Untreated wood should not be used in the bathroom. All wood should be treated with oils, varnishes or lacquers to prevent moisture from penetrating.
Which types of wood are generally suitable for the bathroom?
Not all wood is the same. And therefore different types of wood react very differently to high ambient humidity or changing temperature conditions.
It is best to choose so-called “calm wood” for bathrooms. This refers to types of wood that are less sensitive to fluctuations in humidity and can withstand treatment with cleaning agents. These types of wood include beech, alder, spruce, maple, pine, cherry, walnut, ash and larch.
The preconception that wood is not suitable for the bathroom is therefore not true. When you get right down to it, the idea of using wood as a building material in the bathroom is not really new either.
Wooden floorboards can be found in bathrooms in many old buildings, and saunas are also clad in wood. If you follow a few rules, including regular ventilation, there is nothing to stop you from enjoying wooden elements in the bathroom for a long time.
It is also often mistakenly assumed that the water vapor caused by showering or bathing would damage the wood through condensation. It should be noted that the following always applies to all rooms: the top priority – whether wallpapered, tiled or fitted with wood – is ventilation! With regular ventilation, the regular humidity in the bathroom corresponds to that of a normal living space most of the time.
Showering or bathing may make the air more humid for a short time, but this has no effect on the wooden floor. As a rule of thumb, parquet flooring remains durable in the bathroom at a normal room temperature of 20 to 22°C and a humidity of up to 70%. The advantage of an oiled surface in the bathroom is that water does not come into direct contact with the wood. If the floor absorbs an unusual amount of moisture when mopping, you should treat the surface with oil again. The advantage of an oiled surface is that water cannot get under the sealant through cracks.
For cleaning and care, you should only wipe the oiled wooden floor in the bathroom with a damp cloth. Small scratches can be easily removed by carefully sanding with fine sandpaper and then re-waxing – for more extensive damage: seek the advice of an expert!
Installation should be carried out professionally by qualified craftsmen. We also recommend full-surface bonding to the substrate.
So if you follow a few tips, parquet is also an excellent floor covering for the bathroom. Real wood floors add style to all rooms and create a good climate for your well-being.
Bathroom furniture can also be made of wood
In addition to its function as storage space for toiletries and cosmetics, bathroom furniture also serves an important aesthetic purpose. This is because it contributes significantly to a good atmosphere and is a decisive factor in whether or not you enjoy spending time in the bathroom.
Here too, wood is a suitable material for creating a bathroom with natural charm.