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Everything You Need to Know About Waterproof Flooring
2025-01-06, Laura Neito
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When it comes to protecting your home from water damage, waterproof flooring is a game-changer. Whether you're dealing with splashes in the kitchen, puddles around pet bowls, or unexpected leaks, having floors that stand up to moisture can save you from stress and costly repairs. Thanks to modern innovations, today's waterproof options also feature vastly improved visuals and textures, delivering a realistic look and feel so you don’t have to feel like you’re living on plastic. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is right for your home?
In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of waterproof luxury vinyl flooring, waterproof luxury laminate, and what makes these floors so resilient.
What Type of Flooring is the Most Waterproof?
If you’re looking for the most waterproof flooring option, overall luxury vinyl plank flooring is the winner. Designed with a fully synthetic rigid core, it’s inherently waterproof, making it an excellent choice for high-moisture areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. CALI’s Legends and Longboards vinyl collections, for example, are made with a durable waterproof core and a strong wear layer that resists scratches, stains, and water damage.
While luxury vinyl generally remains the most waterproof, advances in laminate technology have introduced waterproof laminate flooring that rivals vinyl’s moisture resistance. These floors contain an incredibly durable wear layer and high-density wood-based core that boasts waterproof properties – all while containing natural materials. CALI’s Mavericks collection offers a high-performance waterproof laminate that’s ideal for homeowners who want the look of real wood with modern waterproof durability.
Read more about the Best Flooring for a Kitchen.
Because there is still such a range in quality among luxury vinyl plank and luxury laminate flooring, you’ll want to do your research on various manufacturers. Ordering samples of the same flooring type that you can click together is a great way to check the construction of a waterproof floor. You can even submerge samples in water to see how they respond to moisture.
Is Vinyl Flooring 100% Waterproof?
Yes, vinyl plank flooring is 100% waterproof, in fact. Because it contains no natural materials, it won’t swell, warp, or break down when exposed to water. This makes it a reliable choice for busy households with kids, pets, and lots of spills.
CALI’s Windansea SPC vinyl is a great example of waterproof luxury vinyl flooring that’s engineered for all of life’s messes. Its waterproof core and scratch-resistant wear layer ensure that your floors stay beautiful, no matter what life throws their way. Plus, this collection comes in two plank sizes – Low Tide and High Tide – for extra project versatility.
If you’re shopping for a waterproof luxury vinyl plank floor, be sure to check that the wear layer is at least 20mil thick, and that planks click together soundly, forming an impenetrable surface that water will have a harder time seeping through.
Is Any Laminate Flooring Really Waterproof?
Yes, laminate flooring can be waterproof, but not all laminate flooring is created equal. You’ll want to check with the manufacturer to ensure the product is truly waterproof. All CALI Laminate flooring is waterproof. For example, the Pacifica laminate collection is crafted with innovative waterproof technology, making it extremely versatile and suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and even mudrooms. This collection features resilient flooring with an authentic hardwood look, combining style and durability.
Remember that whether you’re working with waterproof laminate flooring or waterproof vinyl flooring, it’s always important to follow proper installation guidelines to ensure a watertight seal, especially in moisture-prone areas.
Read more about Waterproof Laminate Flooring.
Which is Better: Waterproof Laminate or Vinyl Plank?
These two flooring types have been highly developed in the past few years, to the point where you can easily find reliable waterproof options in each category. The choice between waterproof laminate and waterproof luxury vinyl flooring often comes down to personal preference and specific needs.
- Waterproof Vinyl Plank: If you’re looking for a 100% waterproof floor, vinyl plank is traditionally the safer bet. Because it doesn’t include natural materials, it’s highly resistant to water and ideal for areas prone to leaks or standing water.
- Waterproof Laminate: Laminate is an excellent option for homeowners who want the warm, natural look of hardwood with modern waterproof capabilities. Thanks to innovations in laminate construction, products like CALI’s Mavericks collection offer beautiful wood textures with complete waterproof protection.
When choosing between the two, consider your room. Bathrooms and basements may benefit from vinyl plank flooring because of its superior waterproof performance, while living rooms and bedrooms could be a great fit for laminate’s authentic wood look.
Read more about Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring.
What Makes Waterproof Flooring So Durable?
