How to Make Laminate Flooring Waterproof?

Is laminate flooring waterproof? At present, there are many popular laminate flooring brands on the market, and the options are great. But when choosing, we must pay special attention to the waterproof and environmental performance of the floor.

Traditional solid wood flooring is easy to absorb moisture and is easy to swell, bow and deform due to the influence of climate. Both the surface layer and the bottom layer of the composite floor are waterproof, but if the base material high-density board has poor waterproof performance, similar problems will also occur. For waterproof performance, customers can get results in a short time through a simple test of boiling water immersion when choosing the floor.

Strictly speaking, the waterproof performance of composite wood floors is relatively poor. Water is a natural enemy to the floor, and no floor can withstand blisters. It can be said that so far, there is no real waterproof floor, as is the composite wood floor. Generally laminate flooring is not waterproof, the so-called waterproof laminate flooring is to add a layer of wax on the tongue! There is no real waterproof floor.

Water resistance is reflected by the index of water absorption thickness expansion rate. If the index value is high, the water resistance is poor, that is, it will easily cause dimensional changes in a humid environment. Don't listen to misleading such as waterproof flooring. Because there are only moisture-proof floors on the market, there are no waterproof wood flooring and waterproof laminate flooring.

It is best to wax the joints after the laminate plank flooring is laid. It will have a certain waterproof effect. If water enters the floor, it will be difficult to drain. Although the bottom layer of the composite wood floor has the functions of waterproof and moisture-proof, it is not suitable for use in places such as toilets and bathrooms that are kept in a wet state for a long time. Generally speaking, for bathroom laminate flooring and kitchen laminate flooring, once there is water on the floor, it must be mopped with a microfiber mop in time.

Waterproof Ways of Laminate Flooring

1. Use polyurethane as top coat

Installing waterproof ground is the most effective way to protect laminate vinyl plank from water damage. The resin layer of laminate flooring is very thin. The best application of polyurethane is to apply the layers sequentially by mop. The number of layers to be applied depends on the floor type and paint brand.

2. Sealing and locking system

If not sealed, the gap where the two boards meet may increase the water damage rate of laminate flooring. The advantage of floor sealant is that it does not completely stick to these gaps.

3. Use chalk to lengthen the gap

When it comes to laminate flooring, extension joints are usually the most vulnerable to water damage. No matter how small these gaps are, spills and leaks will accumulate and eventually cause damage to the laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring needs a lot of time to expand and crack. Prior to this, it is beneficial to take the necessary measures to protect the floor.

Reference:

Hardwood Design Centre, Making Laminate Flooring Waterproof.