Yeah, good points about the brick—my friend had reclaimed bricks in her bathroom and ended up regretting it. Looked great at first, but cleaning became a total nightmare after a while... moisture issues galore. Wood beams definitely seem more forgiving in the long run.
Brick can definitely be tricky in bathrooms, but I wouldn't write it off completely. The moisture issues your friend had probably came down to sealing and ventilation. Reclaimed brick is porous, so if you go that route, you need a solid moisture barrier and regular resealing. Also, proper ventilation—like a good exhaust fan—is key. Wood beams are great aesthetically, but they have their own moisture concerns too. It's all about prep and maintenance... done right, brick can still be a viable option.
Totally agree about brick being doable with the right prep. A friend of mine renovated an old farmhouse bathroom a couple years back, and she went with reclaimed brick for the shower walls. At first, I thought she was nuts—like, brick in a shower? But she was meticulous about sealing it and installed a really solid moisture barrier behind it. She also invested in a high-quality exhaust fan (one of those whisper-quiet ones), and honestly, it's held up beautifully. No mold, no weird smells, nothing.
One thing I'd add though—consider the grout carefully. She went with a darker grout color, which hides any discoloration or staining that can happen over time. Lighter grout might look great initially, but it can get dingy pretty fast in a humid environment. Also, if you're into green building practices, there are some eco-friendly sealants out there now that perform just as well as traditional ones without the harsh chemicals.
So yeah, brick can definitely work...just gotta be smart about it and stay on top of maintenance.
"She went with a darker grout color, which hides any discoloration or staining that can happen over time."
Good tip about darker grout—I learned this the hard way after using white grout in my own kitchen backsplash. Curious though, has anyone tried brick flooring in bathrooms? Wondering how practical that'd be...
Brick flooring looks amazing, but I'd be wary about moisture issues in a bathroom. Even sealed, brick can get slippery or trap dampness. Maybe consider a brick-look tile instead...best of both worlds, right?
