Waterproof Flooring Options
By Autumn Sibo,
Moisture can ruin a floor like ketchup ruins a Chicago hot dog! Bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, foyers, and basements are rooms in your home where you absolutely NEED waterproof flooring. Moisture can be in the form of spills, humidity, tracked-in water, or even flooding. Now, add pets and children to the mix - yikes! Selecting the correct waterproof flooring is essential. We made it simple by listing the best waterproof flooring options for you and your home below.
TILE
Daltile Reminiscent Colorbody Porcelain
Porcelain and ceramic tile can handle water and humidity like a champ! No matter which you get, lean more towards an unglazed tile. It is denser and thicker than glazed tile. It is also more slip-resistant, which is a must in a bathroom!
With tile, there is absolutely NO way you can't find something to fit your style and décor. There are many design options with a massive range of sizes, shapes, and colors.
Side note - when it comes to the tile grout, you must make sure it stays in good condition. Otherwise, water can seep right through cracks which will be an issue. So, make it a point to maintain your floors, keep the grout in good condition, and you'll be good as gold.
See Daltile's waterproof tile flooring options.
LUXURY VINYL
Karndean Korlok Select Aged Parchment
Luxury vinyl is one of the best vinyl flooring options. It goes by several different names - (LVT) Luxury vinyl tile, (LVP) luxury vinyl plank, (LVF) luxury vinyl flooring, (ABC) the first three letters of the alphabet. No matter what you call it, they are great waterproof flooring options. It's entirely synthetic, composed of multiple layers, looks feels, and installs like conventional flooring.
But wait… there's more!
(WPC) Wood-plastic core (or waterproof core) and (SPC) stone plastic core are cousins to LVT and LVP. These rigid vinyl floors are also excellent waterproof choices. WPC and SPC have a hard rigid core instead of a flexible one.
Just like tile, there are tons of style options. You can get luxury vinyl that looks like hardwood, stone, and concrete – the choices are endless!
See Karndean Designflooring's waterproof luxury vinyl flooring options.
SHEET VINYL
Shaw Floors Provincial in Iowa
Luxury vinyl has overshadowed sheet vinyl. But I still need to mention it because of its waterproof properties. It comes in 6-to-12-foot rolls, hence its name, "sheet" vinyl. There are fewer seams since it is a sheet, making it a great waterproof flooring option.
Sheet vinyl has come a long way since our childhood days! Yes, the old nostalgic sheet vinyl is still available. But you can also find premium sheet vinyl that mimics wood or stone floors, just like luxury vinyl.
Sheet vinyl is pretty durable and reasonably priced, making it a great waterproof option on a tight budget.
See Shaw Floor's waterproof sheet vinyl flooring options.
LAMINATE
Southwind Floors DUXXE 12WRP in White Smoke
I personally wouldn't put laminate floors in a room where flooding could occur, but it is still worth mentioning.
If water gets through the seams, the fiberboard core will warp and destroy your laminate flooring. However, some laminate flooring options are water-resistant. Just be careful and aware of what you are purchasing. It's typically not the norm, but it's out there.
Waterproof or water-resistant laminate should be okay with a spill or melted snow when you clean it immediately. However, it will likely be destroyed if the bathroom toilet overflows or a dishwasher breaks and floods the kitchen. With any flooring, always check the warranty, especially before choosing waterproof or water-resistant laminate floors.
See Southwind Flooring's laminate water-resistant flooring options.