Are you planning for a shower renovation? Step up the interiors with teak flooring. If this is your first time hearing this wood type, don’t worry because we will guide you every step of the way. In this article, we will expound on the key features of teak―its physical characteristics, unique features, and usage.
On top of that, we will also unravel the teak shower floor pros and cons to help with your decision-making. So, let’s get started with the basics.
All about teak
Teak is one of the many types of hardwood that is native to Southeast Asia. It is known to be dense and highly durable, making it one of the best hardwood options among homeowners. With a significant level of oil content, teak is also the most valuable pick in terms of water and decay resistance.
Accordingly, this hardwood is widely capitalized for various structures like yachts, boats, furniture, frames, and more. And as a renowned timber, many have acknowledged the usage of teak for shower flooring.
Teak shower floors, however, are quite unique. Unlike most types of flooring, these are commonly used as floor inserts. A floor insert is a bit similar to a floor mat, particularly a bamboo mat. It easily alters and improves the appearance of hardwood floors.
A teak shower floor, for instance, encompasses a collection of planks made from teal. Likewise, this can be rolled on top of the shower floor.
A Dive into the Pros and Cons of Teak
If you’re still uncertain, we’ve gathered the advantages and disadvantages of teak to guide you further. Go through each of the features below and assess if these have an impact on your preferences.
Advantages
From its durable properties to its distinct appearance, a teak shower floor is no doubt a charmer in your home. Like most wooden shower floors, this provides an extra shot of warmth that heaves up the general vibes of the place.
- Durable
First on the list are the strong properties of a teak wood floor. It’s very sturdy, ensuring the surface does not easily acquire a scratch or even a stain. Likewise, it can excellently withstand both heat and cold without any signs of breaking apart due to temperature changes.
- Long-Lasting
Did you know that teak is part of the line-up of the strongest wood species? For example, teak furniture generally lasts up to 75 years or even more. A major factor that impacts its durability is because of the high natural oils. The oil composition makes teak extremely dense and sturdy.
And as a close-grained hardwood type, teak also contains a high amount of silica. This compound is imperative among plants, especially during drought and frost. So, when cutting edges, teak produces rapid blunting.
- Resistant to water and rot
In relation to the key elements mentioned earlier―oil and silica―these make teak incredibly resistant to rot. The oil serves as a natural insect repellent, preventing the presence of wood-rotting fungi and wood-boring insects and pests like termites and bugs.
As a rot-resistant and pest-resistant wood species, many consider this a great investment that would last for decades or even more. So, if you prioritize this aspect highly, teak is definitely commendable.
- Slip-resistant
Apart from being very durable, teak is also slip-resistant. This indicates its suitability in showers and bathrooms, where moisture is very prominent. Thus, you won’t have to polish up non-slip coatings or paints on the teak wood shower floor because it can handle the job exceptionally.
However, if you want to improve the appearance of the flooring, a teak oil polisher is also available in the market. Most of these can be purchased from hardware stores or even online.
- Good stability
Compared to other types of wood, teak is renowned to have impressive stability features. And when we say stability, this refers to the wood being very compact even with the changes in humidity. It does not expand or shrink, which means cracks do not easily form within the surface.
And this is very crucial in wood flooring. Why? It’s because the formation of cracks can acquire and hold moisture. And when moisture sips right into the interior, this may affect the firmness of the wood in the long run.
- Sophisticated appearance
Featuring a gorgeous golden yellow base with brown streaks, teak is truly a breathtaking piece that elevates the entire ambiance of the room. Fascinatingly, the teak alters into a silver-grey hue after many years. So, over time, you’d see a gorgeous change of color that would add charm to your home’s interior.
And despite the deviations in hue, teak wood never downgrades in terms of appearance. It does not look patchy or unlikable even with the passing of time. Experts even likened teak to a good wine that gets better as it ages.
- Suitable not just for showers but also for outdoor structures and furniture
Because of its remarkable properties, teak wood is widely incorporated in showers to create a more unique look. And of course, you won’t have a problem with the existence of water because this wood is water-resistant. It does not swell even when exposed to moisture on a regular basis.
This is the main reason why teak is commonly used for bathroom floors, shower benches, and saunas. Likewise, the boatbuilding industry recognizes teak as an excellent choice in the manufacturing of boats and yachts. Other creations that use teak include resins, frames, tables, and outdoor decks.
- Excellent value
When it comes to wood species with the finest quality, teak often takes up a spot in the competition. And often than not, this is materialized in high-end homes with teak shower floors. Luxury real estate properties make use of premium wood flooring like teak to help improve home value.
But of course, you should take note that this material is not a major determining factor when valuing a structure, though it may raise the stakes due to its sophisticated appearance and top-notch features.
Disadvantages
On the other hand, here are some teak shower floor cons that you also need to know comprehensively. Understanding these drawbacks in detail is critical so you’d be able to make the most practical decision before making the purchase and installation.
- A bit expensive
Due to the impressive characteristics like durable features and resistance to a lot of things, teak comes with a hefty price tag. In fact, it’s on the expensive side of the spectrum, costing around $20 per square foot.
And this is definitely higher compared to the national average cost of hardwood flooring between $6 to $18 per square foot. So, if you want to enjoy the amazing properties of teak, you may need to ready your finances because you’d be paying a couple of dollars.
- Not waterproof
You might be wondering why it’s not waterproof when we’ve mentioned that it is water-resistant. Well, it’s because the two terms are actually different. Yes, teak is water-resistant but not waterproof. Thus, placing them inside the shower may be good, though over time it poses a negative effect on the surface.
On the bright side, you may not see the impact of water accumulation during the early years compared to cheaper flooring materials. Perhaps, you’d see a difference after a couple of decades or so.
- Gaps between the planks
If you’re conscious about a shower floor with visible gaps, then this could be an issue. The appearance of a teak shower floor is somehow likened to a bamboo mat, which means there are minimal gaps between the planks. Thus, this type of flooring can be very difficult to clean every day.
And even if teak wood is not resistant to fungi and wood-boring insects, bacteria accumulation may still happen considering the physical design of teak shower mats. Henceforth, if you want something that does not indirectly breed bacteria, there are other options like tiles and such.
- High-maintenance
While teak is resistant to water and molds, it doesn’t mean that this wood type is very easy to clean. In reality, teak can be very difficult to maintain. Additionally, you need to use a set of special cleaners and tools to keep its natural look even after many years.
When cleaning the teak shower floor, a soft bristle brush is important to scrub the surface. Ideally, you should use a non-toxic teak cleaner, although a mild soap solution is also helpful to remove unwanted stains. Make sure you follow this step diligently to avoid damage to the top layer of the wood.
Then, make sure to properly rinse with clean water. After the cleaning process, don’t forget to let it dry completely, ideally under the sun to remove any water residue. And aside from cleaning the teak shower floor, it’s also recommended to polish it with oil regularly.
As to the polishing process, it should be first cleaned delicately and dried up completely. Afterward, smoothly rub the material in small circles using a dry polishing brush. This step would only take a couple of minutes before you see the surface shines.
Conclusion
Now that you have a thorough grasp of a teak shower floor, we hope that you’d able to decide wisely. Installing teak on your shower floor is a remarkable choice as long as you understand all the pros and cons associated with the material. So, comprehend all the features carefully.