Waterproof Flooring: Best Types and Uses

From bathrooms to laundry rooms, any room that deals with excess moisture can be difficult to clean and can make your home prone to damage. Mold is the big ticket concern homeowners think about when water is in the picture. But other issues like wood rot and warping from excess moisture exposure can also come into play. All of those are good reasons to start considering waterproof flooring.

But there are practical and stylish ways to keep your home dry and damage-free. Here, we’ll explore why investing in waterproof flooring options can be a smart investment toward your home’s longevity. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Traditional Floors Won’t Cut It

Installing waterproof flooring in wet rooms can help keep your home safe, but it will also make your life easier in the grand scheme of things. 

Waterproof flooring is designed with the goal of holding up against moisture and preventing warping, swelling, mold, and mildew. The materials are highly durable, making them the perfect contender against high splash and spill zones, as well as high-humidity zones (like basements or bathrooms). And you can have all that durability without sacrificing aesthetics. 

The floors are also very low maintenance. Their waterproof treatments make cleaning up spills an easy task. They are also stain-resistant, a major perk for households with pets or children. 

What Types of Flooring Are Waterproof?

There are several types of waterproof flooring options out there. Options include vinyl tile, porcelain tile, ceramic tile, luxury vinyl, and sheet vinyl. Let’s look at some of the most popular waterproof flooring options: 

• Waterproof laminate flooring: This option gives homeowners all the contemporary style and durability of traditional laminate floors but with added water-resistance. This option has a moisture-resistant core as well as a protective top layer.
  

• Luxury vinyl flooring: Popular for its versatility and appearance, luxury vinyl is a chameleon of sorts. It can mimic hardwood, stone, or tile flooring, but is touted for its waterproofing properties. This flooring option is also praised for being easy to install, sometimes being available in click-and-lock form. 

• Tile flooring: By nature, porcelain and ceramic tiles are both waterproof and have been trusted for centuries to withstand moisture. They come in a wide range of styles and, when properly installed, can last for decades. Less expensive vinyl tile also comes in styles that mimic its porcelain and ceramic counterparts. With proper seals and grout, all waterproof tile options can withstand the test of time and moisture. 

Where to Install

Any area prone to frequent water exposure, moisture and humidity, or spills could benefit from having flooring that withstands water. For that reason, these rooms are among the best candidates for waterproof floors: 

• Bathrooms 
• Kitchens 
• Laundry rooms 
• Basements 
• Mudrooms 
• Entryways or foyers 

Can You Waterproof Existing Flooring? 

While it may be tempting to try and seal a home’s existing flooring to make it waterproof, experts say this is not the right approach. 

That’s because truly waterproof flooring materials are engineered from the inside out, with treatments inside and out. Investing in protecting your home from water damage, enhancing its durability, and simplifying maintenance over time is a far better long-term solution.