I don't have any experience with them, we have them in the kitchen and they do fine. I just wanted to throw out there that if you're afraid to keep the wood or would prefer a different medium that looks like wood, there are wood look alike ceramic tiles out now that look amazing. I've seen them in several installations and you really can't tell that they're tile! Here's a link to several pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: wood ceramic

Wood is nice underfoot... not ice-cold like unheated tile and not as hard. We had wood in our master bath but tore it out because it didn't fit the 'vision'.

The only area it didn't hold up was right next to the vanity where water dripped and wasn't cleaned up right away. There wasn't any marine-grade poly on it.. you might want to look into that.

There is a user here that has posted pics of his beautiful hardwood floors in his bathroom. A search might help!

I'm sorry, but maybe I'm missing something here. In spite of the fact that this is gaining some popularity around this area, it makes absolutely no sense to put a flooring surface in a bathroom that could be so adversely affected by water. I mean, what's wrong with this picture???

I'd put wood floor in a master bath but not in a kid's bath. Mater o' fact, I have wood in my own master bath. Going on 15 years with no problems at all.

I think I agree with Bill! Water and hardwood just really don't go together; if it were a powder room I think hardwood would be ok but a full bath with a tub, shower, water, water, water!!!! Doesn't make sense to me!!

For once I must disagree with Bill. We have hardwood floors in our master bathroom. Over three years and no issues whatsoever. We finished them with Waterlox, which no doubt helps. But this is an adult bathroom, and we're not splashers. To each his own. I'd never have done it in a kid's bath, or even a powder room frankly, where you just never know.

We used an Italian tile that looks just like wood. The tiles are 6x24 I think. Everyone thinks it is a real wood floor - even bending down to touch it when we tell them it is tile. My husband and I are really picky about fake looking wood and this tile looks like the real thing. It has been great to have in the bathroom. We do not have to worry about any dripping. We wanted a warmer look and had almost considered real wood until we found this particular wood-look tile. I am going to post finished pictures soon.
Connie

Ivette, it's the same up here. Several homes I've worked on, they want the shower and tub done, but the floor's going to be hardwood. I just shake my head. Every time. Kinda like sheetrock and mastic in the shower-- yeah, there are some that have lasted. But there are many more that haven't.

As for the porcelain wood lookalikes, that's the best thing to come out in a long time. For those who like wood, it gets set with an extremely tight joint, and when done, looks just like hardwood. It's the best of both worlds.

I've seen the wood tiles in several applications, it's beautiful and a great option for bathrooms as well as other areas of a home. The poster didn't mention what part of the country he/she lives in, but if it is colder in the winter, radiant heat is always an option.

Not to hijack, but does anybody have a recommendation for a really nice wood-look porcelain?

Sorry, more hijacking: Constanceann, would you mind telling which tile you used? I am about THIS close to putting hardwoods in my master bath because I have been unable to find a nice looking wood tile. My bath floor butts up to an oak floor in the hallway, so I need something that looks like oak- I want it to flow. Nothing I've found does, and although the darker wood-look tiles are beautiful they don't go with my decor. Thanks.

I installed Takla Legends a couple of years back. No problems with the tile, it comes in several colors. I also used one other that looked like weathered wood, but I can't recall the manufacturer.

I think wood floor is not good on a bathroom.Now adays the best is the granite one....

Olychic - The wood tiles we used are from Unicom Starker Interni Series,6X24, the miele color. They are rectified porcelain which, as I learned from Bill and Mongo, allows you to have a very small/tight grout line so the wood tiles end up looking like a real wood floor. We looked at a lot of wood-look tiles and this was the only one we came upon that looked so close to the real thing.

Not to hijack, but does anybody have a recommendation for a really nice wood-look porcelain?

Daltile's Timber Glen series. It's about as inexpensive as it'll get and still give you a quality product.

We also used an italian tile.

Here is a link that might be useful: ceramica UDA

bill- what's wrong is that if it really catches on there are gonna be a lot of manufacturers and setters looking for something else to do. don't think we have to worry. It's a niche application.

Boats were made from wood for centuries and today some of the most coveted runabouts and are made from wood too. You must know what you are getting into as it's not the best material for the application from a maintenance standpoint.

who's got a "very" realistic wood look in tile that can be set tight? All I've seen - even the $$$ Italian stuff is nice but won't really fool anyone up close.

antss it fooled me and I'm known for being shall we say, a bit picky? First time I saw it, it was being installed in a department store, it took 3 double takes and the need to walk up close to check it out. That's when I realized the installers weren't laying wood, they were installing tile.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been planning hex tile, but I have to admit, some of those wood looks have turned my head!

