Farmhouse Modern

I am planning to install a hardwood floor in a master bathroom. In a Farmhouse-Modern-type house, wood flooring with area rugs look great and in this case the master-bedroom floor “flows” into the bathroom so will make the master suite look bigger. However, I do have some concerns about using wood as a flooring material in a bathroom so I decided to go online for some advice.

What I found is a raging debate. The newsgroups were particularly energetic on this topic. In good newsgroup form posts included “you’re crazy” and “best bathroom floor ever.” So I thought I would share the debate with you.

There are three subtopics to the debate:

1. New vs. Old Sealing Chemicals
2. Bathroom Environment-specific Issues
3. Wood Type and Installation

New vs. Old sealing chemicals:

Floors (and most clear-finished wood) used to be sealed with solvent-based varnish or lacquer. For good reason these are not widely available for use on floors and so manufacturers and installers use water-based finishes. There is a general feeling that these finishes are getting better, but that they still are not as good as the old stuff. Here are some comments:

I lived for 22 years in a home with hardwood floors in the bathroom without trouble and didn’t even need to refinish it.

At one point we had a bathtub overflow (long story) and a significant amount of water was spilled on the floor (10s of gallons). The flood ruined the drop-ceiling downstairs, but the floor, once properly mopped up, was no worse for the wear. — From Ask Metafilter

And in Response:

I refinished the wood floor in house that had the floor covered for 30 years. it took forever to get the old finish off–the stuff was hard as a rock.

when we got the old finish off and put the new poly down, it became clear that the new poly was like a gummy sponge compared to the old stuff. a year after it set up, it still didn’t feel as solid or sealed as the 30 year old stuff.

I asked a flooring old-timer about this and he said the reason my new floor wasn’t as tough as the old floor was because of the government. 30 years of regulation took some of the “best” (and, of course, potentially toxic) chemicals out of floor finish.

Bathroom Environment Issues:

Regardless of how neat and tidy you are, water will wind up on the bathroom floor. We’ve said it before - wood and water don’t mix. After taking a bath or shower it’s nearly impossible to exit the tub or shower perfectly dry. Water will drip on the floor.

And the tub and shower aren’t the only potential problem. Few things will take the finish off hardwood faster then urine. Face it; sometimes a guy’s aim is not what it should be.
Bathroom flooring should be impervious to water and easily washed and disinfected. Wood is neither.
Traditional hardwood is installed in single-board strips that are blind-nailed or face-nailed to the subfloor. This means lots of seams. Each seam is a potential avenue for water.

Over time, the joints in a hardwood floor will separate and allow water in. This is especially true in a bathroom, a humid and wet environment. The wood will absorb the moisture and warp. After a short time, relative to other types of flooring, you will be looking at refinishing or replacing the floor. — From DoitYourself.com

Wood Type and Installation:

“We applied a couple more layers of oil-based polyurethane than we normally would have,” says Ahlen. “We also made it a point to fill cracks between the boards with wood putty to prevent water from seeping in between or under the boards.”
Nicole Sassaman, an interior designer in southern California, says she loves the warm, inviting look of wood floors in bathrooms, and agrees with Ahlen that taking a few extra steps will pay off. — From HGTV

“Wood is fine in bathrooms. You just have to dry water off of it rather than letting it sit, but you should do that anyway,” explains Sassaman. “Putting extra coats of varnish on it will also help make it more durable.”
Other experts recommend installing a highly efficient vent/fan in bathrooms with wood flooring to help keep humidity to a minimum.

When it comes to wood options for the bathroom floor, engineered wood is the best choice because it has more dimensional strength and will not warp as easily. It is also the simplest to install.

If you still want to go with solid wood, choose hard over soft. Hard woods include oak, maple, cherry, ash, and walnut. The Janka Hardness Scale rates the relative hardness of wood. For instance, Brazilian Walnut rates near the top of the list with a rating of 3684 and Australian Cypress falls near the middle at 1375. — From CalFinder

Ipe is one of the best materials available for the bathroom environment and is our most durable wood. And with bath trends continuing towards chocolate browns and natural products is it any wonder Ipe is becoming more and more popular.

Ipe is found prevalently throughout South and Central America as well as in certain locations of the Caribbean. It grows in a variety of sites from ridge tops to riverbanks and marsh forests. The US Navy tested and rated Ipe as superior in resistance to decay and all insect and fungal attacks. Ipe will not grow mold, mildew, or other bacteria and is far superior to other items in the bath.

Since Ipe will not absorb water it will not twist, splinter, or bow like softer woods such as Cedar or Teak. Ipe sands to an almost satin finish and when used for our floor mats or shower floors you know you will be able to walk on it barefoot for a lifetime.

But if you are considering Ipe or Brazilian Walnut:

Ipe hardwood is a somewhat difficult wood to finish. Its chemical makeup interferes with the drying, adhesion and absorption of wood stains and top coats. Thus I’d never suggest buying it unfinished and attempting to finish it in your home. Ipe’s extreme density prevents most finishes from penetrating below the surface, thus it takes a bit of experience to gain the knowledge for effective coating. — From Woods The Best

My conclusion is that hardwoods are a second choice for durability, ease of (proper) installation and upkeep but OK if you have a well ventilated room and are inclined toward neatness. We will use Brazilian walnut but only edge-nailed 3/4 in engineer T&G. And we will put 5 coats of finish on it.

Resources:

• Ask Metafilter
• Do it Yourself.com
• HGTV
• CalFinder
• Impressions In Decor
• Woods The Best