood surfaces – floors that imitate the look of real wood so well it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference – will work well. Many vinyl based floors can be matched to the look of hardwood quite nicely, so that your faux-hardwood floor will appear nearly indistinguishable from the real wood installed throughout the rest of your home. Wood-like tile and ceramic can be good alternatives to hardwood. A wood floor that’s been specially treated against moisture – like most outside decking surfaces are- may be another alternative to consider.

But if you do, pay close attention to the chemical composition and possible emission levels of such floors while doing your research. It’s one thing to use a treated floor outdoors, but another to have it in the family bathroom. Keep in mind that many water sealing finishes that were used in the past are no longer around due to their toxicity levels. But if you insist… If you maintain the floor finish and promptly clean up splashes, everything should be fine. After all, there are plenty of homeowners who have gone this route and who claim not to have had any problems with their bathroom hardwood floors.  They offer these useful tips: Minimize humidity of your bathroom by properly ventilating Promptly clean up all spills Place rugs in “high-risk” areas, i.e. in front of the bathtub, vanity/sink, and the shower. Something as simple as a clogged toilet, or condensation on the toilet feed pipes could potentially turn into a much bigger issue. Take preventative measures, and fix all problems as soon as they arise.

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FAQ’s About Hardwood Flooring in the BathroomOnce the kids have moved out and you want to turn your bathroom into more of a spa than just a place to complete your daily tasks, many folks consider putting hardwood flooring in.This usually leads to several questions about wood floors in bathrooms. Do hardwood floors mix with high humidity, splashes and drips?  Is hardwood flooring a good choice for a bathroom?  This floor buying guide provides some of the good and bad about installing hardwood flooring in a bathroom.  Solid Hardwood Flooring is Not a Good Choice for BathroomsDo not consider solid wood flooring for most bathrooms. It might be fine in a small guest lavatory, but should not be used where a shower or bathtub will be in frequent use.Solid hardwood flooring will absorb moisture whether it is from high humidity or water spilled onto it. The wood will swell as a result. When it dries, the wood will shrink. Learn more about hardwood flooring water damage here.Cycles of swelling and shrinking will eventually lead to damage.

The wood may curl, warp, crack, cup or crown. Adjoining pieces will pull apart from one another.In short, moisture will destroy a solid hardwood floor sooner or later – probably sooner in bathrooms that get heavy use.Engineered Wood Flooring is the Right Option for BathroomsIf you’re not familiar with engineered hardwood flooring, here’s a brief description. The top layer of engineered flooring, known as the wear layer, is made from the same hardwood species used in solid hardwood flooring. You’ll find white oak, red oak, maple, walnut, ash, hickory, mahogany, teak, bamboo, tigerwood, Brazilian cherry and more.Beneath the top layer are several more layers of plywood stacked and glued so that the grains of the layers run in opposite direction. The result is a wood flooring product that is far more stable, with something home flooring pros call dimensional strength. It won’t swell with moisture nearly as much as solid hardwood flooring, so it doesn’t have the associated problems.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring PricesIf you’ve been considering solid hardwood flooring, then you probably know that the installed price ranges from $6-$15, depending on which type of wood you choose. The installed engineered hardwood price is about the same — $6-$12 for most products, slightly more for some exotic wood species. If you love hardwood flooring and want to carry it all the way into the bathroom, then engineered hardwood flooring is a great choice.Learn More About Bathroom Flooring OptionsHGTV – Always one of the top places to find home improvement ideas, HGTV has a section that helps to inspire you with new ideas for your bathroom flooring that includes pictures and expert advice.This Old House – Have a small bathroom? This Old House can help you come up with remodeling ideas to make that bathroom look larger, brighter and more inviting.Would you, or did you put hardwood flooring in your bathroom? Share your experience with our readers below. Tags: bathroom flooring, small bathroom ideas