Let’s be clear! I’m not talking about timber veneer products; this blog is focused on solid timber or solid timber with other mixed materials. Let’s bring the outside in, and timber, especially when styled with living plants, make bathrooms seriously sexy.
Solid timber products in the bathroom look amazing when executed correctly, especially when it is used as the hero in bathroom design. Timber or timber look products come in various designs and options like timber look ceramic floor tiles, Timber or Bamboo Slab tops, Timber Vanities, Timber windows or Timber accessories.
Timber has not traditionally been in wet areas such as the bathroom due to the fact that it can be affected by water or moisture but if it is properly protected with sealers it will keep looking amazing as nothing can come close to the natural beauty and versatility of timber.
What about the cost variance? Timber ranges in cost depending on the type of timber that you are using and where it will be used. Solid timbers are generally more expensive than timber veneers and there can be significant pricing differences amongst solid timbers depending on which specific one you use. As an example, a 40mm thick recycled QLD hard wood timber top or Byron Camphor top will sell for $850 versus a 20mm thick engineered stone top for $350.
Where should I use timber in the bathroom?
Tiles on the floor and wall should always be ceramic so we don’t recommend using timber on the floor. Check out the pictures with this blog for an amazing bathroom timber look floor from a place we stayed at in Mission Beach
Timber can be used on vanity tops. Bamboo is a soft material that is used with some vanities and recycled hardwood or camphor that’s lived a little, on the other hand, is denser and far more stable as a vanity top option. As per the cleaning tips below, wipe up any spills or splashes that are left on a timber or bamboo top as it will eventually dry and stain the surface.
Solid Timber can also be used as a vanity carcass instead of custom board and the finished products looks amazing but there is a lot of extra labour in the creation of these so be prepared to pay a premium for this.
Where is the timber from?
Please do not buy an imported solid timber top or vanity. Apart form supporting Australian manufacturers, you will get a far better quality of solid timber product when you buy Australian. Imported solid timbers are prone to swell and fail as opposed to QLD Hardwood tops or Byron kiln dried Camphor slabs. All the timbers sold at Designer Bathrooms Plus have been sustainably sourced and guaranteed to be Australian.
Wood has been increasingly recognised as a global solution to climate change, by storing carbon and through reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. While trees are renewable, forests are not. So it is important that we source timber responsibly. The FSC forest management standards ensure business and consumers can be guaranteed they are supporting responsible management of our world’s forests through choosing FSC certified timber.
Care and maintenance
Clean up spills straight away. Any splashes of water on the vanity need to be dried up with a towel. Water can seep into the top and if left for a prolonged time, it will damage the timber and has the potential to warp the bench top. Do not use cleaning products on the timber top. Warm water and a microfibre cloth is the best combination and make sure it is dried off after cleaning.
For hardwood tops, if or when required, reseal the vanity or bench top yearly using Monocel Gold which is available from most hardware stores.
If you are cutting a hole in the timber top. All cuts must be resealed. If this is not done moisture will get into the unsealed arrears and cause damage to the whole top. Use several coats of Monocel Gold for all holes that are drilled and allow for drying time between the coats.
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