Whether you are a new homeowner, or you’ve decided you want to renovate your bathroom a bit, a big decision that comes into play is what kind of flooring are you going to put down. Obviously choosing flooring in the bathroom is much different than any other part of the house because there is one thing you have to take into account that isn’t found in other rooms: large quantities of water.
Water is obviously prevalent in every bathroom, and the last thing you want to do is spend tons of money on flooring that will quickly get ruined and destroyed. Many tend to believe that natural hardwood flooring is a great option, yet they quickly realize that is untrue as they see thousands of dollars thrown away when it gets tarnished. Some have begun to turn to laminate flooring, but because it isn’t a popular option at the moment, many are unsure if you should seriously consider it.
Is laminate floor a legitimate option for the bathroom?
Yes, it’s a great option in the bathroom because the pros greatly outweigh the cons and it isn’t even close. Not only is laminate flooring cheaper than hardwood floors and more durable, but you can get the look of wood with laminate. It closely mimics the texture, color and graining of real wood, according to HGTV. Why take a risk spending a lot of money when you can take a much safer, cheaper option with laminate? It’s a no-brainer.
Obviously, you can’t be reckless with laminate flooring because you can and will destroy it. As long as you take precautions to protect the wood base from moisture, you will have no problems and the flooring will stay as good as new. Because there are tight seams between the planks, it is extremely difficult for moisture to make its way downward. Just when you thought this couldn’t get any better, laminate is extremely easy to clean as well. It still has that wood chip base, so even though it’s easy to clean, you have to be careful when cleaning it because if it were to come in contact with moisture, it will expand and bubble, forcing you to tear it out to fix it.
Is laminate flooring waterproof?
Yes and no. Depending on the brand you get, it is absolutely possible to get laminate flooring that is 100% waterproof. Many laminate flooring brands say that they are water resistant, but after people complained that they wanted the flooring to be completely waterproof, the companies delivered. Parcolys Flooring is a company that provides customers with a 100% waterproof, 100% recyclable, anti-stain flooring that can be cleaned with just soap and water.
Aquastep is another company that offers waterproof and extremely strong laminate floors that can even be used in the garage. They have a great selection of wood-look, stone-look and ship-deck styles that can be shipped to your home, where we at Tandem Contracting can come and help you put together the bathroom of your dreams.
Can you waterproof already existing laminate flooring?
If you’ve laid down laminate flooring already and don’t want to have to rip it up in order to replace it with something waterproof, good news: You can waterproof an already existing laminate flooring. One method is to seal the locking mechanisms where the laminate planks meet as you install the flooring. By waterproofing these gaps, it’ll go a long way towards giving you more durable flooring.
You can buy laminate floor sealer at many home improvement stores, and because the sealer doesn’t actually glue the planks together, you can lift the floor if you ever need to. Buying the specific sealer for your laminate flooring is important because it allows the floor to expand and contract with the weather, rather than remaining rigid.
Another option is to caulk the expansion gap. By caulking the areas that are at the highest risk of water damage, the floor stays in great condition because the areas most vulnerable to water damage are now safe. Using silicone caulk will prevent liquid from soaking through the cracks and the floors will not be ruined. The most effective method to create waterproof laminate flooring is to cover it with polyurethane because it will keep the entire floor safe from any damage.
What is laminate flooring comprised of?
Both the water-resistant and waterproof laminate have four layers, which are explained below:
- Backing/Balancing layer – the layer that is located at the very bottom of the laminate flooring, which serves as the foundation while preventing bowing and collapsing.
- Core Layer – offers additional protection that is typically made of compressed high—density fiberboard (HDF) where the water-resistant/waterproof qualities come from.
- Image/Design Layer – right below the top layer, the image layer is where the pattern or print of your flooring is. It gives the flooring the wood or stone pattern that will fool everyone.
- Wear layer – the top layer of the laminate flooring that protects your floor from scratches, wear and staining. The water-resistant top layer helps keep water from entering the floor and destroying it.
Further pros and cons to having laminate flooring in the bathroom
There are so many benefits to putting down laminate flooring in the bathroom that many don’t realize. First of all, the flooring itself is very user-friendly. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you can have all of the flooring, moldings, and trim pieces installed in just one weekend.
Also, laminate flooring will never dent or scratch. We’ve all made the mistake of dropping the blow dryer, curling iron or a bottle that has hit the floor and left an unfavorable mark. When you have this flooring installed, you never have to worry about the dings and dents in your flooring. Like mentioned before, this flooring is very easy to clean. Whether your choice is a soap and water or a damp mop along with a vinegar and water solution, you will have a bathroom floor that you can enjoy for years to come. You should never use a saturated mop on the flooring because it can cause irreversible damage.
Quite possibly the most appealing part of the laminate flooring is that it has a tile and slate look, meaning that you can have the look of ceramic tiles without the hassle of having to actually install them while spending a fortune.
The downfalls of the laminate flooring are few and far between. Like many other floorings, laminate can become slippery when wet. Instead of risking damaging your floor or falling, investing in a rug next to the bathtub or shower is a cheap investment that will save you from a potential hospital visit. Because the flooring can warp if the moisture level is too high, keeping the standing ponds of water out of the bathroom and running an occasional exhaust fan will diminish this problem almost entirely.