Understanding Waterproof Flooring in Bakersfield, CA
Waterproof options have become extremely popular in the flooring market. But there are many different waterproof flooring options and issues to consider as you go about your search for the ideal flooring solution for your property.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the main categories of waterproof flooring you’ll have access to when working with a flooring contractor in Bakersfield, CA.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)
LVP flooring was the very first type of luxury vinyl flooring to be introduced as waterproof. It has been used in commercial settings for quite some time, but moved into the residential market relatively recently. It’s made with PVC with a picture laminated on top, and is then coated with a layer of urethane to protect it against every usage and foot traffic. In most cases, this flooring is up to four millimeters think, and it can be beneficial to glue it down. The floor must be level and well-prepped before it’s placed down. If placed down on top of concrete, it can be beneficial to install a vapor barrier underlayment before placing down the actual floor.
The primary disadvantage of this type of flooring is that any imperfections in the underlying floor will show up through the vinyl. There are some LVPs that are designed for floating, but gluing is beneficial whenever possible, as floated products are prone to gapping.
Wood plastic composite (WPC)
WPC flooring was designed to reduce the need for floor prep before the installation of the flooring. It is generally thicker and more rigid, and is installed to float over the top of an existing floor surface. There are four main layers to this type of flooring: underlayment, a WPC rigid board, a layer with a vinyl design then a protective layer similar to what’s on the top of LVP flooring.
The vinyl design and protective layer are virtually the same as what you get in LVP. The rigid board layer, however, is something different. The layer is often made with wood pulp, plastic and various binders, and this is where the locking mechanism is cut into place.
The underlayment, meanwhile, can be either cork or foam, and can be either attached to the boards or come in separate rolls. The idea of this layer is to keep the floor from slipping around, since it’s floating.
The primary drawback of this type of flooring is that the wood pulp makes it vulnerable to temperature changes and direct sunlight.
Stone, plastic and composite (SPC)
This is the newest type of waterproof flooring, and it’s very similar to WPC. The primary difference between the two is that SPC uses stone dust instead of wood pulp, which takes out any need to acclimate the flooring before installing it in its room. This product is even more rigid than the WPC flooring.
For more information about your options for waterproof flooring in Bakersfield, CA, we encourage you to contact the flooring contractors at All American Carpet Inc. today. We’ll be happy to help you select a floor that will work best in your home.
Categorised in: Flooring, Waterproof Flooring