Moisture has often been hit or miss with flooring. Some floors are great at repelling spills; others aren’t as versatile as most of us think. Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t necessarily one flooring type that is completely waterproof (at least, not in the broad sense); you have to check various selections within each type. Here, we’ll take a quick look at a few considerations and examples.
Waterproof Carpet Flooring
Carpet has earned a pretty solid reputation as being the most difficult flooring to clean. Traditionally, it means sitting there longer than we’d like while putting pressure on spills before they stain – or worse, soak through to the subfloor. However, this is actually an antiquated view on carpet. Here’s what it looks like now.
In recent years, many select carpet choices include a completely waterproof backing. We’re not just talking about a little resistance to allow more time for cleaning: it actually repels water and moisture entirely. So rather than soaking through to the subfloor where it can promote mold or mildew growth, liquids actually remain above the surface until they can be wiped away with ease.
But what about the carpet fibers? They’ve also been known to soak both spills and stains. But with newer innovations like R2X, this has also become a thing of the past. R2X (and similar treatments) cover carpet fibers with a fine, permanent coating that completely repels any moisture from soaking through to the fibers. In other words, they remain loose on the surface for easy cleaning. But does this innovative treatment impact style? Take a look at such selections as Prop Master and see for yourself.
Hardwood and its Waterproof Alternatives
Spills may seem easier to clean on hardwood flooring, but in reality, it’s not quite as moisture resistant as many think. In fact, if spills aren’t cleaned right away, moisture could soak into the hardwood panels, causing them to expand over time. Also, much like carpet, moisture can leak through the seams of many hardwood installations into the subfloor below. Sadly, the damage caused in both cases is often difficult to detect until very costly repairs are needed.
Newer alternatives such as those found in our Superia HD Plus line perfectly replicate the aesthetics and even texture of natural hardwood flooring. The only noticeable differences are the series of technological advances incorporated at each stage of production to fully repel spills and moisture. For example, each selection in our Waterproof Flooring Destination incorporates the LifeGuard™ core designed to prevent absorption. They also implement the Fold-n-Tap™ installation method that prevents water from seeping through to the subfloor for up to 3 days.
If you still prefer the real thing, consider engineered hardwood flooring. It’s still composed of real wood, but features a layered designed composed of the leftovers from previous hardwood manufacturing (in other words, it also helps reduce environmental waste). This design (along with a few patent post-production treatments) offers more water resistance that typically outperforms that of solid. Of course, it’s always important to review the documentation included with your flooring to verify its water resistance.
Waterproof Composite Core Flooring
Although vinyl flooring has been around for a while, its popularity has soared in recent years after a series of innovations that enhanced its style and durability. So if you’re on the search for a floor choice that guarantees durability, longevity and moisture resistance, it’s hard to beat waterproof composite core flooring. In addition to a waterproof design, WPC flooring also features stunningly realistic aesthetics, LockSolid Installation, Scratch Resist Finish and is FloorScore certified. Even better, it maintains all of this without sacrificing style; just see our Dockside selection for proof.
Learn More
For a large selection of stylish, waterproof flooring, visit Hoosiers CarpetsPlus COLORTILE in Bloomington today! You’ll also find Indiana’s top flooring experts ready to help you make an informed choice.
