I know of a couple who recently came very
near to separating due to a major falling out over the choice of flooring for
their new bathroom. One of them wanted bathroomfloor tiles, either bathroom vinyl
flooring or bathroom laminate
flooring, whereas the other half wanted to go with bathroom wooden flooring.
When you are considering bathroom flooring vinyl is usually a
sound choice and you will find that bathroom vinyl floor tiles are one of the most popular customer options. Whether you
decide on vinyl, carpet, wood or other flooring such as tile, stone or laminate
you need to keep in mind the budget and the amount of usage the floor can
expect.
What is a laminate floor made of?
Laminate floors
are made from fibres, which are pressed together, and the 'wood effect' surface
is a printed image with a wear resistant finishing top layer. Laminate floors
are not made of real wood and they don't have a real wood surface layer.
Laminates and wood-effect floors should not be confused with real wood floors.
Today's wood floor finishes are very sophisticated in nature and a far cry from
the old, thick 'plastic-looking' finishes. They are generally exceptionally
durable, yet incredibly thin, so they protect a floor and promote easy care
without disguising the wood's grain. The most popular treatments are lacquer,
oil and wax.
Lacquer
A lacquer
pre-finish encapsulates the wood and seals it completely. A lacquered floor is
very easy to keep clean and requires minimal maintenance. Depending on the
quality of the lacquer, a surface finish can last between five and seven years
before renovation is necessary. Lacquer finishes are incredibly popular because
they are durable and require minimal maintenance. Various gloss levels are
available, from silk matt lacquer to 'mirror-like' high gloss.
Oil and Wax
Oil and wax
finishes provide natural protection and create a sheen that is silk-like to the
touch. Floors with oil or wax finishes do require a level of periodic
maintenance but modern treatments make it an easy procedure. Small areas of
wear are particularly easy to renovate.
Homeowners
usually don't think of wood when deciding on a flooring material for a modern
bathroom. The wood presents some problems when used in a moist environment such
as a kitchen, bathroom or basement. It requires more attention than other
flooring materials for a bathroom, but it also creates a warm and elegant look
in the room. When making the decision to use wood for the flooring in your
bathroom, consider your budget and the maintenance requirements of the
material.
Water Damage
Wood floors are
susceptible to damage from the moisture and water in a bathroom. The material
absorbs the water and swells if you do not seal and protect it properly.
Sealing the wood prevents the wood from absorbing the water, which causes the
damage. This is why I must admit that deciding to go for bathroom wooden flooring is probably not the best idea in the world
to insist upon.
