Are you planning to trade your existing floors for waterproof ones to protect against spills and stains? If you are, it’s vital to do as much research as possible because quite often people are misled by the term waterproof floors. While there are certain liquid resistance benefits, waterproof floors don’t encompass all of the advantages one would expect. Thereby giving potential customers the wrong impression of what they are and how they function.
In reality, waterproof floors are temporary, floating vinyl floors, which will wear out sooner than later, leaving a lot of consumers wondering why they bought them in the first place! However, with all the marketing hype about the quality of these flooring materials, it’s not hard to misconstrue the details that they emphasize. In fact, poor marketing ethics frequently leads people to assume that waterproof floors are indestructible and even bulletproof! To enlighten homeowners like you about these new flooring products, the flooring experts at Just Floored, Inc has explained the truth about new “waterproof” floors.
1. Waterproof floors are not floodproof
While these products themselves are waterproof, your house is not! So, in case of a flood, you will have much more to worry about than your kitchen, laundry, bath, or potentially, the whole first-floor space. During floods, the subfloors and possibly more will be in big trouble.
2. Waterproof floors are not bulletproof
A lot of the new waterproof floors are very stable and contain a reasonably decent scratch-resistant wear surface. However, they will scratch, break apart with enough force, and be virtually destroyed with enough abuse, or worse, neglect. That means they are certainly not bulletproof. Also, if you do not maintain these floors regularly, they will not perform like they should or look good throughout their expected life in your home.
3. Waterproof floors are better than hardwood or ceramic floors
As waterproof floors are a fairly new concept in the flooring industry, many believe that they are as good, if not better, than natural products such as hardwood or ceramic and porcelain tile. But in reality, buying natural flooring like wood or tile have many benefits that far outweigh waterproof floors. Firstly, they are permanently installed in your home. Therefore, they have real value in the eyes of a real estate appraiser. Any products only temporarily installed in your home, have no value for real estate purposes at all. Appraisers already know that the presence of natural hardwood or tile products adds value to a home, and therefore, your real estate is worth that much more! On the other hand, by buying and installing natural hardwood or ceramic tiles, you are making a long term investment in your property. These flooring materials are guaranteed to look good and perform well, even after twenty-five to fifty years with proper maintenance!
Bottom line
If you still plan on buying waterproof flooring products, make sure to do your homework and check:
a. The thickness of the actual product because the thicker, the better it is!
b. The thickness of the wear layer as the best products carry a minimum wear layer of twenty millimeters. (Beware of those in the six to ten category!)
c. If the locking mechanism for the tongue and groove one has been proven over time. For example, Valinge (5G) or Uniclick. Both systems have been copied and reproduced so many times, both manufacturers finally had to patent the systems, and in some cases, go to court to have their systems protected by the US Government.
d. If the product is a “WPC” (Wood Plastic or Polymer Composite) or an “SPC” (Stone Plastic or Polymer Composite). There are significant differences in how each will perform and what might be best for your particular situation.
e. The quality of your flooring material. Don’t be fooled into thinking you are getting a long-lasting product if someone is selling you a waterproof floor that is a total of two millimeters thick. This is what is called a traditional “LVP” or Luxury Vinyl Plank, which today are starting to pass as high quality. But in reality, most of these products are substandard. They are simply very inexpensive versions of “MLF” or Multilayer Flooring. Most high-quality floors today have LVPs with a minimum thickness of twenty-five millimeters. The LVPs are glued down and have a minimum of twelve millimeters or higher wear surface. On the other side, you have your newer “WPC” or “SPC” products, which usually have a minimum of four millimeters and up to six and a half millimeters thickness and a wear layer again, which is of at least twelve millimeters!
For more information about flooring materials, reach out to the experts at Just Floored, Inc. We are a renowned carpet and flooring store serving Hampton, Williamsburg, VA, with some of the finest flooring materials in the country. Based on your requirements, we help you find the perfect flooring from a wide selection of carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile, luxury vinyl tile, and many more options. With over a decade of experience in the flooring industry, we are well-positioned to educate and guide you to the best flooring materials available today!
To learn more about our products and services, please visit our website. If you’d like to speak with our professionals for further details, feel free to contact us here.
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