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The gravity of hardwood flooring remained the same for ages. Not only in the rooms, but it is also installed on bathroom floors. A sleek hardwood flooring for the bathroom just adds a spark to the bathroom. However, many questions pop up in the mind thinking of whether hardwood is a suitable bathroom flooring option or not. As we know that hardwood flooring is susceptible to moisture and water, its compatibility with bathroom conditions is questioned. Besides, the wood species and design dilemma are always there. But you can relax a bit now as I am going to solve all the puzzles you have been trying to crack regarding bathroom hardwood flooring. In this article, I will be talking about hardwood flooring for the bathroom. It is likely that all your confusion will be solved through the article. So, stay with me! 3 Best Hardwood Species For The Bathroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dZbwGwemTw Though hardwood is commonly used on bathroom flooring, you must choose the right type of wood. Not all wood is compatible with bathroom conditions. As hardwood flooring swells and shrinks in contact with water, selecting the most compatible hardwood is the first step. So if you have decided to install hardwood flooring on the bathroom, first, know the right wood choice. Ideally, engineered woods are the best for bathroom conditions. They don’t distort much in contact with water and are stable and durable. They are suitable for bathroom conditions. But still, the species of the wood matters. So which wood should you choose for your bathroom? Let me tell you three options from which you can obtain engineered wood: 1. Oak: Oak is a hardwood that is the most preferred choice for humid and moisture conditions. The tyloses of oak timber are closed. This makes oak wood minimally porous and water-resistant. Though maintenance is still required, oak is a better hardwood flooring species for your bathroom than the other options. 2. Redwood And Cedar: Firstly, the solid reddish tone of redwood and cedar is outstanding and exceptional. But the major part is that it is adequately water-resistant. It is one of the popular choices for bathroom flooring as it doesn’t distort easily in humid conditions. 3. Reclaimed Hardwood: Reclaimed hardwood is made of recycled wood from construction. While it has a distressed and raw texture, it is eco-friendly too. Besides, you can also use distressed and veiny engineered wood. Both of them can work as a disguise for minor damages and stains as the texture is raw and random. Needless to say, they are durable but need to be maintained properly. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Bathroom Hardwood Flooring: To understand the compatibility of hardwood flooring in the bathroom, it would be better if you know the advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the merits and demerits of using hardwood flooring in the bathroom can help you in decision-making. So here are the merits and demerits of using hardwood flooring in the bathroom: 3 Advantages Of Bathroom Hardwood Flooring: Here are the advantages of using hardwood flooring in the bathroom: 1. Warm To Walk On: If you consider ceramic tile or any natural stone flooring, you would find them cold on winter days. These floorings become chilly on a cold, chilly, or rainy day. This can make you feel uncomfortable when you go barefoot in the bathroom. In contrast, hardwood flooring is always warm no matter what the weather condition is. You can walk barefoot on the hardwood flooring comfortably even on a shivery day. Despite the temperature, the warm hues of hardwood flooring are also appealing on chilly days. 2. Aesthetic Appeal: Needless to say that wooden floor is always elegant, welcoming, and appealing. Any wooden floor with a suitable color that matches the interior looks amazingly beautiful. No matter if it is a modern house or a traditional one, hardwood flooring is always a classic option. To accentuate the bathroom and maximize the aesthetic appearance of the bathroom, it is hard to find any replacement for hardwood flooring. This is one of the biggest reasons why people don’t get over bathroom hardwood flooring no matter how hard it is to maintain it. 3. Long-lasting: It may sound strange that hardwood flooring in the bathroom would be long-lasting. But just because we have been discussing that hardwood flooring needs care doesn’t mean it is not long-lasting. If you can maintain and care for hardwood flooring, it can survive more than 25 years. You can keep the floor intact and fresh if maintenance is done properly. This means hardwood flooring can survive for ages in bathroom conditions if you manage to care for it correctly. 5 Disadvantages Of Bathroom Hardwood Flooring: Though you get the amazing perks of beautiful hardwood flooring in the bathroom, you must consider the demerits too. To make a wise decision, knowing both the pros and cons is necessary. So, for your convenience, here are the disadvantages of installing hardwood flooring in the bathroom: 1. Water Stain: Even a small drop of water can stain hardwood flooring. This is possibly the biggest threat to the hardwood flooring as spills can happen literally every time you use the washroom. Starting from washing hands to using the toilet, splashes of water can fall on the floor. If not wiped off, it would leave a white water stain distorting the fresh look of the wood. Wooden floors are always furnished with a protective layer. But still, spills and water should be wiped off immediately as staining is easy on hardwood floors. Therefore, you have to be cautious about water stains if you install hardwood flooring. 2. Chemical Stain: There are much more severe staining agents than water that can stain hardwood flooring. The chemicals in soap, shampoo, cleaning agents, face wash, oil, etc. can leave stubborn marks and stains on the hardwood flooring. In fact, some may corrode the wood if the agent is acidic or harsh. This is why you must use mild bathroom cleaners that won’t damage the wood. Similarly, after taking a shower, make sure to clean the hardwood floor well so that no chemicals can settle on the floor. Only then can you protect the floor from chemical stains. 3. Swelling And Shrinking: Wooden floors swell and shrink fast in contact with water. If there is no protective layer on the wood, water can easily penetrate the wood and swell it. When it becomes dry, it would shrink, ultimately distorting the shape and damaging the condition. If you fail to seal and polish the wood floor from time to time, swelling and shrinking would destroy the condition of the hardwood bathroom floor. This is a big and common hassle with installing hardwood floors in the bathroom. 