I'm putting oak in our 1st floor full bath (but the tub isn't used much) because that was in the bathroom originally (185 year old home) and I don't expect a lot of water on the floor. Our kitchen will have oak too. In our other bathrooms is tile or vinyl that looks like tile (Alterna).

One more word in favor of real wood in the bathroom...wood can be refinished while tile can't. For many years people have had problems with tile of one kind of another (cracking grout, leaking tiles, cracked tiles, rotting floorboards, etc) but still we use tile in the bathroom because it's a relatively good choice. That doesn't mean that wood flooring isn't a good choice. If one is not a huge splasher, and, you put a good sealer coat on the floor I don't see that you'll have any more problems than you might with tile. At least with wood it can be refinished:-) if you want real wood I say go with real wood.

wood can be refinished while tile can't.

Tile won't need to be.

For many years people have had problems with tile of one kind of another (cracking grout, leaking tiles, cracked tiles, rotting floorboards, etc)

That's because for years, people have put up with substandard installations, because "the price was right". That's why I spend the time in here that I do-- I'm sick and tired of people blaming their woes on the product, when the blame rests with their cut rate installer who cared about nothing but the check, or more accurately, with themselves, trying to get something for nothing. If you want a good job that's going to last, your installer's going to have to spend some time on it, which means it's going to cost you more to get it done. Cheap and good don't mix.

I want to enlighten people as to just what goes into a proper installation for two reasons. First, they can themselves weed out some of the characters who might come into their house claiming to know what they're doing, and second, so people will have a realistic expectation of what to expect with reference to price if they want the job done right.

Ask Stacey (staceyneil)-- I could've very easily gone in and slapped that bathroom together. I'd be willing to bet she didn't know anything about having to waterproof the cement board around the windows, or the niches. I also didn't have to waterproof the tubdeck (which DID get done). All these things ensured that she'd have a long lasting installation. But they also cost her. I don't mind helping people out, but my business is not a charity. I need to make a living, just like everyone else. But if I have to compete against Joe Cutrate down the block, and people don't realise they're comparing apples and oranges, then they get what they get. And years later, they're deciding to put hardwood in the bathroom because tile doesn't last, anyway.

Sorry for the rant. You kinda hit a nerve. (Can ya tell?)

Bill,

I hear what you are saying and if every installer was as good as you I'm sure that tile installations would last a whole lot longer. If only we could clone you! When I asked my very experienced and very well regarded tile installer about kerdi he hand't heard of it. So...not every tiler, even the good ones are up on all the latest products. I think that's what separates you from most tilers, you are not just an installer, but a true craftsman.

Regardless, if the lady would like hardwood in her bathroom I wanted to point out that hardwood is refinishable. So, if that is truly the vision she has for her bathroom she needn't be dissuaded from persuring her vision if she is willing to accept the chance she may need to refinish the floor.

There are other tile setters out there with Bill's skill and ethic. I'll bet there is at least one in every major city. You often don't meet or hear about them because you're not asking the right question. You ask " who's got the best "deal" " or "who's the cheapest tile setter". Ask for the best, check his work and refs. and don't complain about the price.

Luk - could you fwd. me a specific brand/manu./series to look at. I've seen some nice ones but like I sain - none that would fool up close.

I suspect it'll be like we saw with the ceramic stone looks. When they hit the mark en mass years ago they were kinda yuk and fake looking. Now, some do look exactly like the real thing.

antss, I'm sorry, I've seen applications but am not familiar with the tiles, Bill, Mongo and maybe some other tile professionals on the John Bridge site would be much more qualified to direct you in that regard. I just know what I saw and it was fabulous! We have 1 more bathroom and a laundry area to left to remodel and budget allowing, I would love to have that wood tile installed into those areas.

I'm not sure whether to bless or curse this thread. I have been lumping tile samples home - tiles that I liked the look of, but when put in the bathroom just didn't work. Never thought of "wood" tile. Called around and found a tile supplier that carried 2 brands. Went in and they were both drop dead gorgeous. With fear and trepidation I brought 2 samples home. Still drop dead gorgeous - and of course twice the price that I had budgeted, but hey, a bathroom floor is small, and I presume the labour costs would be the same for cheap as for expensive tile. The store had large samples on their walls, so you could really see what the tiles would look like. Unbelievably realistic. One of the brands was EasyWood for which I found rave reviews on the web; the other, which I prefer by a nose, is "Mother Nature" Jet Brown. I have not been able to find any reference to this brand at all. On to the next decision.
Sally

There are other tile setters out there with Bill's skill and ethic. I'll bet there is at least one in every major city. You often don't meet or hear about them because you're not asking the right question. You ask " who's got the best "deal" " or "who's the cheapest tile setter". Ask for the best, check his work and refs. and don't complain about the price.

Very well said.

Sally! That's fantastic! I hope you post pics when it's done!