By Dean Paulson, President, The Floor Trader of Tacoma
If you've been shopping for vinyl plank flooring lately, you've probably seen one word plastered all over flooring displays:
WATERPROOF.
Waterproof vinyl. Waterproof plank. Waterproof core. Lifetime waterproof warranty.
So, is vinyl plank flooring really waterproof?
After spending most of my life in the flooring business, here's my answer:
Yes... but there's a very important catch.
I prefer to tell customers that a good-quality vinyl plank floor is extremely water resistant from the top down. It is not necessarily protected from water getting underneath it.
That's a distinction homeowners need to understand before they buy a floor.
I have a saying about warranties:
"The bold print giveth, and the fine print taketh away."
The big letters on the display might say WATERPROOF. The warranty explains what that actually means.
And those aren't always the same thing.
Today's Vinyl Plank Is Very Good Around Everyday Water
Let's get something straight before I scare everyone away from vinyl plank.
I like vinyl plank.
We sell a lot of it at The Floor Trader of Tacoma, and today's better-quality SPC and vinyl plank floors are dramatically better than some of the thin products we saw years ago.
For ordinary household life, they're excellent.
Spill a glass of water? Wipe it up.
Spill some wine? Clean it up.
Dog pees on the floor? Clean it properly.
Your Labrador decides half the water in his bowl belongs on the floor instead of inside him?
You'll probably be just fine.
I know that last one personally. I've had water sit around my dog's bowl in my own home without hurting my vinyl plank.
Today's better locking systems fit incredibly tightly. Good products have dense cores, stronger joints and better overall construction. An ordinary spill sitting on the surface isn't something I lose sleep over.
But there's a huge difference between a spill on your floor and water underneath your floor.
That's where homeowners can get into trouble.
Waterproof From the Top Down, Not the Bottom Up
If you remember only one thing from this article, remember this:
Vinyl plank can be extremely water resistant from the top down. Water getting underneath the flooring is a completely different problem.
Imagine your dishwasher develops a leak overnight.
You wake up, discover some water in the kitchen, grab towels and dry everything.
The floor looks perfect.
Are you in the clear?
Maybe not.
Your vinyl plank generally doesn't continue underneath the dishwasher. Water can travel underneath the edge of the flooring and become trapped beneath the planks.
The exact same thing can happen with a leaking refrigerator or icemaker line, overflowing toilet, bathtub, plumbing failure or another significant water event.
And here's the nasty part:
The surface can look completely dry while water remains underneath it.
I've Seen Water Under Floors That Looked Fine
If one of our customers suspects a significant leak, one thing I want checked is moisture.
A flooring professional can compare moisture-related readings around the affected area with readings from unaffected areas of the room using appropriate moisture-detection equipment.
The important thing isn't staring at the surface and saying, "Looks dry to me."
We're trying to determine whether the conditions beneath or around the flooring are different from the rest of the room.
Because if water is trapped underneath a floating floor, it needs to be investigated.
Water doesn't magically disappear because the flooring display at the store said "waterproof."
Trapped moisture can create conditions favorable to microbial growth, damage surrounding building materials and turn what initially looked like a minor appliance leak into a much larger remediation job.
One of the Worst Places for Water Problems Is the Bathroom
Manufacturers commonly approve many waterproof vinyl plank products for bathrooms, and vinyl plank can be an excellent bathroom floor.
But bathrooms deserve special attention.
You have toilets, tubs, showers and plumbing all concentrated in one small space.
A floating floor also typically requires an expansion space around the perimeter. That space is there for a reason. The flooring needs room for normal movement.
This creates an important installation issue: how do you protect vulnerable areas from water while still allowing the floor to perform as designed?
The exact answer depends on the flooring manufacturer and installation system, which is why I strongly recommend following the installation instructions for your particular product rather than relying on a generic rule.
I pay particular attention to areas around toilet flanges, tubs, showers, perimeter edges and doorways.
Here's another bathroom decision most homeowners never consider: the doorway transition.
People often don't like transitions because they want the flooring to flow continuously from the hallway into the bathroom.
I understand. Continuous flooring looks beautiful.
But there's another side to it.
If the bathroom has a serious water event someday and the bathroom is separated with a transition, you may be able to replace the bathroom flooring without disturbing flooring running throughout the hallway and adjoining rooms.
Sometimes a transition isn't just cosmetic.
It can create a logical stopping point for a future repair.
Concrete Creates an Entirely Different Moisture Problem
Here's something homeowners frequently tell me:
"Why should I worry about moisture in my concrete? I'm installing waterproof flooring."
Because the flooring being waterproof doesn't mean the building underneath it is waterproof.
Concrete can transmit moisture vapor.
