The Disadvantages of a Teak Shower Floor

Stains

• Teak's natural oils protect it from moisture, which helps it stay mold- and mildew-free. The oils do not, however, protect it from stains that are not dependent upon prolonged moisture. If you color your hair, the rinse runoff from a darker dye would easily stain teak because the dye molecules are small enough to find their way into the wood's pores. Oils from shower gel, bubble bath and bath salts would also cause spotting after prolonged contact. A typical shower pan is made of non-porous material, so stains are easily cleaned with a cleaner and a sponge. A teak shower floor must be sanded and refinished to remove stains.

Requires Maintenance

• Unlike shower pans made from traditional materials, teak floors require upkeep. Even though moisture doesn't penetrate the wood and cause rot, it does raise the grain and slightly roughen the surface -- to re-smooth the grain, you must scrub the teak with a bristle brush and soapy water. Regular cleaning may leave spotting, so you would then have to scrub the floor with laundry detergent and bleach to remove the spots. This is much more work than the quick swipe of the sponge required by non-porous flooring materials.

Not Indestructable

• Teak is a very hard wood -- it doesn't splinter and won't warp or bend even when wet for extended periods. It is not steel though, so the surface will not remain smooth forever. Gritty dirt can scratch the finish, and impact can cause cracking or gouging. The shower doesn't seem like a place where grit would be, but stepping on a pile of bath salts or exfoliating scrub may dig just deep enough to cause a scratch.

Changes Color

• If you plan your bathroom decor around the warm honey color of new teak, it may not match in a few weeks. Teak naturally ages to a silvery-white color -- the more moisture it's exposed to, the faster it ages. There are several chemical treatments that can help slow the aging process, but they won't stop it completely. These treatments may also cause a shower hazard because they protect the wood by remaining on the surface -- this can create a slick surface that could contribute to falls in wet conditions.