Designer Talk: How to Have the Look of a Wood Floor in Wet Spaces

by | Designer Talk

Kelci Pennock MBA

Kelci Pennock is a Mosby Building Arts Design Intern who is scheduled to graduate from Southeast Missouri University with a BS in Interior Design.  While assisting and learning from the Mosby Planning and Design team, she has shown a real flair with flooring, and is happy to share her thoughts on how to have hardwood – or something close to it – wherever you want it!

Have you ever wanted a beautiful bathroom with a rustic, country spa feel, but felt you couldn’t because you can’t mix wood and water?

With flooring options designed to look like hardwood, there’s plenty of ways to incorporate a rustic feel into a bathroom. Take a look at the “wood floor” in the powder room shown below, which is actually porcelain tile.

mosby porcelain wood tile floor powder room

Because we’re instinctively drawn to wood, manufacturers have developed entire lines of look-a-like tile and vinyl “planks.” These options are great in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and basements, and can even be used outdoors for patios or poolside. Tile and vinyl are wonderful alternatives when you want the look of hardwood in spaces that get wet.

Wood is an organic material that expands and contracts with changing temperature and moisture levels. For this reason it’s not recommended for use over concrete floors in basements. And wood absorbs water, so this is why it should be used cautiously in area where the floor can get wet, like bathrooms and kitchens.

Ceramic or porcelain tile that mimics the look of wood works beautifully in high-traffic work areas because it’s a tough material that won’t dent, and cleans up easily with soap and water. Tile also gives you the option of installing radiant heating underneath, which is quickly becoming a standard option for bathroom floors.

mosby vinyl wood plank basement flooring

Vinyl flooring that looks like wood is another excellent choice. Mosby used wood-look vinyl flooring for the finished basement project shown above. Vinyl is budget-friendly when covering large areas like a basement. And vinyl is a soft material, so there’s some give under your feet, which is perfect in areas where you stand for long periods of time.

Real wood may not always work in spaces and places that get wet, but there’s no need to give up that aesthetic when water-resistant tile and vinyl that looks like hardwood is available. The design team at Mosby Building Arts is ready to help with all your flooring and remodeling needs. To get started, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.