While you’re shopping
for new flooring, you’re thinking a lot about needs and
requirements. Waterproof flooring sounds like a great idea because
these floors are ideal for wet spaces like the kitchen, bath, and
laundry room and are also stylish enough for any room where we know
accidental spills can always occur. What does waterproof mean,
though, and is that the same as water-resistant?
To understand what
you're getting when a product is labeled waterproof, it means that it
is constructed of impervious materials and can usually be submerged
or spilled on. You might see terms like WPC (wood plastic composite)
or SPC (stone plastic composite), two technologically advanced cores
that won't ever peel or ripple, no matter how much water there is or
for how long. Water-resistant floors might repel water, but unless
it's wiped up quickly, the barrier will break, and the liquid will
soak to the core.
This is a more advanced
version of luxury vinyl (LVF), thicker, more durable, and uses the
WPC or SPC cores. It has the same high-end look of luxury vinyl with
images taken with digital, so they're clear and vibrant. The floors
also include micro beveling and embossing to add depth, dimension,
and textured appearances.
Like LVF, the material
can be cut into planks to mimic hardwood boards or groutable squares
to echo stone and tile, and the floors follow all the latest trends
such as gray floors, marble surfaces, and colorful encaustic-style
tile patterns. They're also low maintenance, needing just a daily
sweeping and periodic mopping and a simple installation, especially
when installed as floating floors. Here, the pieces click together,
mat, and then hover over the subfloor without nails or glue.