Most wood flooring manufacturers warn against installing their products in bathrooms or saunas, or using them to surround swimming pools, but HĂĽma, based in Germany, expects it. It is betting the post-shower consumer would rather step out onto wood than cold tile, so it invented a new joint-and-locking system that prevents water from seeping between boards and causing moisture damage.
“Our patented and plastic-based joint-and-locking geometry means that real wood parquet flooring can be used for the first time in damp and wet areas,” says Felix Hüllenkremer, head of product development and sales.
The flooring is engineered oak finished with one layer each of elastic polyurethane and UV acrylate. It comes in planks 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) long and 140 millimeters (5 inches) wide. The oak comes in a variety of colors, and so does the plastic tongue seal between each board—red, mint (pictured), blue, gray, yellow, natural, brown and black.
The product is not available in the United States, but HĂĽma is developing a distribution agreement with Toronto-based distributor Relative Space.
While Hüllenkremer points out how well the product will perform in a wet environment, he's especially proud of the product's value in kitchens. Homeowners can mop up spills right away … or not.
