Where to install waterproof laminate flooring

Laminate, like wood flooring, does not like water. This is not an issue in living areas as long as spills are cleaned up before the moisture has a chance to penetrate beyond the surface of the floor.

Sometimes, residents who want to install laminate flooring in their North Wales homes ask if it is suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and utility areas. The answer is yes, if waterproof or water-resistant laminate flooring is used.

Waterproof laminate is made the same way as standard laminate flooring, but the top surface is treated to make it highly resistant to liquids so that water does not penetrate beyond the surface of the floor It is still recommended that spills are cleaned up, but if this cannot be done quickly, the floor will not be damaged. If water is left on the floor, it may eventually soak in. If the home suffers from a flood, it’s unlikely that the floor will remain undamaged.

Waterproof laminate flooring has a backing layer that touches the subfloor. The bottom layer is not usually waterproof. This is not an issue in most areas of the home as the subfloor is dry, Basements usually have concrete subfloors which can be damp. Provided that the floor is not too moist, laminate flooring with a waterproof backing layer is recommended. The concrete subfloor can be treated with a waterproof coating.

If there are questions about where to install laminate flooring, consult a local laminate flooring installer.