Is vinyl waterproof? This is one of the reasons vinyl flooring is so popular! Vinyl plank flooring is the perfect flooring solution for busy households, basements, bathrooms, and even kitchens.
The Claims Are True!
In short, vinyl flooring is waterproof, but that does not mean it will survive flooding! When a vinyl specifies it is waterproof, it simply means surface water will not affect the flooring or cause any damage. This makes it the perfect option for homes and businesses that could see spills and pet accidents. It is a great solution for those rooms that tend to see water, such as bathrooms and foyers.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring can come in a plank format that clicks together, glues down, or is a loose lay installation. It’s a perfect flooring for people who like to do their own home renovations. The best part? Vinyl flooring can look convincing as hardwood, stone, or even tile!
What Happens If I Do Have A Flood?
You should still clean up your spills and accidents. However, in the case of an extreme water incident, such as a flooded basement, you will need to do some damage control.
In the circumstance where there is water sitting underneath the planks, you will need to disassemble the planks and completely dry the subfloor and planks. Leave the vinyl out to dry and test the subfloor before re-installation.
If you experience a leak or a small amount of water, you may be able to just dry the flooring with a shop-vac or towel.
If your vinyl has attached underlayment, most can also dry completely and be re-installed. If you have a closed-cell underlayment, it can be re-installed after completely dried. If you have a cork underlayment, then there is a risk for mold and mildew to grow, so those are not recommended to be re-installed.
Now how is that for a waterproof flooring? But don’t take it from us, just look at this customer review:
Our basement flooded, storm water and sewage, during Superstorm Sandy. We pulled up the carpet forever and had Bestlaminate install a waterproof vinyl locking planks. We just flooded again last night and less than 24 hours later, the shop vac and fans have us almost back in order. Best home improvement decision we have ever made.”
– Stacy S.
Have a review you would like to share with us about your vinyl flooring? Write it in the comments below!
Learn More:
- What are pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring?
- Can Vinyl Flooring be Used on a Boat?
- Is vinyl flooring anti-slip?
28 comments
Hi, we just tore up carpet in our basement due to water from a recent storm that seeped through the foundation wall and ground and saturated about 13 square feet of our basement carpet. The issue was caused we think because our sump pump was discharging water directly next to the foundation during a recent major and rare rainfall event of 5 inches of rain. We are fixing the sump pump issue, and this storm is the only time we know of water entering the basement except for the most recent hurricane, which was 8 inches. Do you think it is a good idea to put vinyl down in this basement? Is it possible that water could come up through the ground and be underneath the vinyl planks without us knowing, creating mold? Likewise, whereas the damage to our carpet was contained to a 12 sq. ft. area, would water be seeping underneath the vinyl across the whole basement before it would ever become visible to us? What type of flooring do you think is best for the situation I am describing. The base flooring the the vinyl would go on top of is currently porcelain, which is on top of the concrete foundation.
Thanks for your question, Chris! Sorry to hear of your recent inconvenience with water in your basement. We would recommend making sure your sump pump is functioning properly before making any major decision on flooring for your basement. If you do decide to use vinyl plank flooring afterwards, we suggest using a Visqueen vapor barrier which will protect your flooring from any moisture from the subfloor.
I see that the vinyl flooring is waterproof! Thanks for that information. vinyl waterproof
[…] reason to choose vinyl floors is that they are waterproof and perfect for bathrooms. Vinyl floors blend perfectly with different décor. This makes them […]
can waterproof vinyl flooring be used over ceramic tile in a indoor inground pool room without growing mold ?
Hi Dan, thanks for the question. I believe the chance for water getting beneath the planks is high in this situation, which is how the mold would grow. I would recommend finding a floor specifically for swimming pool decks or stick with tile.