Waterproof Vs Water-Resistant Flooring

When you are looking to put flooring in areas that are prone to get wet, such as a bathroom or mudroom, it is a good idea to take a look at flooring options that can hold up to water. Water damage can occur from water sitting on the top of the floor (standing water), heavy moisture in the air, or water seeping from underneath such as in a basement.

Waterproof Flooring

Waterproof flooring means that it can withstand any amount of water, from moisture in the air to flooding without damaging the floor. Many luxury vinyl flooring options, such as Shaw Floorte and USFloors CORETec, are waterproof, but not all of them are. The ones that are will say 100% waterproof. One important thing to remember about waterproof flooring is that while the flooring itself maybe waterproof, your subfloor is usually not and it will not necessarily keep water from damaging your subfloor.

Water Resistant Flooring

While water-resistant flooring can’t hold up to large spills, flooding, or heavy moisture, it holds up great to small, occasional spills. Most hard flooring options are designed to handle at the very least a little bit of water on top that gets cleaned up quickly, even hardwood. Since hardwood only has a top finish that resists water, it is not the best option for areas of your home that are likely to get wet. When you are looking for something that is water resistant, laminate flooring is the option that is most likely to come up in your search. The outer, wear layer of laminate flooring is usually waterproof, but because there are the seams between the planks any water that seeps into can potentially damage the core. Some newer laminate options, like Armstrong’s, even have a water-resistant core that can hold up for extended periods of time with no damage to the flooring itself. If the water is not cleaned up and the flooring allowed to dry, there is still the chance of it permanently damaging your floors.

Whether a floor is waterproof or water-resistant is just one characteristic to consider when looking to purchase new flooring for your house. Stop by Carpet Depot and let us help you decide the best flooring for your lifestyle and needs.