Installing bamboo flooring in bathroom

With these products, careful sanding and refinishing may be possible if the flooring becomes badly scratched. Be wary of decorating articles and "green ideas" tips that tout bamboo for every room in the house, and check out the installation and care manuals of major bamboo flooring manufacturers.

These will give you a much more accurate picture of what makes a good environment for bamboo flooring. For example, look for disclaimers that might void warranties if you install the product in a wet environment. Here are some common use-and-care disclaimers stipulated by some of the main bamboo flooring manufacturers:. Like hardwood flooring, bamboo comes prefinished or can be finished on-site, often with polyurethane or a similar surface-forming finish.

These are indeed hard-wearing protective layers, but they can't seal all the seams between the floorboards. When the planks shrink, polyurethane and other topcoats can't bridge the gaps, leaving the seams exposed.

Some prefinished flooring boards can be glued at the joints, but this does not provide a reliable seal against standing water. If your bamboo flooring manufacturer has a statement that it will stand by with full warranty support, go for it. But otherwise, you're taking your chances.

Reservations aside, you certainly can use bamboo flooring in a bathroom if you have to have it. Bamboo is a very nice material and can look particularly striking in a bathroom where it's not expected much like a hardwood countertop in a kitchen can draw attention. But be prepared for some babying of the floor. If you have a private bathroom that's used by one or two adults or perhaps a half-bath, bamboo might make sense.

But for a family bath, you are probably well advised to stick with tile or vinyl. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Of these, the best bamboo flooring options for bathrooms and other damp environments are solid strand bamboo and engineered rigid core strand bamboo. While bamboo is a more sustainable source for flooring and provides high quality, lower cost option for putting in a hardwood bathroom floor, there are some concerns about certain sources of bamboo flooring.

This oversight means some brands of bamboo flooring have a greater potential to contain toxic substances in the adhesive and finish including formaldehyde. Furthermore, the factories in these countries that manufacture bamboo flooring can often generate a larger carbon footprint due to lax emissions standards overseas. Ecologically conscious consumers seeking to use bamboo flooring should verify their flooring is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council , as products bearing their seal of approval practice ethical and ecologically sound harvesting and manufacturing processes.

Ready to install a bamboo floor in your bathroom? First, consider the practical advantages and disadvantages of a bamboo bathroom floor. Remove existing flooring and scrub the subfloor clean. Use a concrete moisture meter to ensure the concrete is dry. Lay your boxes of flooring in the bathroom and allow them to sit there for at least 48 hours. Skipping this step and installing bamboo flooring in the bathroom without letting it acclimatize can result in warped floors.

One of the charming characteristics of bamboo flooring is that each plank varies in shade and pattern. Sort out your flooring before installation, creating piles of dark, medium, and light planks, and once you begin laying the floor, stagger the colors around the bathroom to enhance their natural look. A high-quality underlayment protects your flooring from moisture and, as an added bonus, helps soundproof the room.

The best way to maintain this gap is to use expansion spacers, placing them between the flooring and the wall or whatever other structure the flooring is pushing against. These natural woody materials make them unsuitable for rooms with high water content and humidity. It gives personality to a room and creates a natural, ethereal feel. It gives a warm and comfortable feel underfoot — perfect for bathrooms where you often go barefoot.

The organic structure of wood and bamboo means it can warp and become unstable if it takes excessive moisture. Bathrooms are privy to all kinds of water — standing water, humidity steam , and often condensation on shower screens or windows. All of these can cause damage to wood flooring. If excessive moisture is allowed to remain on the floor, you should expect some discoloration to occur. We define excessive moisture as any large amount of water extending over the edges of the planks left on the surface of the flowing for more than 20 hours.

This could come from a puddle on the floor perhaps hidden away behind a washbasin or from wet towels or bathmats being left. Steam and condensation in the air goes down into the cracks between the flooring and penetrates every space. Only a small amount will enter the flooring, but over time this builds up and can result in the planks buckling, warping, or cracking. Most cleaning products have some acid in them to aid the cleaning process.