Welcome to a conversation that’s long overdue in the flooring world.

“Waterproof flooring” has become a buzzword in our industry, often used more for its marketing appeal than its technical accuracy. It’s time to peel back the layers of this claim and understand what it truly means for you as you guide your customers and homeowners to select the best floor for their homes.

At Portercraft Floors, we are committed to honesty and transparency. We know that home isn’t just a place; it’s a feeling, a space where life happens – including accidental spills and unexpected leaks.

That’s why we want to simplify the maze of “waterproof” claims so you can provide clarity to your clients. While some flooring options offer excellent resistance to splashes and spills, the reality of water intrusion, be it from below or catastrophic events like appliance leaks and flooding, tells a different story.

Let’s unpack the truth about what ‘waterproof’ means to find a specific product and a solution that truly fits your client’s life and needs.

Understanding “Waterproof” Claims

In this section, we will:
– Explain what manufacturers mean by “waterproof.”
– Differentiate between water-resistant and waterproof flooring.
– Discuss common materials marketed as waterproof (e.g., vinyl, laminate).

In the mid-2000s, flooring manufacturers realized that a pain point for many homeowners with traditional floor coverings like solid wood floors and carpet was the expensive damage an appliance leak or flood could cause. Water left on a wood floor’s surface for a long time can cause it to swell or buckle, and everyone knows that a wet carpet will lead to mold and mildew.

With the invention of click-lock luxury vinyl plank floors, brands started advertising them as “waterproof” flooring that would look better than carpet and perform better than a traditional wood floor while costing far less.

This promise sounds excellent, but it’s essential to understand what brands and their warranties mean by the term “waterproof.” Many things could be considered waterproof in and of themselves, such as plastic, steel, stone, etc. Many brands promise that the material they use to manufacture their WPC (Wood Plastic Composite), SPC (Stone Plastic Composite), or Laminate plank floors won’t be affected by water.

In other words, water won’t “get inside” the material due to its natural properties or special coatings applied to the outer surface.

Practically speaking, these floors are designed to be water-resistant.

Suppose your dog splashes water around their water bowl while drinking, or a few ice cubes escape from the freezer and melt on your floor. In that case, you don’t have to be hyper-vigilant to dry them immediately. The flooring won’t be affected if these everyday spills and splashes go unnoticed.

In contrast, a traditional hardwood floor would require you not to let water sit on the floor for more than a few minutes without wiping and drying it up. Having consistent spills go unnoticed on a hardwood floor will likely lead to water stains or some swelling of the planks in that area.

So, in this sense, the manufacturer’s “waterproof” claims would more accurately be described as water-resistant to everyday spills that one might see in a kitchen or bathroom. But thinking of any floor as 100% waterproof – a favorite term of marketers – is not realistic when you understand how a water event can damage a floor.

The Reality of Water Damage

In this section, we will:

• Describe how water damage occurs, including from above (spills, leaks) and below (subfloor moisture).
• Explain the consequences of ignoring subfloor moisture and mold.

Water can affect a floor in three ways: spills or leaks on top of the floor, moisture coming from underneath the floor, or excessive water vapor (humidity) in the air around the floor.

Some examples of the ways water can affect a floor:

1. A kitchen appliance or sink fixture starts to leak and causes water to drip or flood the top surface of the floor. If the issue is noticed right away, the leak can be stopped, and water can be dried up quickly from the floor. However, if water starts to cover the entire floor, it will likely begin to seep underneath the floorboards or planks either by reaching the space between the wall and the flooring or by soaking through the joints between each plank.
2. If a floor is installed on or below grade, water can come up from the ground through the home’s foundation by hydrostatic pressure. You may never see water on top of the floor, but it could be very wet underneath your floor.
3. Excessive humidity in the air around your floor can cause condensation on top of or below your floor.

In all of these scenarios, it is not necessarily a problem that water touches the surface of a so-called “waterproof” floor. The materials are often designed not to react or change dimension when exposed to moisture.

However, the reality is that if water gets underneath your flooring planks, it will have a tough time drying out. Moisture trapped between your floor and subfloor will inevitably lead to mold and mildew growth. The risk of mold and mildew is often ignored or forgotten when flooring is thought to be “waterproof.”

While water itself is usually not harmful to floors marketed as “waterproof,” the mold and mildew caused by bacteria in the water trapped underneath the flooring are what will end up being the biggest problem.

Mold and mildew can quickly grow unseen and end up causing damage not just to the flooring but to subfloors, walls, and cabinets. The only way to prevent mold and mildew is to tear out a flooded floor and ensure the subfloor is completely dry before installing new flooring.

While waterproof flooring planks could be dried out and reused, the reality is that the process of removing them damages the locking mechanism and prevents them from ever being installed correctly again.

Limitations of Warranties

In this section, we will:

• Dive into the fine print of warranties for waterproof flooring.
• Highlight common exclusions, like damage from flooding or long-term moisture exposure.
• Discuss the practicality of replacing flooring due to subfloor damage.

When you read the fine print, the discrepancy between what manufacturers market as “waterproof” and what they stand behind in their warranties is apparent.

