Installing Hardwood Floors In a Bathroom

I had a client recently ask if it would be ok to install wood floors in a full bath, often used by kids in the home. It reminded me of a blog I visited a while ago asking the same question, and out of the thirty or so responses, it was a pretty good split between yes and no, ranging from "NO WAY" to "Yes, I have been living on them for over thirty years and I love them."

There really should be very little concern about putting wood floors in a full bath, just the way kitchens are perfectly acceptable today, as they both have been for hundreds of years. And your floors do not have to be a laminate or a pre-finished floor to make it work. To the contrary, a true traditional wood floor will be so much easier to maintain, and will stand the test of time, just as our ancestor's floors have. I grew-up in a late 1800's home with one bathroom, and six siblings. The floor was original wide pine, and it is probably still there today.

Here are a few things you want to think about when installing your floors in a bathroom that has a shower and/or a tub and a commode. Today's bathrooms are well ventilated with a ceiling fan that wisks away the moisture. You can buy commodes with an insulated tank liner to help the sweating pipes from leaving water around ANY bathroom floor, and if you are doing a bathroom remodel, now would be a great time to have your plumber add a mixing valve to your commode, mixing warm water with the cold, to completely eliminate sweating.

A few more things to think about with traditional wood floors in a bathroom are: finding the most suitable finish for your home from all that is available today, using the best quality flooring to ensure stability of the boards, and assessing your true expectations of your flooring.

For a finish, I would suggest using a high resin tung oil, as this not only seals the wood, but it is the easiest finish to maintain that I have found. You can also back-seal the flooring and the sub floor to help prevent moisture from getting into the wood. If you are replacing your sub-floor, look into the wax impregnated OSB board, such as Adventec, as this will help seal moisture out.

As for the material, work with a company that understands wood, that will work with you on the installation methods, and is known for using only the best quality timbers available today. The installation can be perfect, but if the material is low quality, your chances of having problems are greatly increased. I would prefer to have a floor I can let acclimate to the home, then install it and put a good finish on it, rather then a pre-finished floor I have less control over.

Finally, what are your expectations? Are you looking for that perfect laminated, linoleum look, or is a natural wood floor, with a slight gap here and there, more your style? The beauty of real wood is unsurpassed, especially in today's plastic world. And the wider the plank, the more real your floor will look. Don't let a little puddle from the kids shower scare you away from having a beautiful floor. (Click here for some other tips to protect your wood floor.) The way we live in our homes today, with throw-rugs, and wiping up after ourselves, there really is nothing to be concerned about. GO FOR IT!

Posted on January 25, 2008 at 06:52 AM in DIY • (6) Comments

Comments

Ronna said…

Does anyone have any info on wood floors in an earth contact built home? I have been getting opposing viewpoints from pros on this. Some say not possible, some say go for it, but just seal the concrete floor well before you start. We don’t have a lot of moisture problems in the home. We would like to put wood floors throughout. I’d appreciate feedback from someone who may have done this. Thanks.

Posted at 08:39 AM on March 16, 2008
Rick Menard said…

Hi Ronna,

Thank you for your question on our flooring over a concrete slab. I will a full response on our blog. Please look for the title “earth contact built homes”.

Rick

Posted at 08:28 AM on March 19, 2008
Ethan@OneProjectCloser said…

I’m planning on installing wood floors in my half bath (along with the rest of the first floor). A friend recommended putting polyurethane in between boards in the bathroom. Is this a good approach? Thanks.

Posted at 10:03 AM on May 13, 2008
Rick said…

Hi Ethan,

I am not sure the reasoning for polyurethane in the joints of your flooring. My concern would be causing what is referred as panelization, or gluing the planks together and not allowing natural expansion and contraction.

You are better off sealing the back sides of your flooring with a good quality high resin tung oil, then installing your floors and sealing the top of the planks with the same. This will keep the moisture out of the flooring and minimize movement. Also, use a good quality sub-floor.

Rick

Rick

Posted at 10:32 AM on May 13, 2008
Ethan@OneProjectCloser said…

Will sealing the top cause them to look different from the rest of the floor? I’m doing the entire first floor with the same walnut hardwood and would like it to have the same look throughout. Also what oil do you recommend?

Posted at 10:41 AM on May 13, 2008
Rick said…

Ethan,

You will want to use the same finish throughout the home, although, our Carlisle Tung oil and a good oil based polyurethan will be hard to tell apart. Please do your research.

Posted at 10:46 AM on May 13, 2008