Ipe Flooring: Your Best Bet for Bathrooms

As we mentioned last week, Fantastic Floor donated some of our beautiful and durable Ipe hardwood flooring to the DIY Network’s latest hit show, Bath Crashers. For those of you not familiar with the show, here is a brief synopsis taken from DIYNetwork.com:

Produced similarly to the popular House Crashers and Yard Crashers series, crasher Matt Muenster ambushes homeowners while they're home improvement shopping. When he identifies the ultimate bathroom challenge, he follows the lucky homeowner home and totally overhauls a bathroom in need of repair.

We know what you’re thinking: Hardwood flooring in the bathroom? That’s right. Certain species of wood, like Ipe, make great flooring choices for the bathroom. What makes Ipe so great? Glad you asked. Here are just a few of the reasons Ipe hardwood flooring is the perfect choice for any bathroom remodeling project.

Ipe hardwood flooring isn't just for the dining room anymore. More and more homeowners are enjoying exotic Ipe in their bathrooms as well!

Water-resistance
Ipe is one of the most durable hardwoods available. Its dense cell structure acts as a natural deterrent against water damage and mold. Combine that with a high-quality sealant and you’ve got a bathroom floor that’s ready for the day-to-day wear of an active family.

Fire-resistance
The same dense cell structure that makes Ipe water-resistant also makes it fire-resistant. In fact, Ipe flooring has a Class A fire rating – the same class of fire-retardant material as steel. Is it unlikely that your bathroom is going to catch fire? Perhaps. But if you use a curling iron or hair dryer often, a Class A fire rating isn’t the worst feature to have in a bathroom floor.

Longevity
Because of its natural resilience to insects, decay and mold, Ipe flooring has a very long lifespan. This can even be extended with proper care and a high-quality sealant. If you’re looking for a bathroom floor that will last for generations, Ipe is a good choice for you.

Easy to clean
Much like a tile or linoleum floor, Ipe hardwood is very easy to clean. Simply use a high-quality wood cleaner and mop as you would any other type of floor. Remember to mop up any standing water, though – leaving puddles on your floor can cause stains and discoloration.

Appearance
Probably the biggest reason people choose Ipe flooring for their bathrooms is the appearance. Ipe hardwood flooring is one of the most eye-catching wood varieties available today. It features dark shades of black and brown, dark striping, and white or yellow sapwood. The grain pattern runs from straight to very irregular, and the texture is usually fine to medium.

Learn more about Ipe hardwood flooring on our website, and don’t forget to tune in to Bath Crashers on Saturday, July 2, on the DIY Network.