What to know when using hardwood flooring in a bathroom
Is your heart established on hardwood flooring for a contemporary bathroom challenge? It is a elegant option. However to guarantee those people boards stay searching wonderful, there are specific caveats to be knowledgeable of. In buy, to make the finest variety for your plan, we’ve questioned the gurus what you have to have to know when using hardwood flooring in a lavatory.
‘Modern bathrooms can sense clinical mainly because of all the challenging surfaces, so it is great to introduce visual softness and heat the place feasible, and wood is a wonderful way to do that,’ states Sheena Murphy, co-founder of Nune, an interior structure studio dependent in New York and London.
‘I appreciate the visual desire and character timber flooring can include to a space, the heat tones, pure magnificence and it feels great underfoot. An critical thing with hardwood flooring is to be certain the complete is sturdy sufficient to endure the degree of targeted traffic and activity it is most likely to be exposed to.
‘I would not ordinarily advise using hardwood flooring in a kid’s rest room but it can do the job beautifully in a major bathroom, guest rest room or powder space. There is a level of treatment essential, but as long as you’re knowledgeable of that, it can be as long (or lengthier) lasting as many alternatives.’
What to know when utilizing hardwood flooring in a lavatory
1. You are going to need to have the most effective timber species
(Picture credit history: Job: Nune / Images: Nicole Franzen)
As always, picking out FSC timber is essential, and normally domestic species make a fantastic decision due to the variety of tones, attractiveness and traceability. But which are most effective for lavatory flooring?
‘Stable species these as cherry, maple, ash, crimson oak, or walnut would be much better picks than some of the less stable species this sort of as beech, hickory, or birch.’ states Brett Miller, VP, Technological Specifications at the National Wooden Flooring Association (NWFA) (opens in new tab).
‘With any of individuals timbers, heading with a riftsawn and/or quartersawn minimize would be excellent for what we refer to as a lot less secure environments, this sort of as bathrooms. Commonly speaking riftsawn and quartersawn cuts of wooden are two times as steady as plainsawn cuts of wooden.’
‘We use a lot of oak in our tasks,’ claims Sheena Murphy at Nune (opens in new tab). ‘It’s natural coloration has just the appropriate depth to present a incredibly complementary backdrop to so a lot of spaces.
‘It’s also incredibly tough putting on and can be stained. We use oak from sustainable resources but have also employed woods like douglas fir and ash, which are also quite hardwearing and fast regenerating, generating them a far more sustainable option.’
2. Conditions are essential
(Image credit: Long term / Paul Raeside)
Aesthetics participate in a significant part in putting a room plan alongside one another, but in a lavatory, the practicalities are higher on the agenda far too.
‘Both stable and engineered wooden flooring are fantastic selections for loos,’ states Brett at NWFA. ‘Both varieties of flooring will accomplish very best when the temperature and humidity amounts are preserved continuously year-spherical.
‘Engineered wooden flooring is far more tolerant to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, than sound wooden flooring, which is why we counsel only engineered wood flooring be installed if your rest room is “under-quality” ie. floor stage or in a basement.’
‘We typically suggest engineered planks in a rest room,’ suggests Sheena Murphy at Nune. ‘Some folks hear the phrase “engineered” and presume it truly is not genuine wooden it is, it just has layers of plywood beneath a prime layer of oak or ash for illustration, which will make it more secure with elements like less than ground heating and humidity.
‘Solid wooden is much more susceptible to movement in environments the place temperature and humidity fluctuations are at participate in, these kinds of as loos.
‘If you happen to be operating with engineered boards, having a prime layer of wooden that is 1/8 inch or far more will allow the flooring to be sanded at the very least a few times. That means that, should it search worn around the several years, you have the alternative to sand and refinish it, and have it really feel model new.’
3. You can expect to want a suitable sealant
(Picture credit history: Havwoods)
Timber flooring is generally sealed with oils, wax or varnish-like finishes. According to Brett at NWFA these finishes are commonly separated into two categories movie-finishes, and penetrating finishes.
‘In a bathroom, where standing h2o is a recurrent incidence, it is ideal to use a film-end, these kinds of as a waterborne urethane, oil-modified urethane, UV-cured urethane, or aluminum oxide complete,’ suggests Brett. ‘Natural oils, waxes, and other penetrating finishes, can perform well, but can occasionally show drinking water-spotting in soaked environments.
‘When taken care of effectively, any of these finishes can last the existence of the flooring. It is standard for wood flooring to be recoated periodically. Recoating every 3-10 yrs, depending on traffic is enough. With normal penetrating oils, a basic deep clear and reconditioning each individual year is all that is typically needed.’
‘As wood is in a natural way absorbent, any get in touch with with liquid can final result in the product plumping or staining, so choose a surface finish that will maximise longevity,’ says Edward Eagle, Director at Havwoods (opens in new tab). ‘A polyurethanine-lacquered coating operates to cover any pores in the wood’s surface, shielding it from dirt and dampness ingress.’
Constantly make sure you have observed the sealant or finish on timber samples, right before ordering your boards, as the tone is possible to be distinct to that of the uncooked timber.
4. Warping and water hurt is preventable
(Picture credit rating: Havwoods)
Some individuals are cautious about laying hardwood flooring in a toilet, due to worries about drinking water destruction and toughness. Having said that, this can be averted.
‘Due to their multi-layered development, engineered boards are considerably significantly less very likely to warp in superior-moisture rooms, indicating inspite of the temperature, the ground is less very likely to shrink or swell,’ says Edward Eagle at Havwoods. ‘However, we advise only working with timber in properly ventilated rooms and to stay clear of standing water to ensure the longevity of your floor.’
‘The best way to quit h2o problems is to stay away from letting h2o to sit on the floor for any period of time,’ claims Brett at NWFA. ‘Warping, cupping, bucking, are all the final result of extreme moisture remaining on a wood flooring. This is effortlessly prevented by wiping up spills right away to stay clear of problems.’
To keep a ‘consistent environment’, make certain you have ample air flow in your bathroom, these as a motorised fan, and open home windows after showering or bathing.
5. A skilled installer is crucial
Laying a hardwood floor may perhaps glance uncomplicated but there are variables, that you may possibly not be knowledgeable of, to look at.
‘The flattening of a subfloor is a regular approach for all installers,’ suggests Brett at NWFA. ‘During the installation procedure, a capable wood flooring skilled must flatten the subfloor to within just 3/16” in 10 ft (in basic). Grinding large places, and filling very low spots to accomplish these flatness tolerances are not only greatest follow, but also expected by all flooring manufacturers.’
Lastly, if you’re considering beneath-ground heating, check out with the provider, which floorboards will be most suitable.
