Most homeowners prefer to install waterproof flooring over their wooden or concrete floor so that the new flooring lasts for a prolonged time. Surely, you would want the same.
So seeing the mass popularity of vinyl flooring in recent times, you may want to install vinyl flooring in your home too. But as you like waterproof flooring, before installing you can think about whether vinyl floors are waterproof or not.
Therefore, to give you a proper answer to this hot topic, this article is going to break down all areas related to vinyl flooring including this question of yours and other homeowners.
Are Vinyl Floors Waterproof?
Every kind of vinyl floor is not only water-resistant but also waterproof. Materials used for making vinyl floorings such as sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl flooring, and vinyl tile are 100 percent waterproof. So, it can be installed anywhere, and water spills will not even ruin the flooring surface.
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Are All Vinyl Flooring Waterproof?
There are several types of vinyl flooring. So for your knowledge whether these floorings are waterproof or not has been retorted.
Are Vinyl Plank Floors Waterproof
Vinyl plank floors are completely waterproof. That means you can install vinyl planks in high moisture areas like washrooms, kitchens, or others without worrying about wrenching and buckling.
Due to being 100% water-resistant, vinyl flooring will not get damaged by water as long as you have installed it correctly.
Is Sheet Vinyl Flooring Waterproof?
Sheet vinyl flooring planks are made with PVC, which is a waterproof material. That means sheet vinyl flooring is absolutely waterproof.
Such an advantage makes sheet vinyl flooring a perfect choice to install in any water-prone area inside your home. Also, it’s an incredible fit for any room.
Is Vinyl Press Flooring Waterproof?
Vinyl press flooring is also fully waterproof. Vinyl press flooring planks are designed with an interlocking system.
That means you just have to press and lock the planks together tightly to install them over your subfloor. And this system impedes water from flowing to the underfloor.
Is Vinyl Tile Flooring Waterproof?
Regardless of vinyl flooring planks or tiles, it is manufactured as 100% water-resistant. So, just like vinyl planks, vinyl tiles are also an ideal flooring choice for areas with more humidity and moisture.
As the tiles will not soak up any moisture, neither water nor spills can damage them.
Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring Waterproof?
Both luxury vinyl flooring planks and tiles are waterproof as both types are made with 100% water-resistant materials.
Luxury vinyl flooring is the type of vinyl flooring that is designed and manufactured to illustrate natural floorings like hardwood and ceramic tiles. Therefore, to increase their quality, they are made with composed PVC which makes them waterproof.
Without worrying you can install luxury vinyl flooring anywhere at your home. It would be a great choice for areas subjected to moisture such as bathrooms, kitchens, and others. So, you will get a chic-looking flooring that is not prone to water damage.
Is Vinyl Flooring 100% Waterproof?
WPC vinyl flooring planks and WPC vinyl flooring tiles, both are absolutely 100% waterproof and it’s proven.
WPC stands for wood plastic composite. That means WPC vinyl flooring is made with a composition of wood and plastic.
And this vinyl flooring has been constructed with four layers of wood and plastic composition that comprises a waterproof core as well. And such features and the core make the vinyl flooring regardless of tiles or planks 100% waterproof.
Since the flooring core is engineered to be 100% waterproof, therefore, WPC vinyl flooring can be installed in any wet area in your home.
What Vinyl Flooring Is Waterproof?
To help you choose the best waterproof vinyl flooring, 3 types of vinyl flooring have been explained in brief.
WPC Vinyl Flooring
WPC vinyl flooring planks and tiles are best known for being 100% absolutely waterproof. WPC means Wood Plastic Composite and these planks/tiles are constructed with four-layer of WPC with a special waterproof core.
Such features have proven WPC vinyl flooring as the best waterproof vinyl flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring (planks/tile) is also engineered and manufactured with a 100% waterproof formula. These flooring plank/tiles are made of PVC which makes them completely 100% water-resistant.
This flooring is mimics of hardwood and ceramic tiles and can be installed at any high moisture areas at your home.
Press Vinyl Flooring
Press vinyl flooring is another best type of vinyl flooring. It comes with an interlocking system that means while installing you have to press the planks with each other to lock them tightly.
And such a feature makes it 100% waterproof as it’ll prevent water from leaking to the underfloor. But you have to install the flooring correctly.
Why Is Vinyl Flooring Waterproof?
As of now, you have known that vinyl flooring is waterproof, so now the reasons why it’s waterproof have been described below for your better understanding.
Waterproof Core
This reason mainly goes for the WPC vinyl flooring that has a waterproof core. WPC stands for Wood Plastic Composite. And this type of vinyl flooring is made up of four layers of wood and plastic combination.
WPC vinyl flooring is an engineered luxury vinyl flooring with a waterproof rigid core. And this special feature makes it 100% water-resistant. And
Also, the underneath layer of this vinyl floor has an underlayment of foam or cork that provides the flooring a water barrier.
Moreover, SPC( Stone Plastic Composite) vinyl flooring can have a waterproof core as well as an underlayment. Therefore, SPC vinyl flooring is waterproof too.
PVC
This reason goes for all other vinyl floorings such as sheet vinyl flooring, press vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl floor, vinyl planks, and vinyl tiles.
All of them are waterproof because the base of these flooring is made of PVC and PVC is a well-known waterproof material. Since the core of these flooring has got PVC stability and water-resistant quality, they are waterproof.
What Makes Waterproof Flooring Waterproof?
Possibly you’ve thought about what makes waterproof flooring waterproof, therefore, the core facts are clarified here to clear your all questions.
