What Is Waterproof Flooring?

Waterproof flooring sounds great, doesn’t it? But what does waterproof flooring actually mean? It can be confusing to read between the lines of “marketing speak” and really understand what you’re getting when you purchase a specialty waterproof product for your home. We’re here to break it down for you, so that you can find the best waterproof floors for your home.

Waterproof—or Water-Resistant?

When it comes to flooring, waterproof means waterproof—this means no water or moisture can penetrate the flooring material and soak into its core. With waterproof flooring, the waterproofing is “baked in”. Rather than being treated with a special coating to protect it from water, waterproof flooring is already made of a fully waterproof material. This means no matter how long water stands on top of your flooring, it will never soak through, and the flooring will never be damaged by water. On the other hand, water-resistant flooring, as the name implies, will resist stains and spills that are wiped up quickly. But, if left too long on water-resistant floors, liquid can eventually get past that barrier and cause damage.

Built to Last

It’s worth noting that while a flooring product may be entirely waterproof, as mentioned above, that doesn’t mean your subfloor is, too. Water, especially in large quantities, can still seep into cracks between the floorboards of some waterproof flooring, or between a board and the wall of the room.

This type of leakage can cause damage to your floor’s underlayment and the subfloor below. Even with the very best waterproof flooring, if you are the victim of a major flooding event, you probably will not get away without some damage. The good news is that when the time comes to clean and repair your home, you can remove the waterproof flooring you have, and tend to any damage to your subfloor. Then you can reuse your existing waterproof flooring, whether it be waterproof vinyl, tile, or hardwood. That’s a big win over having to invest in a whole new floor.

Where to Waterproof

Waterproof flooring is a great idea for any room in your house where there may be frequent spills—so kitchens and bathrooms come to mind right away. Luxury vinyl brands such as Downs are a great choice for kitchens, as they are not only waterproof, but beautiful and durable, too. Affordable luxury vinyl can also be a great choice for bathrooms where the kids regularly splash at bath time, and there are also gorgeous, waterproof stone tile brands like Floorcraft.

Peace of Mind in Every Room

Still, even in areas of the home where there might not be quite as many spills, waterproof flooring can come in handy. Having a waterproof carpet brand such as Stainmaster in your living room is a huge relief if you have kids, pets, or if you simply love to entertain (that spilled glass of wine is no longer the biggest deal). And now that there are even beautiful waterproof hardwood floors on the market, like Aquadura, having elegant flooring just got a whole lot easier to maintain. A spilled glass of milk in your lovely dining room or a pet’s accident is no longer the huge headache it used to be.

We’re Here to Help

Once you understand more about waterproof flooring, and have thought about the different needs for your home’s layout and your busy family’s lifestyle, shopping becomes so much easier. Of course, if you ever need a bit of extra help, the smart and highly trained staff at any of our locally owned stores would be glad to give you some advice. Find your store today so we can steer you in the right direction, no matter what you need. Stay dry!

Visualize Your Flooring Dreams

Want a preview of how new floors will look in your home? Try our room visualizer, My Floor Style. Upload a photo of your room, select your style preferences, and get a virtual look at each different flooring style. With My Floor Style, there are no surprises. Only beautiful new floors.