4. Exposure To Humidity: Bathrooms are highly exposed to humidity. Not only the direct contact with water but also the steam and moisture can damage the hardwood flooring. If the moisture settles through the seams of the planks, it can damage the bonding between the planks. The only way is to prevent moisture from settling. And it is a day-to-day task to clean and dry the bathroom well. Otherwise, extreme exposure to water and moisture can destroy the bonds, shape, causing warping, cracking, or distortion. 5. Growth Of Mold And Mildew: Growth of mold and mildew is encouraged in moist and humid conditions. As the wooden floor holds moisture easily, the chances of growing mold and mildew increase. Mold and mildew not only destroy the color of the flooring but are unhygienic too. You can get diseases if you are in contact with mold and mildew. To prevent their growth, you should keep the floor dry and clean always. 4 Best Tips To Maintain Hardwood Flooring For Bathrooms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmdsKaGISQU You have already got to know the merits and demerits of using hardwood on bathroom flooring. As you may notice, there are several issues that you need to take care of if you install hardwood flooring in the bathroom. The same happens to kitchen hardwood flooring as the moisture level is more or less the same. Basically, maintenance is all you need to keep the grace and condition of bathroom hardwood flooring. So here are my 5 best tips to maintain hardwood flooring for the bathroom: Tip 1- Finish And Seal In Every Few Months: Without a protective layer on the hardwood flooring, you can’t maintain the condition. During installation, you need to seal and put on a protective layer, preferably urethane coating, on the hardwood flooring. But it is not enough. Finishing the hardwood after a few months is necessary as the layer would wash away with time. Besides, the floor and seams should be polished and sealed after every few months so that moisture can’t settle deep inside the wood. If the hardwood flooring is finished and sealed properly, water won’t settle on the wood keeping it intact for ages. Once you miss out on this, you would see swelling, distortion, or discoloration. Tip 2- Keep The Bathroom Floor Dry: When the hardwood flooring is kept wet, it would put on stains on the floor. Besides, the color may be changed and the growth of mold and mildew can be seen. To keep the floor clean and shiny, keeping it dry is mandatory. For that, wipe the floor after taking a bath. Wipe off the spills and water from the floor immediately. Keep a wiper so that you can clean the water immediately. Besides, try to ventilate the bathroom as much as possible. For an extra benefit, install a powerful fan in the bathroom so that the water dries out fast. Keeping the floor dry is the first trick to increase the life of the bathroom hardwood flooring. Tip 3- Place Bath Mats: I understand that wiping off the spills every time can be a huge hassle. To avoid it, you should place bath mats around the sink, shower area, and bathtub. Bath mats would handle the minor spills and water splashes preventing direct contact of water with the hardwood flooring. Installing bath mats around the sink and bathtub is a great idea to escape from regular cleaning. If you don’t take a bath, you won’t need to wipe the floor if bath mats are there. Also, a nice bath mat can enhance the decorative value of the bathroom. Tip 4- Be Aware Of Chemicals: Chemical spills can be threatening to the hardwood flooring. Not only should you clean the floor after taking a bath with soap and shampoo, but you also need to use a suitable cleaner. Not all cleaners would suit the wooden floor. Avoid using bleaches or acidic solutions to clean hardwood flooring. Use a mild cleanser to clean the floor so that harsh chemicals can destroy the condition of the flooring. That is pretty much all you need to maintain the hardwood flooring in the bathroom. Related Questions About Hardwood Flooring For Bathroom: Is It Okay To Put Hardwood Flooring In The Bathroom? It is okay to put hardwood flooring in the bathroom if you can maintain it properly. Without proper maintenance, hardwood flooring can’t survive long. People who want an easy way out should not install hardwood flooring in the bathroom. This is because hardwood flooring requires day-to-day care and maintenance. Anyone failing to do the maintenance won’t get the best result. Therefore, you can put hardwood flooring in the bathroom if you can invest in taking proper care of it. What Wood Is The Best For Bathroom Flooring? Hardwood flooring that is durable and adequately water-resistant is the best option for bathroom flooring. There are a few options that you can choose from. The most popular option is to use oak or cedar wood for hardwood bathroom flooring. Besides these options, you may also go for teak, cherry, padouk, mahogany, or plywood. All these species are available as engineered woods that are the best for handling moisture. What Is An Alternative To Hardwood Bathroom Flooring? If you are finding an alternative that may look like wood but is better in quality, you can go for laminate floors. Laminate flooring has an excellent aesthetic appearance. Besides, you would get a variety of wooden textures and color options. It is water-resistant as well and durable. It handles moisture better than wooden floors and also looks great on the bathroom floor. Moreover, installing and maintaining laminate flooring is easier than maintaining a wooden floor. Thus laminate is a reliable alternative to hardwood flooring for the bathroom. Is Hardwood Flooring For Bathroom A Good Choice? I suppose you are still in a dilemma because you are yet to know whether hardwood flooring for the bathroom is a good choice or not. The clear answer is you can install hardwood on the bathroom floor. But to get the maximum benefit, you should maintain it properly. Otherwise, your investment would go down the drain. However, if you think that maintenance is a hassle for you, it is better to avoid hardwood flooring in the bathroom. So basically, it depends on you whether you should choose bathroom hardwood flooring or not. If you can invest enough money and time in its maintenance, go for it. Otherwise, it is better to find an alternative. Conclusion: Now you know the pros and cons of using hardwood flooring for the bathroom. Scrutinize all the odds and decide whether you can handle hardwood flooring in the bathroom or not. If yes, then go for it and enjoy the excellent beauty of solid hardwood flooring in the bathroom. Read the article again and decide wisely.