Untreated wood is generally not resistant to moisture. But parquet flooring can visually elevate a bathroom while offering many advantages. What do you need to know before you decide on expensive parquet flooring for your bathroom? Get the full story here – including helpful tips.
Is parquet flooring really suitable for bathrooms?
Wood is a natural material. When exposed to moisture, wood absorbs it and swells. If the air humidity is reduced, the water evaporates and natural products will warp.
The critical value for air humidity is 70%. This limit should not be exceeded in any space as higher percentages can lead to mold growth.
Thanks to the surface treatment, using this precious material in wet spaces is now no problem. But it requires a little more care than ceramic tiles. With the right technical know-how, wood flooring can be as durable as other high-quality building materials.
Using wood as floor covering offers numerous advantages:
Natural textures visually create a unique atmosphere suitable for the concept of well-being factor. Your feet feel warm and cozy – there’s no comparison with cold tiles or natural stone.
Wood contains tannins which have antibacterial properties. Biofilms are less likely to form here.
This fine-pore material stores heat and provides excellent insulation.
Wood is a sustainable material that can be continuously regenerated. But before making a purchasing decision, it is recommended to carefully check the origin of the wood. This way you avoid environmental pollution caused by long-distance transport.
Important information and tips about wood flooring
Not all varieties are suitable for wet environments. Beech, for example, absorbs moisture very easily, so it is not a very suitable species.
The following woods are particularly suitable for your bathroom
Oak: This German natural product is extremely strong and durable.
Walnut: This wood expands only slightly, making it ideal for underfloor heating.
Douglas Fir: Spruce from North America is attractive for its pleasant touch and is easy to care for.
Merbau: This tropical wood is very hard and very strong.
Teak: This Asian wood is particularly resistant to moisture and mold.
Solid wood flooring, which is composed of single planks, is relatively moisture-resistant because it does not expand as quickly around the edges. The multi-layer design provides more contact surfaces for moisture in the air. Therefore, such floors require careful care in the bathroom.
When laying, it is recommended to glue the floor all over. The substructure with shear-resistant bonding consists of several layers and requires manual knowledge and skills. It is important to perfectly seal the surface with permanently elastic seams.
In an average room, a painted floor requires little care. But if some water remains on the sealing surface (for example, after a shower), the paint may crack. In the bathroom, oil is the perfect surface treatment. Before first use, use
Apply hard oil or hard wax oil to the floor several times. Then carefully rub the floor with a polisher to allow the wood oil to penetrate. This results in an impregnated surface that is less susceptible to moisture absorption. Hard oil will penetrate deep into the structure and provide protection from the inside. Hard wax oil leaves a shiny protective film on the surface. Whether hard oil or hard wax oil: be sure to re-oil your parquet floor once a year.
If your bathroom has underfloor heating, you should choose thinner parquet flooring. At a thickness of 22 mm, sufficient heat is dissipated into the room. It’s best to ask a professional if the flooring you choose is suitable for this type of heating.
How to properly care for your wood floors
With the right care, wood has been proven to be a material that lasts for decades in wet spaces. Here are some things you should keep in mind when showering and bathing:
Wipe up small puddles immediately. If the parquet floor is oiled, water that has been retained for a long time can also penetrate.
Pay attention to the air humidity, for example with the help of a thermohygrometer. Regular ventilation can reduce this value.
Even in its dimensionally stable variety, this natural material expands and contracts. When small cracks appear, they should be sealed immediately. Has easy-to-spray neoprene padding.