I've been in homes where you could actually hear moisture moving beneath floating vinyl plank flooring.
One homeowner told me the basement had always smelled musty.
That's a warning sign worth investigating.
If you're installing flooring over concrete, you need to understand the moisture conditions of that slab and follow the flooring manufacturer's requirements for testing, vapor retarders and moisture mitigation.
Some floating-floor manufacturers specify a polyethylene vapor barrier over concrete.
For certain installations and moisture conditions, I personally like properly specified liquid-applied moisture mitigation systems because they can create a continuous barrier directly over the substrate.
But this isn't a place for guessing. Moisture conditions should be evaluated and the mitigation system needs to be compatible with the flooring assembly you're installing.
"The plank is waterproof" is not a moisture-management plan for a concrete slab.
Cheap Vinyl Plank and Better Vinyl Plank Are Not the Same Thing
People sometimes ask me:
"Dean, they're both waterproof. Why should I spend more?"
Because you're not just buying waterproofness.
You're buying the entire construction of the floor.
When vinyl plank first became popular, we saw some extremely thin products with very small locking joints.
Today's better products are generally substantially more robust.
When I'm evaluating flooring to stock in our store, I'm interested in things the average consumer may never think to ask:
How dense is the core?
How substantial is the actual core?
How well is the locking system manufactured?
How tightly do the joints fit?
How dimensionally stable is the product?
What is the wear layer?
How realistic is the embossing?
How does the surface feel?
How does the floor sound when you walk across it?
What exactly is included in the advertised overall thickness?
That last one deserves more attention.
A "7mm Floor" Isn't Necessarily a 7mm Core
Consumers see something like 7mm on a display and naturally assume they're comparing apples to apples.
Not necessarily.
Overall product thickness can include the attached pad.
For example, one product's total thickness could consist of a thicker core with a thinner pad, while another manufacturer could reach a similar advertised overall thickness using a thinner core and thicker pad.
Those aren't necessarily equivalent constructions.
Ask how thick the actual flooring core is and how much of the advertised thickness is attached pad.
At our store, we generally prefer not to get into extremely thin core products. If I were choosing flooring for my own house, I'd be looking toward a substantial, middle-to-higher-end construction rather than shopping for the lowest possible price per square foot.
Installation Can Destroy an Excellent Floor
I've seen expensive flooring made to perform like cheap flooring because it was installed incorrectly.
One of the biggest problems with floating floors is pinching the floor against something that prevents normal movement.
The manufacturer specifies an expansion space for a reason.
If the flooring is bound against a wall, cabinet or another fixed object, movement can cause the floor to lift.
I've walked into rooms where the floor looked like it had a bubble underneath it.
You step on it and:
creak... down it goes.
It can feel almost like a little trampoline.
People sometimes assume the plank itself has failed.
The problem may actually be that the floating floor doesn't have room to move.
The Subfloor Must Be Flat, Too
Another huge installation issue is subfloor flatness.
Floating flooring isn't supposed to bridge large depressions like a suspension bridge.
If there's a low spot underneath the floor, every time someone walks over that area the plank can flex.
Flex it enough times and you're putting repeated stress on the locking system.
Eventually the joint can fail.
That's why professional installers check the substrate against the flooring manufacturer's flatness specification and correct unacceptable high and low areas before installation.
And Please Don't Beat the Flooring Together With a Hammer
I've seen installers who couldn't get a joint together properly decide that greater violence was apparently the missing installation technique.
They pound the planks together.
The floor can look fine when they're finished.
Then a couple of weeks later, the ends start showing raised areas.
I sometimes describe them as little "duck tails."
The installer may have damaged or bruised the core or locking area while forcing the boards together.
That's one reason I recommend using experienced flooring installers who understand the particular locking system they're installing.
A talented general contractor can be excellent at building houses.
That doesn't automatically make that person a flooring specialist.
"Waterproof" Does Not Mean "Wet Mop the Daylights Out of It"
One of the most common maintenance mistakes I've seen is homeowners using far too much water.
Vinyl plank is not old-fashioned sheet vinyl running continuously wall to wall.
You don't need to soak it.
My preference is simple:
Use as little moisture as necessary to clean the floor.
Mist an approved cleaner according to the flooring manufacturer's instructions and follow with an appropriate microfiber cleaning pad or mop.
And don't assume a steam mop is safe merely because your floor says waterproof.
For example, COREtec currently advises customers to stay away from steam mops unless steam cleaning is specifically approved for their particular product.
Always follow the care instructions for your exact floor.
Read the Waterproof Warranty Before You Need the Waterproof Warranty
This is where consumers get frustrated.
A flooring warranty can provide excellent protection against genuine manufacturing defects while still not cover the consequences of a plumbing disaster.
Those are different things.
