Wood floor in bathrooms: moisture concerns? Other issues?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I've gone through the archives but wondered if anyone had more recent experiences with wood bathroom floors to share.

We are converting an existing room into a 3/4 bathroom, and the room already has beautiful rift-sawn white oak floors. We had planned to take these out and replace them with tile, but I'm wondering if we should consider keeping the wood, and what challenges we should be aware of if we go that route.

The flooring is original to the 110-year-old house, so it is nailed directly to the fir subfloor, which is one concern since there's no moisture barrier or other protection. (The subfloor beneath is very accessible in a basement, though, so we would spot problems pretty quickly.) Pros to keeping it are both cost and simpler logistics (and also, it's lovely and matches the rest of the house). Concerns are mostly around moisture--the bathroom will have a shower with a glass enclosure (with a 5" curb), plus a sink and vanity.

Would you keep these or replace with tile? (We will have our contractor salvage as much of the flooring as possible for reuse repairing other areas of the floor in the future if we take it out.)

Featured Answer

AJCN

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

We have woodfloors in our master bathroom. It runs throughout the entire downstairs which includes laundry, half bath, family room, kitchen, breakfast, formal dining and music room, master bedroom, bathroom, and closet. They were here when we moved in 22 years ago. When we remodeled we considered changing it out, but decided to leave it. Honestly I find it more of a pain to have wood in the kitchen than our bathroom because there are always little spills and the dogs dribble, kids come into the house from the lake and pool and have to make it to the powder room to go. There's always something to wipe up and it's harder to keep them in perfect shape.

But in the master bathroom they have not been a problem at all. Just make sure that you have a good exhaust fan (ours is on a timer), and put down a nice looking rug or bathmat. If this 3/4 bath is going to be used frequently for showering, you might consider asking the glass company to install the door so that it can be opened inward and outward. We did this in our master. That way, when someone is done showering, they can open the door inward to get out so that any drips and dribbles fall into the shower instead of the floor. We leave our glass door pushed inward while the exhaust fan is running. Also install the shower valve to it can be reached without someone having to get wet to turn the shower on.

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Comments (8)

kculbers
5 years ago
In a bathroom, if you want the look of wood, I suggest porcelain wood look tile: it is quite water resistant, hardy, and easy to clean. We had Italian porcelain wood look tile installed in our bathrooms and hallway. I love it❣️
artemis78 thanked kculbers
artemis78
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you! To clarify, we don't especially want (or not want) the look of wood--if we remove the wood floor, we'll likely do some sort of traditional tile (penny round or hex) since this is an Arts & Crafts style house with a relatively period-appropriate kitchen and existing bath. Mainly debating whether to leave the existing wood flooring in place or tear it out for tile.
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hcbm
5 years ago
Rift-sawn white oak orginal to the home. I would love that. Use a marine varnish. If you have a flood the tile floors subfloor would be damaged also. Mongoct a pro here who gives brillant advice and does beautiful work has wood floors and counters in his own bath. Search for his name and you probably will find the photos. If treated correctly they will be fine. Some of the most expensive boats are made from wood. Just my 2 cents.
artemis78 thanked hcbm
kariyava
5 years ago
I would keep the wood.
artemis78 thanked kariyava
kats737
5 years ago
I agree, a marine grade finish would be fine. I've used Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane (though I know there are probably other brands favored by pros) on all the woodwork in my bathroom and have been really happy with how it has performed.

My only added suggestion for the bathmat would suggest it is something you can put down when in use and put over the tub edge to dry, rather than letting it dry in place on the floor (trapping moisture against your finish)
Candace
5 years ago
We have wood in the master bathroom - no issues at all, but there are only two adults using it. We put tile in the baths where the kids/grandkids stay when visiting. Not sure I’d go for wood in those bathrooms where I would not be confident water would be quickly wiped up.
artemis78
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you! This is for a master bath, so we'd have some control over water and it would rarely be used by the kids (who will have their own bathroom once this one is in !) DH is not loving the idea of wood in a bathroom aesthetically, though, so we may end up going the tile route regardless.