There’s nothing quite like real water resistant wood flooring for a rich and luxurious look in your Pennsylvania home. In light hues or dark shades, hardwood floors are designed to match virtually any home décor, giving your home a timeless look. You can even redecorate and be assured that your classic hardwood flooring will still match your home, whether your look tends toward old-world charm, modern, minimalist, or even granny chic décor. Hardwood floors of any style can complement the other wood in your home, including furniture, trim, railings, and banisters, to create a cohesive look.
Today’s active families, with kids and pets especially, want to find flooring options that are durable and waterproof while providing the look of hardwood. Waterproof hardwood flooring is not just a myth. It works, and works well, in high-traffic areas and any room of your home, especially gathering rooms like the kitchen and family room.
Many people love the look, style, warmth, and durability of hardwood. Hardwood tends to be easier to keep clean than carpeting. When they are cared for properly, hardwood floors can last virtually forever. And by adding or changing a few area rugs, you can alter the entire look of a room without having to spend money on a new flooring installation. Your hardwood floor will last and complement the rest of your décor.
What Is Water Resistant Wood Flooring?
Water resistant wood flooring is made from real wood, the same trees that solid hardwood floors are made from. So why or how is this new hardwood waterproof? The difference lies in the construction of this engineered hardwood, which adds to its durability and ease of installation.
Waterproof hardwood floors are often called “engineered hardwood floors.” Solid hardwood floors are created from solid planks of wood cut from a tree, either vertically or horizontally. This gives specific graining patterns and maximizes the planks from the log itself. Engineered hardwood is produced by bonding layers of wood together perpendicular to each of the different layers of grain to create exceptionally sturdy planks. This specific engineering is constructed with a high-density board that interlocks with every wood plank. This floating installation creates a watertight floor. No water can permeate between each plank, so water beads up on top of the hardwood urethane surface until the homeowner can wipe it up.
Engineered hardwood also has a more consistent look, since the pieces are manufactured from real wood but are not just cut from a tree and sanded, complete with wood imperfections that are inherent in nature.
Benefits of Water Resistant Wood Flooring
Because of its unique construction, engineered hardwood flooring is stronger and more stable than solid wood. It does not need gentle care and treatment and is largely more resistant to pets and children in an active home.
Engineered hardwood can also be constructed in longer and wider planks because of its inherent strength. As homeowners decorate with wider wood planks, the need for dimensional stability is even more important to eliminate gaps in the winter caused by heating in the home.
Unlike solid hardwood, waterproof hardwood floors are moisture-resistant so they don’t swell or gap. They are resistant to water, moisture, and humidity. That means you can install these floors in high-traffic areas, including kitchens, powder rooms, mudrooms, basements, and entryways. You’ll have peace of mind, knowing that your floor won’t be ruined by water spilled on the top surface.
How Is Water Resistant Wood Flooring Installed?
You can install engineered hardwood in a number of ways. The experts at Tom Adams Windows and Carpets have 66 years of national award-winning service and installation experience for not just window and door replacement and installation but also wall-to-wall carpeting and flooring of all kinds, including hardwood.
When you’re ensuring your engineered hardwood floors are truly waterproof, the expert installation makes the difference.
Our expert installers can glue down your hardwood floors over your concrete or plywood subfloor, as long as it is a level surface. This provides a permanent installation that minimizes squeaks and noises, as well as a waterproof surface that prevents spills on the top surface from permeating down.
New click lock techniques can also work for engineered floors, especially if you are installing over an existing floor, as long as there is a smooth subfloor of plywood or concrete. You can use click-lock techniques above or below grade, making this type of installation effective for basements, first floors, second floors, or lofts. It is also excellent for active rooms like kitchens, breakfast rooms, or rooms directly off a pool or hot tub. The experts at Tom Adams can explain the best installations for your home. Also, their installation is warranted by 66 years of experience and an A-plus Better Business Rating.
Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring Really Waterproof?
Water resistant wood flooring can stand up to everyday use. In comparison to solid hardwood, the new waterproof hardwood floors will be moisture resistant and won’t swell if they get wet. You can use a combination of a Swiffer mop, micro mop, vacuum, broom, or wet Swifter to clean. Water will not enter waterproof hardwood flooring and cause it to swell, or discolor over time, as solid wood floors may.
It is not recommended to leave your waterproof hardwood floor soaking in water for days. If you experienced a flood, water could eventually work around your floor toward and under the baseboard and damage the subfloor underneath or cause problems. But in general, if you keep your floor dry for the most part, and wipe up spills within 24 to 48 hours, it will resist spills that would normally cause water damage.
Beyond Hardwood: Other Waterproof Flooring Options?
If you’re seeking the look of solid hardwood with added durability and a waterproof design, engineered hardwood might be your number one choice. But you can also consider laminate or luxury vinyl tile (LVT) for added durability, especially in basements, kitchens, mudrooms, and full bathrooms. Many styles of LVT also look just like solid wood and stone. You can choose from planks or tiles to achieve any look you’d like. These products work great in full bathrooms even with bathtubs. Steam from your shower won’t damage these floors. This type of flooring is also perfect for a three-season room with no heat.
Whether you’re looking for an expert window company, need new waterproof durable flooring for your active home, or you’re completing a whole home renovation requiring flooring, windows, and more, trust the experts at Tom Adams. Contact us today for a free estimate.