Take COREtec as an example. Many current COREtec products carry a Limited Lifetime Residential warranty, but COREtec itself directs customers to the warranty for their specific style because coverage varies by construction and product.
That's exactly what consumers should do with any manufacturer.
Don't stop reading when you see:
LIFETIME WARRANTY
Keep going.
You need to know what's actually covered and what's excluded.
Depending on the manufacturer and product, exclusions or limitations can involve things such as improper installation, inappropriate substrates, flooding, plumbing failures, moisture conditions, maintenance, abnormal wear, scratches, dents or damage from outside sources.
Another surprise can be labor.
A material warranty does not automatically mean the manufacturer is paying every expense associated with replacing your floor.
Think about everything involved:
Moving furniture. Removing trim. Removing flooring. Disposal. New installation. Replacing baseboards or moldings.
Those costs can become substantial.
Know whether your warranty covers material, labor, both or something else before you buy.
Keep Extra Flooring. Seriously.
This might be some of the most valuable advice in this entire article:
Keep several unopened cartons of your flooring after installation.
I often recommend having roughly three to five extra boxes available, depending on the size and circumstances of the job.
Why?
Because flooring is fashion.
Colors change. Collections change. Manufacturers discontinue products. A floor that is readily available today might be impossible to find several years from now.
Then somebody drags a refrigerator across the kitchen.
A child drops something heavy.
A board gets deeply damaged.
A dishwasher leaks.
Now you need six replacement planks from a product that hasn't been manufactured in four years.
Good luck with that treasure hunt.
Having spare material stored away can turn a major problem into a manageable repair.
Protect the Floor You Paid For
I have vinyl plank in my own office.
I love it.
And underneath my rolling office chair?
A protective chair mat.
I also use softer rollerblade-style casters instead of hard plastic chair wheels.
Why?
Because waterproof doesn't mean indestructible.
Put 250 pounds on a chair and roll a hard plastic caster over one tiny piece of grit hundreds of times and eventually something is going to happen to that surface.
Protect high-wear areas. Use appropriate furniture protection. Keep grit off the floor. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
And understand that every floor will eventually show evidence that human beings actually lived on it. Apparently houses stubbornly refuse to remain showrooms.
I Don't Believe Vinyl Plank Is a "Forever Floor"
This may be where I differ from some flooring marketing.
I think consumers should look at vinyl plank as a high-performing, replaceable finish for their home, not some sacred object their grandchildren will inherit.
Styles change. Colors change. Your furniture changes. You repaint.
Ten years from now, you may look at the floor you absolutely loved today and wonder what on earth you were thinking.
That's okay.
One advantage of floating click flooring is precisely that it can eventually be removed without fighting a permanently glued-down installation across the entire house.
Buy a good floor. Take care of it. Enjoy it.
But don't buy flooring based on the fantasy that you'll never need or want another floor again.
So, Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Really Waterproof?
Here's the answer I give customers:
A good-quality modern vinyl plank floor can provide outstanding resistance to everyday water and spills from the top surface. But "waterproof" does not mean your entire flooring installation is protected against every possible source of water.
A spilled drink? Clean it up.
Dog makes a mess? Clean it properly.
A little water around the pet bowl? A quality floor should handle normal household situations extremely well.
Dishwasher leaked overnight and water traveled underneath the floor? Different situation.
Toilet overflowed and water reached the perimeter and got underneath? Different situation.
Moisture coming through a concrete slab? Completely different situation.
That's why I would rather educate somebody about what waterproof really means than sell them a floor by promising something no flooring system can deliver.
My Advice After a Lifetime Around Flooring
Don't shop for vinyl plank based solely on the word waterproof.
And don't shop exclusively by price.
Buy the best-quality floor that comfortably fits your budget.
Look at the construction. Ask about the actual core. Ask about the locking system. Understand the wear layer. Look closely at the surface texture and sheen. Ask about installation requirements. Read the warranty. Prepare the subfloor properly. Protect the floor after it's installed.
And work with somebody who is willing to tell you the limitations of the product they're trying to sell you.
At The Floor Trader of Tacoma, we actually created a simple customer guide explaining common flooring warranty expectations and proper maintenance because manufacturer's warranties can be painfully complicated.
I'd rather have a customer understand their floor before they buy it than explain the fine print while standing in their kitchen after something has gone wrong.
After all, flooring isn't just another building material.
I call it the fifth wall of your home.
People notice it. You live on it every day. It affects the entire look and feel of your house.
So don't buy the cheapest floor simply because somebody put the word WATERPROOF on a giant sign above it.
Buy a floor you'll actually enjoy living on.
Dean Paulson
President, The Floor Trader of Tacoma
Third-generation flooring retailer
Tacoma, Washington