Is vinyl flooring waterproof?
Water puddles are present on a dark wood-look vinyl floor
When it comes to choosing a new flooring option for your bathroom, vinyl flooring is often recommended. Many blog articles and shops claim that vinyl flooring is perfect for bathrooms because it's waterproof or even water-resistant. But is this true? And what makes vinyl flooring waterproof, so you can use it in your bathroom with confidence?
In this post, we'll explain whether vinyl is waterproof, which types of flooring are ideal for wet areas, and what you should consider when installing it in the bathroom.
Various vinyl floors with wood and stone look
Whether vinyl flooring is waterproof depends on the product type. It's common to read in blog posts about the advantages of vinyl flooring, stating that it's waterproof. This assessment is not entirely false, but it should be taken with caution when selecting the right vinyl flooring for your bathroom and kitchen. Not all flooring is constructed the same, and different installation methods affect the waterproofness of the floor.
To determine if your flooring is waterproof, you should consider the following questions:
1. How is your vinyl flooring installed? Is it glued down or click-lock, or have you opted for a self-adhesive or loose-lay version?
2. Does your vinyl flooring have a reinforced core inside? In that case, you might have chosen an HDF or rigid vinyl.
3. Do you expect high exposure to water? For example, if children are taking a "dive" in the bathtub.
4. What does the manufacturer say? Is there a specific recommendation for use in wet areas?
It's important to remember that very few flooring options are happy with standing water. Even on water-resistant vinyl floors, larger puddles should be promptly wiped away. When it comes to the question of whether vinyl is waterproof, it typically pertains to the typical household amounts of liquid. Knocked-over carafes, playful children in the bathtub, or watering cans are potential sources of danger for a water-sensitive floor. Whether your vinyl can withstand a true deluge is another matter. We recommend checking with the manufacturer for information on the water resistance of your flooring. Often, they provide this information in technical specifications or installation instructions.
Spilled glass of water on a grey vinyl floor, a wet black umbrella, and two children in a bathtub. Spilt water, wet umbrellas, and playful children in the bathtub are everyday challenges for vinyl flooring.
What makes your vinyl flooring waterproof?
When considering whether vinyl is waterproof, the key is to prevent water from seeping through the floor. Weak points, as with outdoor clothing, are often not the material itself but the interfaces: in the case of flooring, these are the joints between individual vinyl planks and tiles. The vinyl material itself is water-resistant. However, unlike PVC floor rolls, vinyl tiles or planks, due to their modularity, cannot create a completely joint-free surface, which poses the risk of water getting between the joints. While vinyl itself doesn't mould, moisture under the floor can lead to mild formation.
Therefore, you should choose flooring with connections strong or clever enough to prevent liquid from penetrating. Ideally, the vinyl floor is glued, as the adhesive forms a solid bond between the design surface and the subfloor.
In summary, vinyl flooring is water-resistant due to its material properties. However, vinyl flooring is not completely waterproof, depending on the product and installation. Water may seep between the joints and damage the vinyl floor covering.
Which vinyl flooring is "waterproof"?
As seen earlier, vinyl is inherently water-resistant. However, click-lock vinyl is not firmly glued to the subfloor, and the small gap between the subfloor and the vinyl floor can be a potential weak point. If water seeps between the click-lock connections, it can lead to mould formation. Generally, standard full vinyl with a click system can be installed in the bathroom without problems. It's important to wipe up puddles immediately and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for suitability in wet areas.
A modern bathroom with herringbone-patterned vinyl and a white tub.
Herringbone-patterned click vinyl, Gerflor Virtuo Rigid Acoustic 30 "1464 Blomma Light (EIR)," is perfect for a stylish, modern bathroom.
Click Vinyl in the Bathroom
If you want to click waterproof vinyl flooring, look for the manufacturer's recommendation for "suitability for wet areas." Manufacturers often develop their click vinyl floors with particularly secure click systems to prevent water infiltration. There is now a wide selection of click vinyl for wet areas, specially designed with wet environments in mind. While there is no 100% guarantee that water won't seep between the joints, standing water should generally be avoided. By the way, click vinyl can usually be glued if necessary.
Rigid vinyl & HDF vinyl in the bathroom: is it suitable?
In the case of click vinyl, there is another form known as multilayer vinyl. This type has a reinforcing core layer that increases dimensional stability and often allows installation on slightly uneven surfaces. HDF vinyl has a core made of pressed wood fibres, which can swell upon contact with moisture, making it not recommended for use in wet areas.
If you want to install click vinyl on tiles and renovate your bathroom, consider using rigid vinyl. The reinforcing core in this type is made of limestone or stone powder, preventing swelling. In addition, rigid click vinyl is less affected by temperature fluctuations, making it better suited for areas with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Is adhesive vinyl waterproof?
Most adhesive vinyl floors are generally suitable for installation in the bathroom. This vinyl flooring is waterproof, not just because of the material but also because full-surface adhesion typically prevents the infiltration of liquids. Correct installation is essential, and because preparing the subfloor for adhesive vinyl installation can be somewhat complex, installation is often carried out by a professional.
A bathroom with grey wood-look adhesive vinyl flooring. In front of a black bathtub is a wall with grey marble-look tiles. With proper professional installation, adhesive vinyl such as Gerflor Vinyl Trend 55 "0846 Swiss Oak Pearl" (18.4 x 121.9 cm) can be used in the bathroom without issues.
What about loose-lay vinyl and self-adhesive vinyl floors?
In addition to the adhesive and click vinyl, there are also special forms of vinyl flooring, such as self-adhesive and loose-lay vinyl flooring. Whether a vinyl floor is waterproof when installed using these innovative methods depends on the technical equipment. Self-adhesive vinyl flooring is usually more suitable for rooms with low traffic and may not be recommended for the bathroom.
The so-called loose-lay vinyl is installed without glue, using a special backing construction. There are now loose-lay vinyl floors suitable for heavily used commercial areas. To determine if your self-laying vinyl floor is waterproof and whether the manufacturer approves installation in the bathroom, refer to the technical specifications.
The key: Properly sealing expansion joints in the bathroom
Whether your vinyl flooring is waterproof, meaning it prevents water from entering through joints, also depends on the correct installation. If your vinyl flooring is not properly installed, it is your responsibility if the floor is damaged by moisture, even if it is labelled as suitable for wet areas by the manufacturer. This depends not only on the joints between individual vinyl tiles and planks but also on the design surface and the wall. When installing vinyl flooring, a so-called expansion joint is usually required to allow the thermoplastic material of vinyl to expand and contract.
This expansion joint is often filled with silicone to seal it waterproof. However, acrylic is a better choice to maintain the flexibility of the joint and the vinyl flooring. An alternative is to work with an elastic sealing cord that can then be sealed with silicone.
Conclusion
Whether vinyl flooring is waterproof is not a question of the material itself but of the product's construction. Vinyl material is inherently water-resistant, but water can seep between the joints if the flooring is not correctly installed or not equipped to handle moisture.
If you want to be sure about your choice, pay attention to the manufacturer's indications that label the vinyl design flooring as "suitable for wet areas" or "water-resistant." However, it should not be assumed that vinyl flooring is completely waterproof. Standing water should always be promptly wiped up. If the vinyl flooring is correctly installed and you have chosen a product with the appropriate designation, there should be no issues in wet areas.
We hope we can help you choose the right vinyl flooring, and we look forward to your visit to BRICOFLOR, the expert for walls and floors!
