Hardwood is Not the Right Flooring for Every Room in Your Home

Table of Contents

1. Hardwood Floor Planks and Humidity: What You Need to Know
2. Which Hardwoods Are Not Suitable for Rooms With High Humidity?
3. Laminate Flooring Is a Good Option for Rooms With High Humidity
4. Vinyl Flooring Is a Good Option for Rooms With High Humidity
5. Other Types of Flooring That Are a Good Option for Rooms With High Humidity[+]
   1. Pick the Type of Flooring That Best Suits Your Needs and Home

You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing to floor for your home. That’s a good thing because not every home is the same, and not every room in your house has the same needs.

When it comes to hardwood flooring, there are many factors you need to consider before making the final decision about which type of wood or even which specific wood species will be the best option for you and your home.

Fortunately, there are so many different types of flooring that you can almost always find something that works in any room of your home. However, there are some considerations that you should make depending on where you plan on installing new flooring.

One of those considerations is whether or not the room you’re planning on installing new flooring in has humidity levels that are prone to fluctuation. Some woods simply aren’t suitable for these situations due to their sensitivity to moisture changes and the potential for warping or shrinking as a result of them.

Hardwood Floor Planks and Humidity: What You Need to Know

As we’ve mentioned above, hardwood floors are typically a good choice for just about any room in your home. Just keep in mind that you will have to perform regular maintenance on any type of hardwood you choose to install in your home.

Another thing to remember is that some hardwood types are more sensitive to humidity than others. The most humidity-sensitive hardwood types are Brazilian cherry, Brazilian walnut, and Brazilian teak.

If you have a moist environment, such as a bathroom or kitchen, these types of hardwood are likely not the best choice for you.

Hardwood is a natural product, so some amount of humidity sensitivity is expected. But Brazilian cherry, Brazilian walnut, and Brazilian teak are especially sensitive to humidity.

Unfortunately, Brazilian cherry, walnut, and teak are three of the most popular types of hardwood. So if you want to use real hardwood in these areas of your home, you’ll usually need to choose a different type of flooring.

Which Hardwoods Are Not Suitable for Rooms With High Humidity?

If you need to install new flooring in a bathroom or kitchen or in a room with high fluctuating humidity, the following types of wood are not the best options.

• Asian hardwood species like Chinese elm, persimmon, and redwood are not suitable for high-humidity rooms, as they are also very sensitive to moisture.
• Most types of hardwood with a red or yellow hue, like many types of oak, are not ideal in high-humidity areas either.

Hardwoods like birch, walnut, cherry, and maple are more neutral in color and are less likely to be affected by high humidity. However, all of these types of wood are still on the higher end of the sensitivity scale, so they may not be the best choice for high-humidity rooms.

Laminate Flooring Is a Good Option for Rooms With High Humidity

If you’re installing new flooring in a bathroom, kitchen, or other room with high humidity, then laminate flooring may be a good choice for you.

Laminate flooring is one of the most hygienic types of flooring on the market, so it’s an excellent choice in bathrooms and kitchens where water and potential bacteria are likely to be present.

Many types of laminate flooring are also water resistant, which can help it to last longer in high-humidity areas. Laminate flooring is a very affordable option, which can be helpful if you need to install it in multiple rooms or if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on new flooring.

You also have the perk that when one plank of laminate flooring needs replacing, it is easy to swap out. You can remove the damaged plank, replace it with a new one, and go about your day.

Vinyl Flooring Is a Good Option for Rooms With High Humidity

If you’re installing new flooring in a bathroom, kitchen, or other room with high humidity, vinyl may also be a good choice for you. Vinyl is another one of the most hygienic types of flooring on the market, so it’s ideal for bathrooms and kitchens as water and bacteria are often present.

Vinyl flooring is also resistant to water and many other common household chemicals. This makes it a great choice for high-humidity rooms. While some patterns of vinyl flooring are not as luxurious as other types of flooring, vinyl is a very affordable option that’s often much less expensive than other types of flooring. Luckily, today there are far more options for what your vinyl floor can look like than just a few short years ago.

Other Types of Flooring That Are a Good Option for Rooms With High Humidity

If you’re installing new flooring in a bathroom, kitchen, or other room with high humidity, some better options include bamboo, cork, and vinyl. Bamboo and cork are two of the most hygienic types of flooring, making them an excellent choice for bathrooms and kitchens.

Like vinyl, bamboo and cork are also resistant to water and many other common household chemicals. Bamboo and cork are also two of the more expensive types of flooring, but they are also two of the most durable and long-lasting types of flooring available. This can make them a good investment if you’re installing new flooring in a high-humidity room.

Pick the Type of Flooring That Best Suits Your Needs and Home

Hardwood floors are some of the most popular types of flooring on the market and for a good reason. It’s durable, looks great, and is easy to clean. However, not all types of hardwood are suitable for use in every room of your home.

If you have a high-humidity room, such as a bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen, you need to consider which types of flooring are best for these areas. Fortunately, many different types of flooring are suitable for any room within your home. So you can almost always find a good option for you, regardless of which type of flooring you prefer.

Thank you for reading!