Is wood ok in the bathroom?

Can I use timber in bathroom floors?

Timber flooring is often considered a no-no for wet areas such as bathrooms, but as Lawrence Puah, design director of akiHAUS Design Studio points out, wood has always been used in ship building and outdoor decking, so it is entirely possibleto use wood in bathrooms.

What type of wood is suitable for bathrooms?

“Go for high density hardwood as they are more impervious to water and chemicals and more resistant to damage from the elements, as well as from physical wear and tear,” Lawrence advises. He recommends Teak or Chengal, which are widely used in ship decking and outdoor applications.

Teak is popular for its interesting grain design and golden hue. It secretes a natural oil that acts as a barrier to make it more resistant to water seepage and damage, and also helps to repel insects such as termites. However, it can be expensive.

Chengal is cheaper than teak, but possesses one of the highest hardness and density among timber and is highly malleable prior to being fully cured. It is known to be highly durable and resistant to termite infestation and fungi attack. One drawback is that Chengal can “bleed” a red sap.

What should homeowners take note of when using timber on bathroom floors?

The installation and finishing of the wood are very critical. Timber floors in bathrooms should be installed as a raised floor system, like external timber decks.

The waterproofed cement screed base below the deck, ideally finished with an epoxy coating for added waterproofing protection and constructed with a gradient to drain water towards the floor trap, will be the main bathroom floor.

An aluminium joist-and-spacer system then sits on top of the cement base, followed by the timber floor. The timber strips are installed with 5 mm gaps to allow water from the bathroom to flow into the main floor below and drained off.

“The gap between the timber and cement floor created by the joist-and-spacer system, along with the gap between the timber planks are important to ensure that the wood never sits on water and to ventilate and air the wood to keep it dry,” Lawrence explains.

Timber floors in dry settings are usually finished with a varnish or smooth coating that forms a protective seal over the top of the wood. For bathrooms, this may pose a slipping hazard when the surface is wet. Furthermore, for a seal to effectively protect the wood, there cannot be any breaks that may compromise the seal and allow water or chemicals to penetrate.

“As wood expands and contracts, there can never be a perfect seal between wood planks, which can be an issue in wet areas,” he points out. This is why in wet areas, wood should be finished with a sealant that penetrates into the wood and becomes an integral part of it, hardening it from within and preventing water damage, stains, cracking and warping. He cautions: “The sealant has to be applied to all six sides of the wood to ensure all surfaces are sealed.”

Expert tips by Lawrence Puah, Design Director, Akihaus Design Studio

When it comes to maintenance, timber is like marble. Avoid using abrasive equipment and harsh chemicals. As a general rule for flooring in wet areas, try to keep them dry and allow as much ventilation as possible. The sealant will eventually wear off over time, so it is necessary to reapply and the frequency depends on how well the wood is taken care of.

That said, Lawrence feels that the maintenance aspects may not bother homeowners who appreciate the stains, scratches and imperfections as part of the aging process of a natural material such as wood. “Take a refreshing shower, feel the wood beneath your bare feet, and enjoy the changes in character the timber flooring brings to your bathroom.