What's The Difference?
Is your floor warping, swelling or developing what appears to be pockets or bubbles? Does your flooring appear to be raised in any one area? This swelling or pockets as people may refer to them may not be air filled but rather water filled. Yes, water. Depending on your floor type it may absorbing water rather than repelling it. What’s even scarier is that if your flooring is absorbing water, think about what could be building underneath…mold and mildew!
If you are considering replacing your flooring or you are experiencing warping, swelling or pockets in your floor(s), we encourage you to consider waterproof flooring. Waterproof floors offer protection from water damage as well as protection from humidity, and seasonal temperature changes. In earlier years, most homeowners chose waterproof flooring options for their kitchen and bathroom. The flooring industry has advanced greatly and now more homeowners are going with waterproof floors throughout their home. When liquid is spilled on a water-proof floor the water is not absorbed. Most homeowners with pets are choosing the water proof flooring option as well. As with any other liquid spill, pet accidents are also not absorbed into the flooring if going with a waterproof floor, these types of floors resist any moisture.
Waterproof flooring is not just for vinyl flooring. Homeowners can opt for vinyl plank and laminate flooring, both of these options are water proof. At The Flooring Resource we carry both options in a variety of colors.
Often times, homeowners will ask what the difference is between water proof and water resistant flooring as both options are widely available. There are significant differences between the two.
Water resistant flooring:
When water makes contact on wood or a water resistant surface the water will typically “pool” and moisture will seep into the board which will cause the board to expand and warp. Once this happens the flooring can eventually mildew. A water resistant floor has an additional barrier applied to it that prevents moisture from seeping down to the core of the floor for a small amount of time. A water resistant floor will not be immediately damaged should it come into contact with water, but if not wiped away the liquid will eventually get past the barrier and damage the floor.
Water proof flooring:
A water-proof floor is made with material that does not allow water to penetrate no matter how long the liquid sits on its surface. Sometimes a water-proof floor is more expensive when compared to a water resistant floor, but long term the water proof floor is the better option. A water-proof floor won’t deteriorate if it’s exposed to liquid for a long period of time and the color won’t fade. If you live in humid climate or in an area that is prone to flooding, we highly recommend a water-proof option.
In earlier years water resistant and water-proof floors were usually installed in just kitchens and bathrooms. Current flooring trends are showing this is not the case. Homeowners are installing water-proof and water resistant flooring throughout entire homes.
Our team at The Flooring Resources invites you to visit our showroom located at 2480 Silver Star Road in Orlando, FL 32804. We offer a wide variety of water-proof and water resistant options.
We encourage homeowners to think long term and what type of traffic could potentially be walking on the floors of your home. From humans to our furry family members, it could make for a lot of foot traffic and the potential for messes.
Give us a call at 321-245-7780 for more information. We look forward to helping you!
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