Wood Flooring: An Excellent Option For Modern Bathrooms

Standard bathrooms feature ceramic tile, vinyl or stone flooring, but these are just the three most popular of a wide variety of available materials. For a more unique approach to bathroom design, consider investing in hardwood flooring.

Benefits Of Wood Flooring In Bathrooms

Most homeowners who opt for wood flooring do so because they believe that it is the best fit for the style of their houses. However, fashion is by no means the only reason to ditch the vinyl and opt for hardwood. In addition to raising a home's value when used in foyers and bedrooms, wood floors can also spur huge improvements in home value when included in one or more bathrooms. Hardwood is also very comfortable, especially when cool weather arrives.

Taking Precautions Against Moisture Damage

One of the greatest concerns among those considering the hardwood approach is that of moisture damage. Moisture is terrible for wooden floors and, while it is easy to control in the living room or the master bedroom, this becomes far more difficult in a room in which long showers are taken on a daily basis.

Homeowners adamant about having hardwood flooring in their bathrooms are in luck, for a variety of steps can be taken to prevent moisture damage. First and foremost, the installation process must be completed with great care. Gaps in the hardwood greatly increase the potential for damage. Further prevention is made possible through the application of a high-quality polyurethane sealer. This should lock out most moisture, thereby preventing unwanted warping or surface cracks.

Engineered Wood

Those hoping to achieve the hardwood look but minimize the risk for moisture damage may want to consider investing in engineered wood. This excellent alternative to bathroom remodeling Santa Fe features a plywood base, which holds up nicely to the inherent moisture found in bathroom settings. The top layer, however, is constructed from real hardwood, thereby providing all of the esthetic rewards of wood floors with none of the risk.

If standard hardwood is preferred over engineered wood, be sure to select a variety that is less vulnerable to the effects of moisture. Avoid softwoods and, instead, opt for cherry, oak, maple or hickory.

Wooden flooring in bathrooms may not be easy to maintain, but for homeowners intent on achieving the beautiful hardwood look, it remains a viable option. Choose a dense wood and invest in professional installation services; your bathroom will be the envy of the entire neighborhood!

Three Things a Homeowner Should Consider Before Remodeling a Bathroom

Having a bathroom remodeled is no small task. It takes a considerable amount of time; additionally, the cost of hiring a bathroom remodeling Santa Fe company to do the work can be thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Following are three important factors to consider when determining if, when or how to remodel a bathroom. Reason A Santa Fe homeowner will want to start by considering exactly why he or she wants the bathroom remodeled in the first place. If the bathroom is being remodeled to increase home value, then one will want to pay attention to current bathroom remodeling trends and ensure the new bathroom will appeal to a wide audience. In such instances, it is often best to stick with small yet high impact remodeling jobs such as installing a skylight, putting a bar in the shower and installing a heated towel rack.

Cost Most bathroom remodeling companies will provide a free cost estimate before beginning work. Ideally, one should get an estimate from more than one company to see which one offers the best deal. After choosing a company to work with, a person should get the estimate in writing to ensure that there are no misunderstandings. Even more importantly, a homeowner should assess his or her finances to ensure the job is indeed affordable. Taking out a loan in order to remodel a bathroom is seldom a good idea; instead, a homeowner may want to do some small remodeling jobs now and then take on other jobs at a later date.

Practical Matters The bathroom is one of the most used rooms of the home. As such, it should not only look nice but also be practical. Putting in non-slip tile flooring, adding extra storage space, installing hand rails for safety reasons and replacing worn wiring are all good ways to keep a bathroom safe and easy to use. If a bathroom is old and/or no longer safe, then remodeling the bathroom is often a very good idea. Even so, a homeowner should not rush into a bathroom remodeling job without taking the time to assess his or her budget as well as consider just how the new bathroom should look.

By taking the pointers above into consideration, a homeowner will be able to determine which bathroom remodeling jobs should be done right now, what materials should be used for the job and which company should be hired to do the work.