Using Wood in the Bathroom?

Conventional wisdom states that there should never be any wood in your bathroom. Conventional wisdom however is often wrong, and in this case, it’s very wrong. The obvious issue with wood is that it doesn’t typically handle moisture well, and neither does it do well in places that experience dramatic shifts in temperature. While this is conventionally true, there are some woods that actually do quite well in moist areas and can handle heat, and many homeowners are delighted with the results of utilizing various kinds of wood in their remodeled bathrooms.

What Sorts of Wood Work Well in a Bathroom?

Wood is one of the most beloved materials known to man. We’ve been using it for millennia now and have made an exact science out of harvesting, treating, tempering, and beautifying our homes with wood. That being said, there are some woods that are going to perform better in hot moisture. Teak has been known as an excellent wood for resisting moisture for many years now. Much of the high quality patio furniture that you see is made out of wood. In addition, we’ve gotten much better about anticipating wood’s needs in various environments, and on top of that, bamboo is being used to create the appearance of wood without actually being wood.

Wood Bathtubs and Sinks

To Western eyes, this may seem unthinkable, but the Japanese have been creating bathtubs out of teak for centuries. Teak is naturally water resistant and does not need to be treated because it naturally produces its own oils. Oak that has been specially treated is another option for those who are considering wood for a bathtub. Those who love wood tubs like the way wood retains heat. Wood obviously retains heat much better than various ceramics would, so it’s becoming a more popular choice here in the United States as well.

Wood Cabinets in the Bathroom

Again, this is not as outside the realm of possibility as it sounds. In fact, some folks have taken to using wood flooring in bathrooms, although it is still not as popular as tile. Oak and teak are still some of the most popular choices, but cedar is becoming increasingly popular because of its aromatic qualities.“Wood is no longer outside the realm of possibility for folks to use in the bathroom,” says one kitchen and bathroom expert from the Detroit area. “With different kinds of woods there’s going to need to be some care given to how it’s treated and cared for and it’s going to be completely different depending on the kind of wood. But for the people that we’ve installed wood bathtubs for, they tell us you really can’t beat the feeling of soaking in a wooden tub.”

Reviews

From start to finish Kurtis was a great company to work with. From the initial contact and design concept with Gregory Holster to the cabinet drop off team, the install team led by project manager Jeff Tuomi and the countertop company, the project was on time and all work was performed beyond expectations. This was greatly appreciated seeing as it was completed on December 23. All the people involved were professional and did an excellent job.

Ken M.

Shanna was our project consultant. Picking out cabinets along with counters can be somewhat overwhelming but her knowledge & experience helped us make the right decisions. Dylan & Juwan unloaded truck & Dylan check off ship ticket to make sure all boxes were accounted for. Courteous & pleasant to talk to…nice job of stacking everything neatly in our garage. We couldn't be more pleased with the service & so happy with our kitchen

Deborah D.

We recently worked with Lauren on cabinetry for a master bathroom renovation. She was great to work on the design and selections. Lauren was efficient and responsive from cabinet selection through ordering. Our overall installation was smooth. We had some unforeseen circumstances impacting our ability to accept delivery of our cabinets on the initial agreed upon date. Kurtis was very accommodating in rescheduling delivery given our project challenges. We couldn't be happier with our cabinets for this project.

Shannon O.

We had complete renovations to our kitchen and main bathroom. From start to finish, the design with Shanna was exactly what we asked for and Jeff stayed on top of the renovations, communicating each step of the way. Every worker was professional and the final product is elegant and functional. We were very happy with Kurtis and would choose Shanna and Jeff again.

Eileen M.

We love our new kitchen! Kurtis Kitchen & Bath did an outstanding job, and Adrian at the Clarkston location was exceptional to work with—creative, patient, and really listened to what we wanted. The project was well-organized, and we went from demo to a fully functioning kitchen in just 30 days. Highly recommend!

Carter C.