Vinyl flooring brands are manufactured with many sustainable and durable benefits. Most of these benefits come courtesy of decades of research into what other flooring options face that can ruin their lifespan.
Among the biggest selling points for both luxury vinyl tiles and planks is the fact that they are 100% waterproof, making them ideal for rooms with higher water risk such as bathrooms and kitchens. However, can a product truly be 100% waterproof? Is there anything that can cause damage through water spills?
Let's take some time to spill the knowledge around water and vinyl flooring.
Vinyl flooring is considered one of the most durable options on the flooring market. As with all kinds of flooring, there are important factors that determine how long that flooring will stay durable.
How the flooring has been manufactured, installed and cared for will have an impact on the life expectancy of LVT. As for being waterproof, all vinyl flooring products are composed primarily of PVC - giving them extremely high resistance to water. However, the quality of the installation is what will affect the water resistance.
Possibility of Moisture
Luxury vinyl comes in either planks or tiles that sit side by side, resulting in multiple seams. Whilst the product itself has the highest level of water safeguards within their design, there is every possibility for water or moisture to seep through the seams if the planks or tiles are incorrectly installed.
This is not a factor when it comes to vinyl roll, as it comes in sheets with typically no seams for water to affect. That is why we recommend a professional vinyl installation in Denton that ensures your subfloor is fully protected - as well as your guarantee being covered should any issues arise.
Pro vs. DIY Installation
If you do choose to self-install luxury vinyl flooring, you will have to follow the manufacturer's guidelines carefully and to the letter. Any damage you receive from neglecting the guidelines may void your warranty and leave you with weak and compromised flooring.
There are many issues that can arise from doing a self-installation, including warping, uneven flooring and misaligning your intended pattern design - on top of damage to your subfloor from water seeping through fine cracks.
Vinyl Flooring and Underfloor Heating
Vinyl flooring can also be laid over most underfloor heating systems for bathrooms as long as they are watertight in the installation. That includes both wet and dry systems - however, it is important to remember that vinyl cannot be laid directly onto an electrical floor mat.
A heating system must be installed within a sub floor such as a concrete sub floor - and it needs to be sound, dry and smooth before any installation is put on top of it. When it comes to underfloor heating systems and vinyl flooring, we would recommend a professional installation so that all aspects are covered and water poses no significant risk to your system and planks.
In Conclusion
The answer to the question of LVT being 100% waterproof is that it is as a product - but it all comes down to your installation. If you choose to DIY your vinyl installation, you will need to abide strictly to guidelines to protect your subfloor and your product.
If you choose to pay a little extra for professional installation, you will have a safe and secure flooring installed and no worries, fully protected from paying out any additional costs should any issues arise. For more information on luxury vinyl flooring in Manchester, contact the team at Galloway Flooring for a 100% satisfaction with your home flooring.
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