Hardwood floors in the bathroom? You can indeed put hardwood in your master or guest bathroom, as it’s both a beautiful and durable flooring material. This makes the best choice for more sophisticated bathrooms in San Antonio. Many people don’t consider hardwood flooring in the bathroom due to their fear that it will lead to warping or other kind of damage.
Sure, this is certainly a risk because of the humidity of the bathroom setting, but if you can control the humidity, through proper ventilation and quickly mopping up drips for example, it’s definitely doable to have hardwood flooring in the bathroom. Here are some of the many benefits associated with installing hardwood in bathrooms, along with ways you can keep it protected.
Benefits of Bathroom Hardwood Flooring
Tile floors are most common in bathrooms, and for good reason. They’re durable, easy to clean, and are highly resistant to moisture. But few can live up to the unmatched beauty of a well-maintained hardwood floor.
Beauty
Because most people anticipate seeing tile in bathrooms, they are pleasantly surprised when they are treated to the comfort and sophistication of hardwood. Hardwood flooring is a classy, elegant addition to any room, bringing your home up to par with a stylish and respected space.
Value
Bathroom hardwood can significantly enhance the value of your home, especially when compared with tile and other typical bathroom floor coverings. Hardwood looks good to potential buyers, who may be willing to pay a bit more for such elegant flooring.
Climate Appropriate
While hardwood floors can work OK in humid climates, they are a better fit in drier regions, such as here in San Antonio, where lingering bathroom moisture is not as much of a problem. In more humid areas, homeowners have to be more vigilant about using a fan and other methods of ventilation, as well as keeping standing water off the floor. Southeast Texas’ desert climate certainly helps in this regard.
Choosing the Right Hardwood
You need to choose a hardwood that will be resistant to moisture. The best species for that is exotic, such as Peruvian hardwood and specially treated hardwood flooring. Tropical species are more resistant to moisture damage, but domestic species such as black walnut and white oak work surprisingly well in humid spaces. Engineered hardwood is a better choice than solid, because it resists changes in humidity better and is at less risk of warping.
Protecting Bathroom Hardwood
No matter where you live or what type of hardwood you choose, there are steps you can take to ensure your hardwood flooring looks classy and beautiful for many years to come. Install fans in your bathrooms to keep the moisture content low. Leave the window open while showering for sufficient ventilation. Wipe up any water that pools on the floors. Use a bath mat to keep moisture at bay, but you’ll also need to engage in active wiping, especially if you have kids.
Hardwood is an excellent bathroom option, but you have to choose the type carefully and take precautions to guard against warping. Designer Wood Flooring can help you choose and give you advice on care. Contact us today at 830-228-4866 (San Antonio, TX) or 409-201-1967 (Southeast Texas).
