Correct wood for a Bathroom cupboard

[silky_jack]

Hi,

I am going to build a full length cupboard in the bathroom that will be sited at the bottom of the bath. The wood is bound to get wet....what sort of wood should I use? Is there a particular type that is good for damp/wet conditions?

[Oddbod]

Hi. Well not really. We spend a lot of time carefully kiln drying wood down to a specific moisture content, and then you want to go and chuck water all over it!

The key is to protect the wood properly with paint or varnish. Most importantly this includes the cracks and edges where water can sit for hours slowly damaging the wood. Use silicone sealant where the painted wood abuts anything else and where water could sit. Just keep the sealant in good repair.

It’s probably best to avoid MDF and ordinary plywood. WBP ply would probably be OK, but Marine ply would be better. If looked after you could use softwood (pine) panels. Hardwood would be good, but you need a fair degree of skill to work it.

One thing about cupboards in a bathroom is that they can get very damp in the humid atmosphere. You could end up with a lovely crop of mould inside if you don’t have bags of ventilation. Good luck.