Advertisement
Hardwood flooring is very beautiful and popular, but it’s also quite pricey. Homeowners are always looking for more cost-efficient flooring options. Laminate is one! It is much more affordable and just as attractive.
Consider waterproof flooring for rooms that experience higher humidity and moisture. That includes kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Waterproof flooring ensures easier cleaning and maintenance. Plus the water won’t damage your laminate floors.
Laminate prevents moisture from seeping into the floor, staining it, or damaging it. If you’ve settled on laminate but are still worried about moisture, then waterproof laminate is the thing for you.
In this guide, we will introduce some of the best waterproof laminate flooring brands. Before we get into that though, let’s go over water resistance and what that means for you.
Importance of Waterproof Flooring
Image source: Fine Floorz
If water is spilled and left on the laminate floor, it will sink into the floor and make it warp. Generally speaking, water damage is impossible to fix in most cases. The only thing you can do is get a new floor.
Some rooms are at a higher risk of water damage. That includes kitchens and bathrooms, or rooms where water is used the most.
What Makes Laminate Floors Water Resistant?
Image source: Floor & Decor
If a spill is not cleaned up immediately, or if there is a large amount of water, it will absorb into the floor. It can reach the core of the plank, which will warp as a result. The floor can then mildew, and the damage would be irreversible.
Water-resistant laminate floors have an added moisture barrier that prevents water from sinking into the core for some time. As a result, you can save your floors from water damage.
However, that doesn’t mean the floor is fully immune to water. If you let the water sit for long enough, then it will sink in and damage the floor.
What is Waterproof Laminate?
Image source: Floor & Decor
Laminate flooring was invented in the 70s and has been popular ever since. It has come a long way, and now laminate can look and feel just like hardwood flooring.
Laminate is a great alternative to hardwood flooring because it’s much more affordable. Its inability to withstand water, however, is a great disadvantage. Waterproof laminate is a life-changing creation for many homes.
A spillage on traditional laminate will cause it to swell, ultimately resulting in the need to replace the whole floor. Waterproof laminate has a special core layer that will hold the water for longer.
Overall, waterproof laminate is not completely waterproof like ceramic tiles or sheet vinyl. Water-resistant is a better word. The floor will give you a chance to wipe the water before letting it sink in and do permanent damage.
Best Waterproof Laminate Flooring Brands
AquaGuard
This is probably the best choice on the market when it comes to waterproof laminate flooring brands. Just by the name itself, you can figure out that this is a waterproof laminate. It protects from moisture and condensation.
This protection lasts for more than ten years. This kind of laminate is also waterproof. But not only from the top layer but from the layer underneath too. This is because it has a melamine back layer. This layer rests right under a wood-based fiber core. The core is also secured and is waterproof as well.
This laminate flooring guarantees 15 years of protection. The best part is that it can’t get stained even if you leave all kinds of liquids for thirty hours or more.
It is three times harder than American Red Oak. This makes it durable and long-lasting.
It can also be installed for up to 1600 square feet. And it isn’t necessary yo have a transition molding.
Pergo
The next one of these laminate flooring options is Pergo. This is a company that has over 40 years of experience when it comes to producing high-quality laminate. It is still among the highest-rated companies on the market. Their laminate is formed of a couple of patterned materials. Those materials are tightly packed. They were sealed by using heat, pressure, and environmentally friendly chemicals.
This company offers a pack of forty styles of laminate flooring. They are all water-resistant. What’s also great about Pergo’s laminates is that they come with a lifetime residential warranty. They endure all kinds of moisture, everyday household spills, and other typically damaging liquids.
The wetted floor cannot get stained. This is excellent if you have kids or pets that cause damage.
Quick-Step
This is a company that adds HydroSeal to its laminate surfaces. The laminate flooring planks have several layers coated with this product. But the exterior is not the only place the coating is applied to. The side grooves are covered as well. They promise ten years of the endurance of the coating and twenty-five years of the material itself. But keep in mind that the warranty comes with many limitations.
Audacity By Armstrong
Another one of these waterproof laminate flooring brands is this company that offers a whole line of laminate products that resist water. But they do a great job at being waterproof as well. Like Pergo, they also guarantee to withstand damages made by spills and moisture. They can resist stains even if they are left on for two days, although this is not advised.
This firm has a solid core that doesn’t absorb liquids. The top is covered with a couple of coats of a sealant. The sealant is also applied to the edges. That is done to prevent water from coming in.
Audacity offers a residential warranty of a lifetime. And, 15 years of commercial security.
It is a line of only five collections. Each of these packets has an enormous range of colors and styles. You can find this type of laminate flooring at your local decor store, or you can buy it online.
Restoration Collection from Mannington
This is another flooring pack of laminate. It is excellent because it collaborates with SpillShieldPlus Waterproof Technology. This makes the laminates waterproof. This is a technique that gives one of the best protection. It comes with a thorough list of limitations on how long it should be exposed to moisture.
