Where does wood come from? Trees of course. What do trees will need to grow? If one of these elements is absent, then the tree will not survive. If water is indeed critical to the success of a tree, why should it be averted with hardwood floors?
Well, let us consider the bicycles an oak tree goes through. Every year, new expansion pops out from the spring; it continues to grow through the summer; its leaves change color and drop in autumn (because of falling sunlight), and then it will become dormant during winter.
In each of these stages, the requirements of this tree are a tiny bit different. When it's growing, it requires more nutrients than once it is dormant. Like every living thing, its demands change gradually with time.
One reason we want to use wood in our houses is because it creates a sense of natural warmth. Although the substance is no longer alive, it will continue to react to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. When wood finishes, our doors become harder to open and close and the spaces between planks of flooring are reduced. When hardwood contracts, the spaces between the boards become more conspicuous. The level to which the wood shines or contracts depends on the climate and the type of wood.
How does this relate to the chambers in our home? We want to avoid using wood flooring in rooms where important changes in humidity and temperature happen. Although we are continuously using water in the kitchen increasing the odds that the floor will end up moist -- it isn't risky to install a hardwood flooring in kitchen. When there is a spill at the kitchen it will probably be cleaned up fast. We are attentive to the use of water in the kitchen then we are in different rooms where plumbing exists.
If we don't usually spill water from the laundry room, why can it be strongly discouraged to utilize wood flooring there? The laundry area is a tiny enclosed space and the degree of humidity fluctuates with every load. For instance, the average family may wash 5 tons of laundry per week. At least among those heaps will be washed in hot water and likely several will be washed in warm water. The steam in the hot water will considerably increase the humidity in the room and the impacts of the warm water is going to be amplified because it's an enclosed space.
Bathrooms are the most common rooms which timber floor enthusiasts may risk using hardwood flooring, even if they know the risks. If the toilet is really a half-bath, meaning it does not have a shower or bathtub, a timber floor would not be in danger. If however, there is a bathtub or shower, hardwood floors should be prevented. The reason is that it's possible that the tub could overflow onto the ground at some point and the steam in the shower or bathtub would greatly impact the humidity in this small enclosed space. Taking household size into consideration when planning your space is a significant step to determining what sort of flooring is greatest.
What happens if wood flooring becomes completely saturated? It is dependent upon how much water is spilled and the length of time it's left untreated. The local climate and kind of timber are also factors, but to a lesser extent. The worst case would be that the timber would bow, split and crack due to the abrupt change in humidity. It also can cause a blot without harming the integrity of the timber. If it had been to divide, that portion of the floor would need to be replaced. Depending on how recently it was set up, it may be hard or impossible to match. If it had been stained, it may require trimming or replacing the whole floor.
Together with the investment of effort and time that goes into installing hardwood floors, it is logical to avoid using it in areas that are enclosed spaces where the temperature and humidity changes quickly and frequently.
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