Douglas fir flooring is no stranger to living rooms, dining rooms, corridors, and bedrooms. So you’re probably wondering if Douglas fir flooring works well in kitchens and bathrooms, two of the highest traffic areas in the home. The short answer is, Yes!
In today’s post, we’ll expand on that definitive yes and list some things you should consider before installing Douglas fir flooring in what’s commonly called the “wet rooms” of the house: the kitchen and bathroom. You might be surprised to learn that many homes back in the day were built this way.
A little history
It’s not uncommon to find Douglas fir hiding under existing vinyl, tile, or even carpet. Actually, if you’re living in an older home, say a house constructed before the 1950s, you’re likely to find the tried ‘n’ true timber somewhere beneath your existing flooring. Home builders back then relied on Douglas fir for the flooring, acting as both the subfloor and top floor throughout the home.
Then came the 1950’s. Technologies and personal tastes changed, as did accessibility to new household materials like vinyl (which was invented in the 20’s, introduced in the 30’s, and sold in the late 40’s after WWII). Vinyl was a popular consumer choice and many hardwoods went into hiding.
Today, though, that old Douglas fir is resurfacing as consumers are looking to restore their homes to their original conditions – what goes around comes around, and we couldn’t be happier about that. So, if you have an older home and are considering Douglas fir in the kitchen or bathroom, you might be surprised to learn that it’s already there.
Are Douglas fir floors lurking below your top floor? Be careful before you check. Vinyl flooring manufactured and installed as late as the 1980’s contains asbestos. Please contact a flooring expert to remove, test, and determine if existing vinyl in your home harbors this harmful fiber.
Existing Douglas fir flooring
Douglas fir found in older homes is old growth wood or first generation fir. Old growth fir is some of the toughest timber around, which is why builders back in the day used it in their construction jobs. If you find fir in your kitchen and bathroom, let that be a testament to its durability and long-term performance in these two “wet” areas.
With proper restoration and a little forgiveness on your part, the restored fir flooring in your kitchen and bathroom should be just fine. But, what about spills, running water, moisture, and humidity? We’ve got the answers below.
New Douglas fir flooring
Cooking, washing, leaky faucets, broken dishwashers, shower + tub humidity and the like do pose problems to all woods – some more than others. For instance, installing Douglas fir flooring in kitchens and half baths may be “safer” than installing them in a full bath. But, if you know what to watch out for and how to prevent damage to your wood flooring in these “wet rooms,” your floors should survive and continue to perform over the long haul.
Here’s AltruFir’s list of eight things to do before, during, and after installing your beautiful Douglas fir flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. Some of these items can be applied to existing restored old growth Douglas fir floors.
• Select a “quarter-sawn” CVG Douglas fir product over flat or mixed grain wood. The closer the grain, the better the durability and resistance to moisture damage. The tight fibers increase its water resistance; Douglas fir wood doesn’t absorb water as quickly as other wood species.
• Choose kiln-dried treated lumber. Kiln-dried Douglas fir helps the wood acclimate properly because any excess moisture has already been removed during the kiln process.
• Check plumbing pipes, hoses, washers, and appliance hookups for noticeable wear and leaks. Repair and replace old leaky hardware before the installation project. Caulk around pipe wall openings too.
• Acclimate the floor boards properly in the installation room. We recommend a week. Douglas fir adapts to its surrounding quite well, so be sure to give your floor boards enough time to acclimate. With proper acclimatization, your Douglas fir flooring does a better job at retaining its shape in moist and humid areas. In other words, it’s less likely to warp and cup in from a moisture imbalance after proper acclimatization.
• There are two common methods to installation: nail-down and glue-down. Some people prefer the glue-down method for “wet rooms” because the wood is glued directly to the slab, leaving no space for water or moisture to sit and soak the flooring – there’s only two layers, the slab and the flooring. In the nail-down method, there can be three or four layers – slab, foam (sometimes), plywood underlayment, and flooring – leaving little pockets of space that can harbor water or moisture.
• After installation, seal the flooring. Use a quality waterproof sealer and follow directions on the label for application. A properly sealed floor will not absorb water. Instead, any spilled water will bead on the floorboards.
• Remove damp rugs and bathmats from hardwoods and allow the floor to thoroughly dry. Check that the rug and bathmat is also dry before placing on the floor. Wipe up spills immediately and don’t use wet mops or soaking rags for cleaning.
• Keep an eye on your Douglas fir flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. If you see or feel something funny, check it out right away and take action, if needed. You may need to reseal flooring more often in these areas compared to areas like the living room.
Anything is possible, including a Douglas fir floor in your kitchen and bathroom. You just need to take a little more precaution in these areas and keep an eye out for the wet stuff.
- Nicole Morales
This post was posted in Douglas Fir Flooring, Care & Maintenance and was tagged with Douglas fir flooring, douglas fir floors, kitchens and bathrooms