Even with a welcome mat by the door for you and your guests to wipe off wet shoes, you can’t completely avoid wet spots around the house. Similarly, kitchen spills are inevitable. When browsing options at a flooring store, choose materials that won’t warp, splinter, or stain when exposed to moisture. To narrow your search, consider the below options. 

What Flooring Should You Install to Avoid Water Damage?

1. Sheet Vinyl

Vinyl flooring contains PVC and other materials with waterproof properties. Instead of tiles or interlocking planks, consider installing sheet vinyl. The lack of seams boosts the flooring’s ability to provide a durable barrier to keep moisture away from the subfloor.

As vinyl can mimic the look of stone, brick, or hardwood flooring, it’s an attractive option for kitchens, dining areas, and other highly-trafficked living spaces.

2. Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile performs well in wet areas, which is why it’s often installed in home bathrooms. The denseness of the fine clay, plus the process of firing it in a kiln, helps porcelain repel water. Tiles can also be treated with glass glazes for an added layer of protection.

However, you need to replenish the grout between the tiles regularly. Otherwise, water could seep underneath the porcelain and corrode the adhesive backing. 

3. Laminate

As long as you eliminate wet spots as soon as they happen, laminate flooring performs well in areas that are infrequently damp. Cleaning up spills quickly will stop moisture from seeping into the fiberboard core. As laminate isn’t as porous as wood, consider installing it in bedrooms, upstairs hallways, and anywhere else you’d otherwise install hardwood flooring.  

To browse a wide selection of the above options, contact A-1 Linoleum & Carpet Inc. in Lincoln, NE. In business since 1990, the family-owned-and-operated flooring store sells and installs tile, vinyl, carpet, laminate, and hardwood floors. Visit them online to see pictures of their offerings. Call (402) 464-3125 to schedule a consultation and hear about their warranties. After the appointment, leave a review for the flooring store on Facebook.