The hottest new thing on the flooring market is waterproof flooring, and we’re here to show you the best waterproof flooring options on the market. Now you can get that gorgeous, homey wood look you’ve been craving in every room of the home.
Have you ever had a plush, high-pile carpet that seems to absorb everything that is dropped or spilled on it? Or seen the unsightly warping that happens to wood or laminate when they’re exposed to water?
For bathrooms, kitchens, pets and kids…there must be a better solution, right?
The thing is, it used to be that if you wanted waterproof floors, you had an incredibly small selection to choose from. However, waterproof is the big thing right now and you can now choose waterproof flooring in vinyl, laminate and even carpet. Check it out.
Waterproof Laminate Flooring
Solid hardwood can be a lot of things, but waterproof ain’t one of them.
The waterproof flooring trend is taking the world by storm, particularly with the influx of waterproof vinyl (WPC) flooring on the market. I gotta be honest, WPC has been a hard break for laminate flooring.
You see, laminated wood flooring originated as the easy-maintenance, worry-free “wood” flooring option. But then WPC came along and tried to steal its thunder.
And if you’ve ever installed traditional laminate in a water-prone area, you know it’s not the best choice. If you spill water and don’t clean it up right away, your laminate can warp and bubble. Although many homeowners have gone the laminate kitchen flooring route, it’s really less than ideal.
Until now, that is!
Enter: waterproof laminate flooring! This still up-and-comer is rare and can be hard to find, but it is exactly how it sounds: laminate flooring that is 100% waterproof. This means you can install it in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, you name it.
Even better – waterproof laminate floors mimic all the current look and style trends of solid hardwood and traditional laminate, giving you everything you could ever ask for in one sharp floor.
Will the waterproof laminate trend last in 2020 and beyond?
Yes! Waterproof is super hot right now across all flooring types and demand for waterproof laminated wood flooring will only continue to rise.
WPC Waterproof Vinyl Flooring
Okay, I know, I know, we’re not supposed to choose favorites, but this stuff is SO COOL! Yes, the all-caps kind of cool.
Over the past several years, there has been a huge surge in WPC (AKA Wood Plastic Composite AKA WaterProof Core) vinyl flooring. In short, WPC vinyl is luxury vinyl planks or luxury vinyl tiles that are 100% waterproof.
WPC vinyl planks usually resemble an upscale laminate floor, giving a modern, convincing wood look. Basically, WPC vinyl is the best of all worlds for your kitchen floor.
- Durability? Check.
- Upscale, trendy looks? Check.
- Low maintenance? Check.
- 100% waterproof? Check!
Expect to see WPC vinyl floors following all the hottest wood trends, including handscraped and distressed looks, large planks and more.
Will the WPC vinyl flooring trend last in 2020 and beyond?
So. Much. Yes.
WPC vinyl floors are the fastest growing floors on market, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms and other water-prone areas. The looks will only get more convincing and, eventually, people will recognize modern vinyl as a fantastic wood alternative and forget the dated vinyl floors from the 1970s.
Layers of WPC Waterproof Vinyl Flooring
WPC waterproof flooring is typically comprised of 4 layers.*
- Backing layer. This is the backbone of your plank.
- WPC core. This is the main attraction! WPC flooring contains a solid, waterproof WPC core. It won’t ripple, swell or peel no matter much liquid you subject it to.
- Printed vinyl layer. This is where you get your gorgeous photo imagery that makes the vinyl look (nearly) identical to natural materials like stone and wood. Often, WPC vinyl flooring is the highest quality vinyl on the market. This means you get the most realistic looks that people will swear are real wood/stone!
- Wear layer. Just like with traditional vinyl, the wear layer is like your bodyguard; it helps protect your floor from dents, scratches, etc. The thicker the wear layer, the buffer your bodybuilder. WPC indoor flooring is known for having a buff, beefy wear layers offering more protection. When you look at vinyl flooring, it’s just as (if not more) important to look at wear layer thickness as plank thickness.
*Can vary between manufacturers.
Waterproof Carpet
We are so excited to tell you about waterproof carpet.
I don’t know about you but those are two terms I never thought I’d see together. Of course, there has been a pretty big movement in waterproof outdoor carpet over the last decade, fully waterproof indoor broadloom carpet has been unheard of.
Until now.
Shaw is leading the way with their incredible new LifeGuard technology that makes these new carpets 100% waterproof. That means you can now use carpet in any room in the house.
Want to get out of the shower and feel the soft, warm, squishy carpet under your feet rather than hard, cold tile? Go for it! These waterproof carpets won’t soak up the water and stain or get moldy (yuck!); instead, you can easily clean up any liquids in seconds without them soaking in for the long haul.
I know, it sounds too good to be true. But check this out!
Although Shaw is leading the pack for the time being, my hunch is that other manufacturers will jump on board and, within the next decade, you’ll see waterproof carpets all over the place.
Will the waterproof carpet trend last in 2020 and beyond?
Yes. If you ask me, this is the best carpet trend for 2019.
But it will be a slow surge.
The thing is, this technology is so new that the floors still come with a bit of a price tag (although, it’s nothing compared to solid hardwood). As technologies advance and more manufacturers jump on board, pricing will get more competitive and then waterproof carpet will totally take off.
For now, I say, if you can afford it, jump on board!
