Replies

1. 
   CloudHidden | Sep 23, 2002 08:11pm | #1

   One variation we did that has worked great for us and seems to get good reactions is to use the wood to visually connect to other rooms, but do what amounts to a 3' x 6' tile inlay next to the sink, the tub, the shower, the toilet, etc. The wood is for the traffic areas, while the tile is where you stand wet.

2. 
   Mongo | Sep 24, 2002 01:25am | #2

   I have brazilian cherry in my own master bath. No special treatment, but my wife and I are not water slobs. It's held up fine, no show of damage at all.

   In other's baths I've had the flooring poly'd on 5 sides prior to nailing it down. Install, then sand, then standard finish on the show surface. It's more work, but with there not being a whole lot of wood in the bath it's tolerable. And yes, the customer will pay for it...or the flooring doesn't go down.

3. 
   Piffin | Sep 24, 2002 01:42am | #3

   Many homes here have heart pine floors throughout. This wood is naturally more rot resistant and stable but the ones where I see any trouble are those that recieve little or no care and maintainance for years. The most common place for trouble is not near the tub but under and behind the toilet. The porcelan sweats terribly in our high summer huimidity and the floor can stay weet for months.

   With good installation and good coats of polyurethene or tung oil, I see no reason to fear it.Excellence is its own reward!

   
   

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   Edited 9/24/2002 11:55:38 AM ET by piffin

1. 
   HammskiJr | Sep 24, 2002 05:35pm | #4

   To All - Thanks for the sound advice and encouragement, I appreciate the feedback and experiances you've had.  Wood floors, here we come!

   Junior

4. 
   jeffn7 | Sep 24, 2002 10:29pm | #5

   Engineered floors shouldn't move in areas where moisture is an issue, such as bathroom. I think this is something that should be thought out because the exposure doesn't just come from someone standing wet on the floor, but from steam as well (especially if you are my wife... the steam is so thick when she's done that I need to bring in auxiliary air to clear it out!). The last thing you would want is to be called back to a job because the nice maple floor you installed a few months ago is cupped something aweful.

1. 
   HammskiJr | Sep 25, 2002 12:45am | #6

   Yea, you raise a good point.  I know engineered floors are supposed to be more stable, ie with a particle/resin core, but we all know what happens to that material when they do get wet.  I'm leaning toward prefinished solid hardwood, with several coats of spray poly on all the unfinished sides.  Over a garage, I'll put down 15# felt as well.  Sometimes you just gotta go for it.  Thanks for your help.

1. 
   ANDYSZ2 | Sep 25, 2002 01:13am | #7

   I have a wood floor in my 1/2 bath and the problem I have is when the toilet over flows this happened more than once .It didn't do much damage but the edges have raised a 1/16th or more .I wish I had thought of tile around the toilet and wood for the traffic area.

                                           ANDYSZ2

1. 
   HammskiJr | Sep 25, 2002 10:15pm | #9

   Thanks, that's a good point.  And we all know it's gonna happen sometime!

5. 
   chiefclancy | Sep 25, 2002 08:02am | #8

   Personally, I would only put a wood floor in baths that don't get used too often. Most HO's (and especially the kids) don't pay much if any attention to care and maintainance in a bathroom. In a master bath or the one where the kids are bathing, tile all the way. This might be one of those HO ideas that looks great in magazines next to those $100,000 kitchens that no one uses. I love hardwood floors, so I agree it's beautiful, but unless the customer is committed to understanding its limitations and taking care of it, it can be a bad idea from a practical standpoint.

1. 
   HammskiJr | Sep 25, 2002 10:16pm | #10

   Sound advice, I appreciate your objectivity. Thanks!

2. 
   Piffin | Sep 25, 2002 11:10pm | #11

   Excellent point and one I made the mistake of assuming.

   Some of the old places here hace a marble base to the throne for spills and sweat to drip on. One guy has replicated that with solid surface material (Corian) relieved to hold a thin film of that dangerous hydrogen dioxideExcellence is its own reward!