When choosing flooring for areas in your home that get exposed to moisture, how do you decide between water-resistant and waterproof flooring?

Is there a difference? The simple answer is yes –

Water-resistant flooring is essentially marketing language. It’s a label used for any solid-surface, finished flooring material that doesn’t immediately absorb any water spilled on its surface. That said, water-resistant flooring will not suffer immediate damage from small spills as long as it is cleaned up quickly.

On the other hand, waterproof flooring features a unique composition and interlocking joints that prevent water from seeping through the surface. Although waterproof flooring is not invincible, the additional protection does allow water to sit for a more extended period without damage to your flooring.

Keep reading to learn more about the effectiveness of each type of flooring and how to use them in your home.

Water-Resistant Flooring

If you have small children or pets, you might consider using water-resistant flooring throughout your home in case of spills and accidents. This type of flooring is also excellent for areas like foyers where you might track water in from wet shoes and clothes during rainy weather. You may also want flooring options like this in your dining room, where frequent spills may happen.

The important thing to understand about water-resistant flooring is that you must clean spills up quickly or risk standing water damage to the floor. For example, water-resistant wood laminate can absorb water and expand, pushing against neighboring pieces of laminate and damaging a larger section of the floor than just the spill location.

Flooring material warranties don’t actually contain language for water-resistant types of flooring, as water resistance is a non-standard measurement.
However, water-resistant flooring is often more affordable than waterproof flooring, making it a great choice for shared living and dining spaces. The use of water-resistant flooring in the majority of your home could allow you to budget for waterproof flooring in areas where it is essential and often over smaller square footage.

A Closer Look at Waterproof Flooring

Waterproof flooring entails an entire flooring system and installation method to maintain warranty protection on a waterproof floor. So not only must the material be waterproof, but your floor installers must take special care to address any subfloor moisture problems and lay a waterproof barrier before installing your new waterproof flooring.

Your waterproof warranty may also contain exceptions for failing to clean up spills, excessive flooding (such as damages from a burst pipe or an extreme weather event), or standing water.

While waterproof flooring often comes with a higher price tag, it offers the highest level of protection. Luckily, you won’t need to cover every square foot of your home with it. Consider wet areas like your bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room specifically for the use of waterproof floors.

Pro Tip: If choosing different flooring options in adjoining areas, pay attention to the height of the flooring material choices and ensure that the thickness matches between materials. For example, if you select an 8-mm-thick water-resistant flooring for your living spaces, make sure the waterproof option you’ve chosen for your kitchen or bathroom is also 8-mm-thick for a seamless effect.

The Truth About Water-Resistant and Waterproof Flooring Claims

First and foremost, it is essential to understand that neither waterproof nor water-resistant flooring is 100% sure to block water intrusion from damaging your floors.

Budget-friendly water-resistant flooring is intended for areas of your home that might experience occasional spills that sit for very short periods of time, such as living and dining spaces.

With waterproof flooring, although it is still possible for floods, standing water, and other extremes to lead to damage, it is much more effective at preventing water absorption for extended periods of time.

In conclusion, your new flooring solution will likely require a combination of water-resistant and waterproof flooring to find the perfect balance of comfort and protection for your home and budget.

Shop for Flooring With Confidence

When deciding between water-resistant and waterproof floors, reach out to our experts at the family-owned-and-operated 99 Cent Floor Store in Spring, Texas.

We can help you determine the best flooring solutions for your needs and budget.

Contact us today at 281-907-6444 or visit our store location for high-quality flooring at the best prices available!