While it’s true that flooring technology has advanced rapidly in the past decade, and products are made better today than ever before, there are many real-life water events that even the most highly marketed “waterproof” floors just are not designed to protect against.

Example 1: Mohawk’s WetProtect® Warranty

Mohawk’s WetProtect® Warranty for their UltraWood, RevWood Plus, and RevWood Premier products are advertised as a “no-exclusions wet warranty” with complete surface and subfloor protection: “WetProtect® is the only waterproof flooring system with a lifetime surface and subfloor warranty.”

Reading further into the warranty, however, there are several caveats and requirements to maintain coverage:

• “Complete waterproof coverage requires a perimeter seal…In the event of water or moisture damage…due to failure to properly seal the perimeter (including but not limited to leaks, spills, wet mopping, or steam mopping), the coverage will not apply.”
• “The flooring is not designed to withstand flooding…plumbing accidents or leaking appliances (ice makers, dishwashers, clothes washers, etc.).”
• “The flooring is not designed to withstand water or moisture in the subfloor or underneath the flooring, including but not limited to damage from subfloor hydrostatic pressure…”
• “The flooring is not designed to withstand damage from moisture that originates from outside the room where it was installed.”

Example 2: Shaw’s COREtec Waterproof Warranty

Shaw’s COREtec Pro Plus Enhanced HD collection is advertised as “100% waterproof” and “naturally resistant to odor-causing mold and mildew”.

As explained further in the warranty, there are many exclusions to what is covered:

• “This warranty covers topical moisture as long as the water does not flow over the edge of the surface (edge of the room, cut boards, etc.).
• “…It is possible that, when excessive moisture accumulates…mold (and/or) mildew growth can occur…Such damage from excessive moisture levels…are not covered by this warranty.”
• “Damages caused by…flooding, standing water from leaking plumbing, faucets, or household appliances.”

While neither of these two examples should imply any nefarious intentions, it’s essential to understand the differences between what flooring manufacturers mean by making claims like “100% waterproof”, and how that would be understood by a homeowner who is simply trying to make the best selection for their home.

Proper Floor Selection for Wet Environments

In this section, we will:

• Provide guidance on selecting flooring for areas prone to moisture.
• Recommend flooring types better suited for these environments.
• Discuss the importance of proper installation and moisture barriers.

It won’t matter how well a floor handles water for most areas of the home, like living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. These areas are unlikely to get wet, and if they do, it is likely due to a catastrophic water event, which will mean replacing the entire floor.

For areas more prone to getting wet, like kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and basements, it is worth looking into more water-resistant options like Rigid Core LVP, Watersafe Laminate, or Watersafe Wood Composite flooring.

When considering these flooring options for areas that may get wet, look past the marketing claims and ask questions about how the floor is made to be watersafe or “waterproof.”

You should be looking for the following three things:

1. The flooring core should be watersafe or coated in water-resistant material.
2. The product should be made with locking, water-tight seals that prevent water from soaking through the joints in the floorboards.
3. The product should be tested and pass the 100-Hour Water Test and/or the NALFA Water Resistant Test.

Remember the importance of following the manufacturer’s installation instructions for these products. There are essential requirements for these floors to function as “watersafe,” including laying down an appropriate moisture barrier and considering water-tight moldings around the floor’s perimeter.

Prevention and Maintenance Tips

In this section, we will:

• Offer tips for preventing water damage, including regular inspections and maintenance.
• Explain how to deal with spills and leaks promptly to minimize damage.
• Discuss the importance of humidity control in the home.

Finally, don’t let everyday household spills keep you from getting the best floor for your home. For most floors, a simple spill can be wiped up as soon as it’s noticed and won’t lead to any issues.

You can also monitor your home’s interior environment by getting an inexpensive hygrometer that shows the relative humidity in your home. Floors and other interior products like furniture and cabinets perform best when the humidity stays between 35-55%.

If you do have a significant water leak or flood, it’s best to consult with a professional remediation or flooring company to determine the damage to your floor and subfloor. To avoid mold growth, the wet area will likely need to be removed, thoroughly dried out, and replaced with new flooring, even if the product is marketed as “100% waterproof”.

Find The Perfect Floor

The marketing term “waterproof flooring” has been adopted by many brands, promising a hassle-free solution to spills and accidents inevitable in any home.

However, as we’ve uncovered, “waterproof” is often a misnomer, more a marketing strategy than a definitive feature. Most flooring marketed as waterproof should be water-resistant, offering protection against everyday spills and splashes but not against more substantial floods or major appliance leaks.

Understanding the limitations and realities of water damage is crucial.

Water can affect floors from above or below. While the surface materials may not warp or swell, the trapped moisture underneath can lead to mold and mildew, posing significant health risks and structural damage. It’s vital to recognize that no floor is impervious to water and that the term “waterproof” comes with conditions and limitations, often detailed in the fine print of warranties.

There are many flooring options available in the market. We hope this guide helps you sort out the marketing claims from the real-world performance you can expect from a “waterproof” floor. In the comments below, we invite you to share your experiences and thoughts on selecting a floor or dealing with water damage.