Floors That Shrug Off Spills, Leaks and Wet Feet

When redoing your floors in areas with possible water and moisture conditions, it is important to have water-resistant floors. When shopping for flooring be sure to see whether the floors are water resistant or waterproof. Water resistant floors work well with small spills that will be cleaned up. Waterproof floors are those that can withstand standing water no matter how long such as a plumbing leak. Let’s take a look at water resistant flooring options that are possible.

Tile and Stone Water-Resistant Flooring

Tile and stone floors are one of the most popular floor materials for areas with water such as the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and outside. You can pretty much spill anything on these floors without staining most materials. They also allow for easy clean up. There are some natural stone tiles that do absorb moisture and can stain. To make them waterproof these stone tiles will need to be sealed periodically. If your tile or stone floors are old, make sure to re-grout to prevent any water from penetrating under the floors.

Laminate comes in many different waterproof options. You can spill anything on these floors and clean up without leaving a stain. Laminate floors do contain recycled wood. They can warp if water is left on the floors for extended periods of time. Floor rotting is possible if standing water is sitting for too long such as a under the sink plumbing leak, or toilet or bathtub flood.

Vinyl Flooring

This is another affordable flooring option that is waterproof. Unlike laminate, vinyl is made from PVC, so many brands can withstand water for long periods of time. This is a great alternative to laminate especially if installed in a kitchen or bathroom.

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is another common waterproof flooring option. This is a cheaper solution than most other flooring and is often found in basements. Rubber flooring comes in a variety of print patterns, such as tile or hardwood look. Unlike other types of flooring, rubber floors do not absorb liquid, so are great for areas with water.

Most hardwood floors are not completely waterproof, however they can still get wet. As long as the liquid is cleaned up quickly there is no damage done to most hardwood floors. However, if the paint or stain is coming off, liquid can damage the floors. Leaving liquid for extended periods of time on both new and old hardwood floors can leave stains. So it is best not to install hardwood in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms. Although there are some carpets that are waterproof, many are not and are prone to staining when liquid is spilled. Engineered wood flooring is also not waterproof since it is made from wood and plywood.

Water-Resistant Flooring and What to Look For

When liquid hits your floors it is best to clean it up right away. Many floors that are waterproof such as laminate and vinyl can absorb the liquid after being in contact for an extended period of time, thus damaging the floors; so be cautious. Tile is one of the only options that can be 100% waterproof depending on the material. For the most part you will probably not plan on having water on your floors for extended periods of time, so all these options will work well.