There are plenty of factors to consider when choosing the perfect flooring for your home. Your budget, aesthetics, whether you have pets or small children, if they’re potty or house trained, the overall foot traffic you anticipate for each area, and the list goes on. Because of this, it’s essential that you weigh your options and learn about all of your options in order to select the right floors for your family. Luckily, you can see a wide variety of great flooring options at Hardwood Bargains at prices you’ll love.
With so many options available, have you ever even considered waterproof flooring? Think about it. If your puppy, or child, has an accident on your hardwood floors, you have to clean it up immediately. That’s just common sense, but obviously, pet urine can discolor your wood floors, and any standing water left for a long time can cause the wood to warp and possibly crack, which you definitely want to avoid.
So, when sifting through your flooring options, one thing to consider is your home’s overall climate. If you’re worried about routinely high levels of humidity, consider choosing a flooring that isn’t real hardwood. Laminate flooring fares better than real hardwoods in humid environments, but even laminates break down over time in strong humidity. Engineered flooring is another great option, which is a flooring that has a top and bottom layer. The top layer is real wood, and the bottom layer is a durable underside that works well in moist climates and can handle more humidity than other flooring types.
So, what’s best for you, your family, and your furry friends when it comes to flooring? Let’s find out! We’re going to give you some options for flooring that are waterproof and can stand up to all of life’s uncertainties.
Engineered Hardwood
Unlike solid hardwoods, engineered hardwoods can be used on concrete substrates. You wouldn’t be able to use solid hardwoods there because that concrete can be prone to moisture, which can cause the solid wood to warp and crack. Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, has a special barrier underneath the wooden top, which protects it from that humidity. This means that for places below ground level, like a basement or sunken living room, solid hardwood floors are not a savvy buying option.
However, keep in mind that just because engineered hardwood can handle a little more moisture than solid hardwood, that doesn’t mean it can handle unlimited amounts of moisture, which means that your bathrooms will probably need a different type of flooring that doesn’t involve any type of wood (just to be safe), regardless of how the wood planks were put together or what kind of moisture barrier you’ve installed. You just don’t want to take the chance that your brand-new beautifully looking floors will start to warp and crack right before your eyes soon after installation.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate planks are beautiful, durable, and affordable, in addition to being very resistant to water. They’re a type of synthetic flooring which first came on the market in the 1970s. However, it’s only been recently that they’ve been designed to be able to stand up to spills and accidents. You can then use a silicone sealant on top of your laminate floors during installation to better ensure its durability. The main difference between waterproof laminate floors and luxury vinyl floors is that vinyl floors are 100% waterproof, whereas laminate can protect from above but not from below.
Although, waterproof laminate flooring does include backing to help keep water from penetrating the flooring through the subfloor and damaging the core layer.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is made up of multiple layers that are sandwiched together. The top layer is an aluminum oxide infused sealant coating. This polyurethane top coating provides long lasting shine and durability. The next layer is clear vinyl which is extra thick to prevent life’s daily wear and tear, even in the busiest of homes. Below those two clear coats is the vinyl pattern that you see. There are vinyl reproductions of many wood species and their color variations to allow you to find the look of your dreams. Beneath all of those is the high-impact reinforced PVC core, which is waterproof and stable.
There’s also another type of vinyl flooring called wood polymer composite or WPC. It’s a newer version of traditional luxury vinyl flooring which features a hybrid-core. The main difference is that WPC has a wood-plastic composite backing as opposed to the traditionally solidly PVC backing. The composite backing incorporates recycled wood pulp and plastic to form a strong, stable backing. It also has a bouncier feel than a normal luxury vinyl floor.
There are two layers underneath the vinyl pattern you see, which are a waterproof core that is stable and won’t expand because it’s high density and an attached cork underlayment which provides additional sound insulation, removes the need for a separate underlayment, and naturally resists mold and mildew even in humid environments. Not to mention that the top layer has been beefed up for added protection against the elements of your household.
The newest type of vinyl flooring is called stone polymer composite or SPC. It’s even more durable than WPC and is also fire resistant on top of everything else. The backing called stone core is made of a combination of natural limestone powder and other stabilizers. It’s so dense that the flooring is actually thinner than other types of vinyl flooring.
But the best news of all is luxury vinyl flooring is 100% water resistant! It’s ideal for places with higher moisture levels like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Whether you choose traditional vinyl, SPC, or WPC, each of these is well-suited for areas where liquid might frequently spill on to the floor and where the room might get a little steamy or heavy in moisture.
Ceramic Tile
Tile is, of course, a tried and true method of resisting water damage. The fabulous nature of tile includes the knowledge that water cannot damage it, and it doesn’t need any fancy finishes or sealing coats, no matter where you lay it. Tile truly can and does go anywhere in the house. The main drawbacks with tile are that it’s cold and hard, which can easily be overcome with the judicious use of area rugs or if you live in a warm climate, and it’s difficult to install without a professional contractor. If those aren’t major issues for you, tile is a great option to resist water, dirt, allergens, and just about everything else. It’s easy to clean and a breeze to casually wipe up with a sponge or washcloth.
Other Accessories
Some people choose to install an environmental barrier under the layer of hardwood itself. An environmental barrier is a product that you buy and unroll over the ground where you’re planning to put your floors, and the hardwood lays directly on top. This helps stop moisture from seeping into your floors if you live in a humid environment and are worried about the wood warping. Unfortunately, real hardwoods don’t hold up well in wet environments because of the warping and cracking from the wood expanding from sucking up the water.
Surface finishes, or polyurethanes, are a water-resistant protective coating for your floors. Don’t use wax-based or petroleum-based cleaning products on surface finishes because they’ll damage them. Use a normal hardwood floor cleaner.
And there you have it! It’s actually pretty easy to find waterproof flooring options, so don’t hesitate to venture out and explore your inner home design creativity when redoing your floors. After all, who doesn’t want waterproof flooring to combat all of life’s little surprises?
Sources
https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-laminate-flooring-1821619
https://www.thespruce.com/waterproof-plastic-laminate-flooring-1822239
https://www.thespruce.com/ceramic-flooring-pros-and-cons-1314687