TarkettAquaFlor
This is a firm that proposes cheap yet quality flooring. For one square foot, you can buy the laminate flooring for only two dollars.
But because it is so cheap, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t right. The laminate protects from water spills. And, protects from other damages as well. You can leave water or any liquid for a whole day, and it won’t absorb anything. It is impermeable. This is because it has an angle-drop locking system. That system connects the laminate planks and seals them tight. Not even moisture can get in.
Dumaplast
This is an all PVC laminate flooring. It is ideal for anyone that wants to take their floor to the next level. Because the laminate is made of plastic, it comes with a bit more benefits. This brand has created an underpad in the laminate planks that make the laminate board resistant to sound. But that is not all. The laminate is cost-effective and eco-friendly. It is waterproof also.
This kind of laminate is best applied in bathrooms, kitchens, and basements – places where moisture occurs the most. Unfortunately, the firm only sells products only in Europe.
Mohawk RevWood Plus
Again, like Pergo, this brand uses the same waterproof technology. Mohawk is Pergo’s owner, and thus that’s the reason why they use the same technology.
Mohawk bought Pergo back in 2012 when Pergo had financial issues and was poorly managed. Although they use the same technology, their styles are completely different. You cant even make a connection. In RevWood, unlike Pergo, you have 30 options to choose from.
Aquastep
Parcolys and Aquastep were at first one brand. Then these two firms fell apart, and now Aquastep is a company on its own. It’s a company now that provides extremely strong laminate that is also resistant to water.
You can use Aquastep products in areas where there is high exposure to water and moisture. Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements are the ideal places for using this type of laminate. In the manual and contract, the firm gives 100% guarantee that the planks won’t crack, warp, or buckle during the installation process.
Aquastep products are available in the USA only. But, if problems were to occur, you won’t get to the flooring manufacturers as the firm is located outside of the USA.
Dream Home X20
This is yet another laminate flooring option. It is watertight and is dispensed entirely by Lumber Liquidators. Although there are only ten waterproof laminate styles, you can pick so much more. The set of waterproof planks is wholly made of a non-absorbent core. And that’s great as the boards won’t swell when they get wet.
Shaw Repel
The last one of these waterproof laminate flooring brands is Shaw Repel. It is currently among the best laminate flooring brands. Their products are resistant to any liquid and chemicals.
They have an enormous amount of laminate options. They offer more than fifty options on the market. The options vary in color and style. Although they have more options to choose from, the life of the flooring is significantly reduced. This company doesn’t provide a commercial warranty.
The top layer is resistant to water, but the seams aren’t. To make up for that, the sides are tightly sealed to each other, thus preventing water from getting in.
Tips on how to choose an excellent laminate flooring
The Thickness of the Board
Image source: Beaulieu Group, LLC
If you want to match your wood aesthetic, you might want to choose a laminate that closely resembles real wood. To achieve this, pick a thicker plank board. Thick planks offer more extended durability as well. Choose a board that is a minimum of 8 millimeters thick. If you want flooring that is of better quality, choose a laminate that is 8-12 mm coarse.
Waterproof Laminate Cost
Image source: Revolution Wood Floors
It is always a better choice to choose a waterproof laminate. The price range varies from $3-$5 per square foot.
You don’t have to pay a lot to have a water-resistant floor that looks luxurious as well.
For example, vinyl floors are $3 most per square foot.
How Busy Is the Room?
Another thing you should keep in mind is the room traffic. Before you install this type of flooring, make sure to make some calculations.
Think where and how many people will put pressure on the flooring.
Does Laminate Flooring Add Value To Your Home?
Image source: Avalon Flooring
When you buy water-resistant laminate flooring, don’t have high expectations. Flooring rarely adds value to your home.
Just because it looks good, doesn’t mean that it will be functional or that it will last long. You have to research the durability of the laminate before you invest in it. Because sometimes you might have to replace the flooring every once in a while.
Is Waterproof Laminate Right for You?
We’ve mentioned many times how aesthetics plays a massive role in buying laminate plank flooring. Laminate flooring doesn’t look good in all rooms. And you have to keep in mind what kind of laminate matches the atmosphere if you go for this option. For example, you want your room to be bigger, so that is why you will go for wide light-colored planks. This flooring will make the room brighter and more extensive. If you want a more cozy feel to it, you can install laminate flooring that is darker and thinner.
Choosing the best laminate flooring for your home means that you will have flooring that is durable, affordable, and versatile. Laminate is always an excellent choice for anyone that owns a home. But before you do make a purchase, you should read the instructions and the manual. Not all laminates that claim to be waterproof are water-resistant laminate. Sometimes the ones that claim to be the most resistant tend to be the ones that shouldn’t be placed in wet locations.
If you liked this article about the waterproof laminate flooring brands, you should check out these as well: