What is Waterproof Flooring
When it comes to flooring, waterproof means waterproof -- no water or moisture can penetrate the material, soaking it to its core.
With waterproof flooring, the waterproofing is “baked in”. Rather than being treated with a special coating to protect it from water, the flooring is made of a fully waterproof material. No matter how long water stands on top of the flooring, it will never soak through and the flooring will never be damaged by water.
For example, you can take a piece of waterproof vinyl or tile and fully submerge it in a tank of water for days. When you take it out, it will be as good as new.
It’s worth noting that while a flooring product may be entirely waterproof, that doesn’t mean that your subfloor is, too. Water, especially in large quantities, can still seep into cracks, whether that’s along the wall or between floorboards, and cause damage to 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 up and repair your home, you can take up the waterproof floorboards and tend to any damage that happened to your subfloor. You can let your carpets dry out and replace the flooring. That’s a big win over having to invest in a whole new floor.
With waterproof flooring, the waterproofing is “baked in”. Rather than being treated with a special coating to protect it from water, the flooring is made of a fully waterproof material. No matter how long water stands on top of the flooring, it will never soak through and the flooring will never be damaged by water.
For example, you can take a piece of waterproof vinyl or tile and fully submerge it in a tank of water for days. When you take it out, it will be as good as new.
It’s worth noting that while a flooring product may be entirely waterproof, that doesn’t mean that your subfloor is, too. Water, especially in large quantities, can still seep into cracks, whether that’s along the wall or between floorboards, and cause damage to 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 up and repair your home, you can take up the waterproof floorboards and tend to any damage that happened to your subfloor. You can let your carpets dry out and replace the flooring. That’s a big win over having to invest in a whole new floor.
