Water damage— it’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Whether it’s a burst waterline, a leaky roof or an over flown sink, water can cause major damage in your home. Floors are especially susceptible because that’s where all the water collects. It’s not just major floods like these that threaten your floor, pooling water and other spilled liquids can damage it as well.
In bathrooms and kitchens, it’s not uncommon for spilled water to pool. If it forms puddles that are forgotten and left for a substantial amount of time, the floor – depending on the type – can absorb the water and warp. There’s only one surefire way to protect your floor: nip the problem in the bud and go with a waterproof vinyl plank.
Hardwood, Laminate & Tile
Although hardwood makes for a great floor, it is not waterproof. In fact, it is the opposite. Hardwood is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs water. When it absorbs water hardwood warps. The same is true of laminate, which regardless of the manufacturer has a core made from wood byproducts. If the core absorbs too much moisture it will warp and likely delaminate, completely ruining the floor.
Tile, by far the most water resistant of the three, is more expensive than Vinyl Plank and in some cases, is still susceptible to water damage. Material costs are higher for tile and so are labour costs. It is also possible for tile to suffer water damage from flooding. If say a waterline bursts, and water pools and sits atop of the floor for a substantial amount of time, it can leak into the grout and underneath the tile, damaging the subfloor and possibly the thinset. This however is quite unlikely. Overall tile is still a great floor for kitchens and bathrooms (albeit more expensive), hardwood isn’t the safest choice and laminate isn’t a good choice either. Consider Vinyl Plank.
Waterproof Vinyl Plank
Vinyl Plank is unlike any other floor covering. It is 100% waterproof. It is made from PVC, a kind of plastic which does not absorb moisture whatsoever. To see for yourself, drop a piece of Vinyl Plank into a bathtub, leave it for a week and when you pull it out you will see that it is the exact same shape as when it went in. Check out how well Vinyl Plank stood up to hurricane harvey.
Not only is the Vinyl itself waterproof, but on higher end Vinyl Plank products, the seams between the planks are also quite water resistant. These products are manufactured so precisely these days, that the click joint can form an airtight seal and prevent any water from getting through. That way, if pooling water ends up on a joint, it will not leak down into the subfloor; instead the water will just sit on top of the Vinyl Plank, not harming it in the least.
Another plus with Vinyl Plank is that it accurately resembles either hardwood or tile. If you want the look of say tile in your kitchen, you can choose a Vinyl Plank product that looks nearly identical to stone or ceramic tile. The higher end Vinyl Tile actually has grout lines! Even for the trained eye, it can be hard to tell the difference between Vinyl Tile and real tile.
Conclusion
All in all, we highly recommend waterproof Vinyl Plank for your bathroom and kitchen. If you have any more questions about using waterproof Vinyl Plank, send us an email or give us a call. Better yet, if you live in Calgary and you’re in the flooring market, stop by our showroom at 525 58th Aveue SE. The Floorscapes team has as much experience as we do passion: combined, we have over 150 years in the world of Calgary flooring. We offer our knowledge, our expertise and our aesthetic sensibility in order to help you create a space that you will love.
Written by guest author Eric Osborne.
