Bathrooms, in particular, present a unique challenge when it comes to flooring. From steamy hot showers to water droplets that fall on the floor, the flooring that you choose to install in your bathroom needs to pack some sort of water resistance if you want it to stand the test of time. The good news is that there are plenty of waterproof wood flooring options that are perfect for bathrooms, allowing potential bathroom remodelers plenty of design and budget flexibility.
If you’re thinking about remodeling your bathroom and want to ensure that your investment will last for years to come, here is everything you need to know about waterproof wood flooring for bathrooms and what some of the best options are.
Why It’s Important to Have Waterproof Flooring in Bathrooms, Kitchens, and Other Moisture Prone Areas
Water is wood flooring’s worst enemy. From warping and discoloration to mold growth, exposure to water can cause all types of costly problems that can completely ruin a traditional hardwood floor overnight.
While this may not be too big of a concern in places like living rooms and bedrooms, kitchens, basements, and especially bathrooms are all a lot more prone to moisture. If you’re planning on installing new flooring in any of the areas around your home, it’s essential that you choose a flooring option that can stand up to extended moisture exposure unless you’re ok with having your flooring fall apart shortly after installation.
Waterproof vs. Water Resistance
When looking for bathroom flooring, you’ll see the terms water resistance and waterproof thrown around a lot. The vast majority of the most popular new flooring options boast some sort of water resistance, but it’s crucial that you know water resistance and waterproof don’t mean the same thing.
While water-resistant flooring offers a fair amount of protection if something spills, if you don’t clean up the spill quickly, it will eventually seep through and potentially cause damage. Waterproof flooring, on the other hand, offers a lot more protection. Moisture simply won’t be able to seep into waterproof flooring, and it will sit on top of the floor until it eventually dries or someone cleans it up.
This means that even though most areas of your home would be completely fine with water-resistant flooring when it comes to your bathroom, there is really no other option than to choose flooring that is completely waterproof.
The Best Waterproof Wood Flooring for Bathrooms, Kitchens, and More
As beautiful as traditional hardwood flooring can be, it certainly does not offer sufficient moisture protection to be a viable option in your bathroom, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no way to achieve a similar look with waterproof materials. There are actually plenty of waterproof wood flooring options for bathrooms that make achieving that classic hardwood look as easy as can be. All you need is a good place to start.
Whether you’re ready to start installing new bathroom flooring now or simply want to do your research for a planned project down the road, here are some of the best waterproof wood flooring options for bathrooms.
Waterproof Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring is the best choice for anyone looking to achieve a hardwood look in their bathroom because it uses real hardwood. The main difference between engineered hardwood and traditional hardwood is that engineered hardwood incorporates a plywood layer that makes it naturally more resistant to water and moisture.
Most engineered hardwood is only water resistant, but there are entirely waterproof options out there if you look hard enough. They do tend to be pricier than some of the other waterproof wood flooring options, but the fact that they offer a more traditional wood look and feel makes this option worth considering for anyone who is wholly set on installing hardwood in their bathroom.
Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring
Waterproof vinyl plank flooring is another excellent choice for anyone looking to install waterproof wood flooring in their bathroom. While vinyl planks don’t actually use any real hardwood, they do include a print layer that can be made to look like an almost endless variety of different types of wood, giving you plenty of style options to choose from.
Waterproof vinyl planks also offer a variety of other benefits over traditional wood flooring. While they don’t feel exactly like real wood on your feet, they do provide superior durability, sound insulation, and ease of installation while also generally being cheaper than real wood flooring. All of this makes waterproof vinyl planks something that every potential bathroom remodeler should consider.
Waterproof Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is another flooring option that is known for being water-resistant, but there are now completely waterproof laminate flooring options that are great for bathrooms. Laminate flooring, just like vinyl plank flooring, doesn’t actually incorporate any actual wood, but it is great at emulating that same look.
Laminate flooring has long been the most popular wood flooring substitute, and its affordability is a big reason for that. This means that if you want to install your new flooring on a budget, waterproof laminate could be the perfect bathroom flooring solution for you.
Contact My Dad’s Flooring Today
Are you looking to install new flooring in your home? Give us a call at (610) 935-2226 or contact us on our website, mydadsflooring.com.
Our team of flooring experts is always here to answer questions and will happily take the time to listen to your specific flooring needs so that we can walk you through all your best options. We’ll even offer you some free samples so that you can get a hands-on look at all your favorites before you make a final decision.
Don’t push off starting your next flooring installation project any longer. Contact My Dad’s Flooring and take the first step toward getting the brand-new waterproof wood flooring of your dreams today!