Wooden toilet seats do not come up with a specific life span mentioned in their material. Mostly longevity depends on the type and quality of materials used in manufacturing.
How Long Do Wooden Toilet Seats Last? Wooden toilet seats can last for 4 to 8 years when you maintain and clean them properly. The longevity of these fixtures depends on cleaning methods, quality of material or finishing, frequent slamming, usage frequency, type of hardware, and environmental effects. You can make these toilet seats last longer by using the right quality cleaners, re-painting, and re-sealing.
It is necessary to replace them when you see cracks on their surface and their color becomes dull. Moreover, old wood veneer also develops stains and spots on its surface, representing its aging. They are famous because they are sanitary and look good in the bathroom.
What is the life span of wooden toilet seats?
The life span of the toilet seats depends on their material type. Therefore, it varies from material to material and their strength.
In addition, it is not mentioned in the products you use in your home. The manufacturers found a rough estimate of their longevity and made people aware of them.
On average, properly maintained wood seats will last more than 6 to 10 years. In addition, these can also last for more than 10 years when you maintain them correctly.
It also varies from the types and variety of wooden materials used for manufacturing. Some of them only last for about 5 years or less because of the porous and grained texture that allows water to penetrate them.
Moreover, high-quality material and properly enamel-coated ones are durable and last more than 10 years. The varnish and glossy enamel seal them properly and do not leave any spaces for moisture entry.
How do you make wooden toilet seats last longer?
It is necessary to increase the longevity of the wood toilet seats and use them for a longer time. It can also save your replacement and re-installation costs.
It is better to spend money on their maintenance instead of purchasing new ones because these are more costly than plastic materials.
You can increase their life span by only cleaning them with rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide solutions rather than using highly abrasive bathroom cleaners.
In addition, it is also necessary to re-paint or re-seal them when you see any crack or mark on their surface because it allows moisture penetration.
You can apply enamel coating when you see slight dullness and yellowing on their surface.
What factors decrease the life span of wooden toilet seats?
It is necessary to consider these factors because these can decrease the life span by producing cracks on their surface and increasing the risk of bacterial growth.
Cleaning methods
The use of an incorrect cleaning method damages the seals and decreases their longevity. You have to replace them when you see a scratch on their surface and the dullness of colors.
The abrasive cleaners react with the sealant and enamel chemicals and eventually cause them to come off their surface. These become loose and do not resist the water from penetrating the inner layer of wood.
In addition, harsh rubbing can also damage the enamel coating. Moreover, people also use sandpaper to clear the cracks on them.
The excessive sanding and use of high-grit sandpaper cause the varnishes to come off.
Quality of material and finishing
The durability of toilet seats made of wooden material depends on the type of wood and finishing. Sometimes these are made of low-quality material, and it has a porous exterior surface.
The porous layer allows moisture to come on them and increases mold growth and wood rooting chances.
The incorrect finishing and sealing of these fixtures allow moisture to penetrate them and make them prone to bacterial and viral growth.
The low-quality and incorrect finishing also comes off early and makes the wooden materials exposed to a humid environment.
Usage frequency and frequent slamming
The use of the toilets in the bathrooms and their location also affects the durability of their wood seats. Sometimes these are present in public places and high-traffic areas and are in most use.
Excessive use increases the risk of wear and tear in them. Moreover, people climb on them to access various fixtures, which increases the risk of cracks in them.
These cannot last longer for more than 10 years when installed in high-traffic areas of your home, like on the ground floor, and more people are using them.
The bathrooms on the ground floor are in most use because people do not like to go upstairs for toilets.
The incorrect handling and use can make them more susceptible to breaking and cracking. Sometimes children slam them on the bowl, producing a loud sound when they come on the bowl.
The frequent slamming increases the risk of wear and tear in these materials.
Type of hardware
The quality and type of hardware used to secure toilet seats affect their longevity. Several screws and nuts are used to fasten them on the bowl.
The screws become loose over time, and you become non-functional. In addition, some of these hinges are non-replaceable, and you have to change the seats completely for their proper functioning.
The low-quality and cheaper screws and hinges have less life span and malfunction in their early life. Therefore, you need to replace them after the failure of the screws and hinges.
These screws also control their movement and keep them in their place when you open them. These come down when hinges loose and are blocked with a rust layer.
Environmental effect
The changes in the environment also decrease the life span of wooden toilet seats. The bathroom temperature changes according to the use and outer environmental conditions.
These remain hot when you use warm water for showers and bathtubs and increase interior temperatures. However, the temperature suddenly decreases when you turn on the exhaust fans for humidity removal.
The sudden fluctuations in environmental conditions allow the wooden material to expand and contract. The contraction occurs in the winter due to exposure to freezing temperatures.
The contraction and expansion increase the risk of cracking in their structures.
How often do you replace wood toilet seats?
You can replace the wood toilet seats of your bathroom after every 4 to 6 years because these start to damage after this time interval.
These are resistant to water, but long-term exposure for years can cause their rotting and allow bacteria, viruses, fungi, and germs to reside on their rotted surfaces.
Replacing them after that time is necessary because enamels also start coming off from their exterior layer. Moreover, you can also face shaking and vibratory motion when you sit on them.
The hinges also become loose and break after this period and do not help keep them upright.
These become loose and move in a different direction, increasing safety and hygienic concerns.
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