Material
The main factor that makes waterproof flooring waterproof is the materials that are used for manufacturing these flooring planks or tiles.
Generally, all types of waterproof flooring are made of PVC, or simply the core or base of the flooring is made of PVC. And PVC is a well-known waterproof material and it makes the flooring waterproof too.
Rigid Core
Some waterproof flooring has a rigid core, such as WPC vinyl flooring or SPC vinyl flooring. These floorings have a dense layer of either Wood Plastic Composite or Stone Plastic Composite. And it is engineered with a waterproof rigid core that makes them 100% waterproof.
Baked In
Waterproof floorings are “baked in”, which means this type of flooring will never get damaged due to water, and neither will soak any water, doesn’t matter how long water stays up on the flooring.
Also, waterproof floorings are not coated with any type of coatings to get protection from water.
Durability
Waterproof floorings are highly durable. It will not get deteriorated even if water stands on it for a long time. And the color of the flooring will not get withered.
How Do You Waterproof Vinyl Tile?
You can make your vinyl floor tiles waterproof at home by following these simple steps.
Vacuum the floor
Vacuum the floor thoroughly leaving no debris behind.
Remove the old wax coat
Take a bucket and fill it with lukewarm water and vinyl floor stripper(follow manufacturer’s instructions).
And then damp a sponge mop in the mixture and strip off the old wax and floor polish. After stripping, rinse the floor leaving no residue with clean water and a fresh sponge mop. Later, let it dry.
Apply sealer
Take a lambswool pad and dip it in the vinyl floor sealer. Must take off the extra sealer. Then start applying the sealer from a corner opposite of the doorway and seal the first row of vinyl tiles which are nearest to the baseboards on that corner wall.
Start sealing
Then return to the place where you’ve started applying the sealer, and start sealing the new row of tiles following the same steps. Now continue sealing the whole vinyl tiles floor until it’s sealed completely.
Dry the sealer
Allow the sealer to dry fully and apply two more coatings or follow instructions.
*You can either take out the furniture from the rooms or use painter’s tape to protect them and the lower perimeters of baseboards*
Can Vinyl Flooring Get Wet?
Vinyl floorings are well-known as waterproof flooring, which means they are 100% water-resistant. So, the flooring will not soak the water, neither will it get damaged by water.
However, surprisingly vinyl flooring can get wet. If the seams of the flooring have any gaps that can allow water to penetrate through to the underfloor and make it wet.
Also, if the press vinyl flooring is not installed properly, it can leave gaps between the interlocks of the planks. Through those gaps, water can enter and make the flooring get wet.
And lastly, only if any flood happens, vinyl flooring sure can get wet.
What Happens If Vinyl Flooring Gets Wet?
All the possible water damage that vinyl flooring can face due to getting wet have been listed below.
- When the flooring has soaked up much water and the underfloor has gotten wet, mildew will develop under the flooring planks.
- Bumps, bubbles, and ridges will occur underneath the flooring.
- The flooring planks will get discolored.
- Due to excess moisture underneath, tiles might start peaking and curling up.
- If the flooring planks are glued down, the adhesive will deteriorate.
- Nails underneath the underlayment will start popping out too.
- Sometimes, it may open up the seams between flooring planks.
How To Dry Water Under Vinyl Plank Flooring?
If water gets penetrated through the vinyl plank to the underfloor, it can damage the vinyl plank floor badly. Therefore, you have to dry the water out immediately, for that you can follow these easy steps.
Remove plank
Remove the vinyl plank when you notice the water has reached the underfloor.
Remove the water
Use a shop vac and extract most of the water from the subfloor.
Dry out the area
Now run a dehumidifier to dry out any residing moisture or run a fan to air dry the subfloor.
Check moisture meter
Use a moisture meter to check the moisture level of the floor. When you see there is no moisture, and the floor is completely dry, reinstall the vinyl plank floorboards again. If those are glued down plank flooring, reinstall them by a professional.
*If it’s a moisture problem only, you can use a heater and fans, or a dehumidifier to dry out the vapor*
Do I Need A Moisture Barrier Under Vinyl Flooring?
Whether you need a moisture barrier or not depends on the subfloor you are going to install the vinyl flooring.
If you are going to install vinyl flooring over a concrete subfloor, you will be needing a moisture barrier under vinyl flooring. As concrete subfloor can soak up moisture, a moisture barrier will reduce this risk.
When you are installing vinyl flooring over a wooden subfloor, you don’t need a moisture barrier.
And, if the vinyl flooring is about to be installed over existing tile or linoleum floor, a moisture barrier is not needed.
Can Mold Grow Under Vinyl Flooring On Concrete?
Vinyl flooring itself is waterproof flooring so there is very little chance that mold will grow under vinyl flooring on the concrete subfloor.
However, despite having little chances mold can grow under vinyl flooring on concrete due to excess moisture or standing water.
Also, if any wet object is around the perimeter of the baseboards or grooves of the planks can become a great source of food for molds, therefore, mold can grow.
Another thing is, concrete may soak up moisture but it can’t soak that much that will give birth to molds underneath vinyl flooring on concrete.
Do You Need To Waterproof Under Vinyl?
You are required to waterproof under the vinyl flooring. Because moisture can build up underneath vinyl planks where there is negative pressure on the subfloor, that can result in coating and adherent failure.
Therefore, when you waterproof under the vinyl flooring, it will prevent building up the condensation underneath the flooring planks. So, the flooring will not get water/moisture damaged. Also, it will last for a long time.
Due to being made with 100% water-resistant materials, vinyl floorings are waterproof. However, you are suggested to follow all necessary methods to protect the flooring from getting water damaged.