Both waterproof luxury vinyl flooring and waterproof laminate owe their resilience to advanced construction techniques:
Vinyl Plank Construction: Whether the plank is WPC or SPC, waterproof vinyl features a synthetic core that won’t absorb water. Planks are also protected by a wear layer that shields the surface from scratches, stains, and scuffs. Here’s what a luxury vinyl plank is comprised of:
- If the vinyl product is SPC or rigid core, then its core will be a composite of PVC and limestone. SPC vinyl floors are especially resilient, dense, and very easy to click into place quickly.
- If the vinyl floor is WPC, then the core is comprised of wood-like plasticizers and a foaming agent. This makes planks thicker than SPC and more insulating. A WPC plank provides a little more comfort underfoot and can help with softening sound.
- The decor layer (or film) is a printed sheet that shows off the plank’s color and grain pattern. CALI uses photo scans of actual hardwood to create our decor layers, making them hyper realistic.
- And finally, on top is the wear layer, which helps to prevent scratches. Most CALI Vinyl floors are protected by a 20mil thick wear layer.
- It’s also worth mentioning that all CALI Vinyl planks are lined on the bottom with an attached pad. This cushion provides extra comfort and insulation but does not act as a moisture barrier. An additional moisture barrier is still required over some subfloors during installation.
Laminate Plank Construction: A modern waterproof laminate floor is also designed to be highly durable and, in some cases, offers even better scratch resistance than luxury vinyl. This is what a typical CALI laminate plank or tile is comprised of:
- CALI Laminate is wood based and contains no PVC, making it a more natural product than vinyl. Planks are also generally less dense than vinyl. Instead of an SPC or WPC core, laminate planks are strengthened by a high-density wood-based core.
- The core is topped by a decor layer which is coated in melamine. A pressed overlay, which is also made of melamine, is fused to the decor layer, creating an extremely scratch-resistant surface.
- Because the decor layer itself provides the wear protection, the surface of a laminate plank looks and feels even more natural – more like the hardwood it’s emulating. CALI Laminate planks have AC4 scratch resistance, which is a commercial rating offering even more protection than what CALI Vinyl planks offer. This means both our vinyl and laminate floors will be a great fit for busy homes with kids, big pets, and lots of action.
- Like CALI Vinyl, our laminate planks are cushioned by an attached pad lining the bottom of each plank. However, with laminate, this XPS pad is made using recycled materials and is itself fully recyclable.
Why Choose Waterproof Flooring for Your Home?
Investing in waterproof flooring comes with a host of benefits:
- Peace of Mind: Protect your floors from accidents, spills, and water damage.
- Low Maintenance: Easily clean up messes without worrying about warping or swelling.
- Stylish Options: Enjoy a variety of wood looks, from smooth, modern grains to more rustic textures. CALI even offers marble and stone-look tiles in our luxury laminate Shorebreak collection.
- Easy to Install: Both luxury vinyl and luxury laminate flooring is easier and faster to install than hardwood, reducing labor costs. Many options are designed for DIY installation with rapid click-lock milling that snaps right into place. You can frequently install waterproof flooring without any nails or glue, and most collections can be installed right out of the box without any acclimation wait time. Check out CALI’s installation guides for more details.
- Pet-Friendly: Waterproof flooring is a great option for people with pets, who don’t want to have to constantly worry about wiping up around the water bowl.
Watch this Video on the Benefits of Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring for Pets
How to Choose the Right Waterproof Flooring
Although a quality luxury vinyl or luxury laminate floor through CALI will provide waterproof durability, if you’re shopping elsewhere for waterproof flooring for your home, you may want to consider these factors:
- Location: High-moisture areas like bathrooms or basements may require vinyl plank, while bedrooms and living rooms are ideal for laminate.
- Style: Waterproof laminate wood flooring may provide a more authentic wood appearance, while vinyl plank offers endless style possibilities with added durability.
- Lifestyle: Families with kids and pets may prefer the resilience of luxury vinyl plank flooring for its easy maintenance and tough surface. Remember that a waterproof laminate floor from CALI offers AC4 rated scratch resistance which rivals even the toughest luxury vinyl floors out there, so you’ll be well covered as far as durability is concerned!
Waterproof flooring has revolutionized home design, offering stylish, resilient solutions for every space. Whether you’re drawn to classic luxury vinyl plank or the modern innovation of waterproof laminate, CALI has you covered.
Explore CALI’s collections to find the perfect flooring for your home, and rest easy knowing your floors are built to handle whatever life throws at them.
