Are LVT and vinyl waterproof?

Life can get messy sometimes, so you need a flooring that’s up to the challenge. Step forward luxury vinyl, or LVT as it’s also known. We call it a ‘wonder floor’ because it really is jaw-droppingly amazing. It ticks all the boxes - it’s strong, durable, and looks just like real wood or stone. But there’s a question we frequently get asked: is LVT waterproof? And is vinyl waterproof too?

We’re going to look at the waterproofness of luxury vinyl and sheet vinyl and delve into the key differences between water resistant and waterproof flooring. We’ll offer advice on how to dry up water under vinyl flooring as well as suggest what rooms are best for luxury vinyl or vinyl.

In this guide:

• The difference between waterproof and water resistant flooring
• Is LVT waterproof?
• Is vinyl waterproof?
• How to repair water damaged vinyl flooring
• How to remove water stains from vinyl flooring
• Best rooms for luxury vinyl and vinyl

The difference between waterproof and water resistant flooring

People often think that waterproof and water resistant flooring are the same thing, but there’s a key difference. Waterproof flooring can handle continuous exposure to water or moisture, whereas water resistant flooring has a layer of protection against water and moisture that’s designed to cope with spills and splashes. This means any puddles on the surface of water resistant flooring need to be wiped up as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might find yourself looking at discoloured vinyl and stressing about how to remove water stains from vinyl flooring.

Is LVT flooring waterproof?

No flooring is completely waterproof, but luxury vinyl is very close. LVT is made from multiple layers of highly dense PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or SPC (stone polymer composite) with a PU (polyurethane) coating which does a pretty good job of repelling water. However, because luxury vinyl is laid in planks or tiles, there are teeny tiny gaps between the boards, and this is where water could seep through and damage the subfloor below. Compared to other plank flooring like engineered wood and most laminates, LVT offers a higher level of water resistance.

Is vinyl waterproof?

Vinyl flooring can be used for splash-prone rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms, but it’s classed as water resistant because water could get in along the edges of the vinyl and damage it. Using a water resistant silicone sealant where the vinyl meets the skirting boards can help to prevent water getting in, but that still doesn’t make it completely waterproof.

How to repair water damaged vinyl flooring

You’ve just noticed a water leak in your kitchen, and who knows how long it’s been there? With vinyl flooring, water damage might not be visible for a while. Sometimes it might only appear after the leak has stopped and the water has dried up. Here’s what happens if water gets under vinyl flooring and the signs of water damage to look out for:

Mould can start forming in as little as 24 hours, so you need to act quickly! Here’s what to do if water gets under vinyl flooring:

1. Find and fix the water leak

Locate where the leak is coming from and stop it if possible. This might mean draining dishwashers or washing machines and turning your water off at the stopcock. If in doubt, always call on a professional plumber.

2. Get rid of any standing water

In extreme cases such as water damage caused by flooding, you might need to use a wet vacuum or pump to remove any water. If there’s not too much water to deal with, use towels to soak it up.

3. Dry out the room

Open the windows to ventilate the room and start drying the floor out as soon as possible. Use fans or dehumidifiers to get rid of the excess moisture. Increasing the room temperature by a couple of degrees can also help to speed up the drying process, but avoid making the room too hot as extreme temperature changes can cause the floor to buckle or warp.

4. Remove and replace damaged vinyl

If you’ve got luxury vinyl and your leak is localised, you might get lucky and be able to remove a few damaged planks, then leave the subfloor to thoroughly dry out and replace the planks afterwards. However, if your flooring has been wet for more than 48 hours or you have sheet vinyl, then it’s likely that you’ll need to remove and replace the whole floor.

5. Check the subfloor

It’s so important to make sure your subfloor is completely dry and in good condition before replacing your flooring, otherwise the same issues will keep reappearing. Learn how to spot the signs that your subfloor needs replacing with our handy guide, and book a free home visit if you’d like one of our floorologists to pop round to assess your subfloor and measure up for new flooring.

How to remove water stains from vinyl flooring

Water marks can appear on vinyl flooring when water is left to sit on the surface for a long time. These can be caused by wet umbrellas left in the hallway or a dripping air conditioner unit. The mineral deposits in the water tend to leave behind a chalky white residue on your beautiful floor.

Prevention is always better than cure so make sure you mop up any pools of water immediately or protect the floor with non-rubber-backed mats. However, if it’s already too late, here’s how to get rid of water stains on vinyl flooring:

1. Use a pH neutral cleaner made for LVT or vinyl flooring.
2. Spray it onto the water stain.
3. Allow to sit for a few minutes.
4. Use a non-abrasive scouring pad to scrub the stain away.
5. Wipe away any cleaning residue with a lightly damp cloth.
6. Dry thoroughly using a microfibre cloth.

• Tapi Top Tip - Before tackling the water stain, we’d recommend testing the cleaner on a spare vinyl plank or a hidden corner of your sheet vinyl first.

Another type of water stain is when a milky white patch appears where water has been trapped underneath an object, such as a potted plant. You can fix this easily by airing out the floor and the LVT or vinyl should return to its original appearance. 

Best rooms for luxury vinyl and vinyl

Offering fantastic durability in realistic wood and stone-effect designs, luxury vinyl is a top choice for every room in the house. And if you love the look of porcelain or ceramic tiles but want something a bit cheaper, go for vinyl. As both flooring types are water resistant, they’re ideal for use in moisture-prone areas like a bathroom, utility room, or kitchen.

Bathroom

Swap cold tiles for lovely and comfortable bathroom vinyl. Vinyl can give you the look of a real tiled floor for a fraction of the cost, plus it’s much easier to keep clean. Its water and moisture resistance means you can relax when it comes to taking splashy baths or steamy showers.

Kitchen

Kitchens are often the heart of the home, so your kitchen flooring needs to hold up to daily wear and tear. Our luxury vinyl flooring comes with a very long wear guarantee of around 20 years – and Karndean luxury vinyl even offers a lifetime wear guarantee! Choose from elegant wooden plank designs or modern stone tiles for a stylish kitchen floor that’s also pretty tough.

Utility Room

With damp clothes hanging up and tumble driers working overtime, the utility room is often a very humid space. Both luxury vinyl and vinyl allow you to get your dream utility room without compromising on style. Choose from gorgeous Victorian tile vinyl or wood-effect herringbone luxury vinyl, safe in the knowledge that they’re water resistant.

Hallway

Luxury vinyl is the best choice for hallway flooring. As the entrance to your home, it’s busy and is likely to get messy, so you need a flooring that’s tough and easy to keep clean. It’s also the room all your guests will see, so it needs to have that wow-factor. LVT is definitely up to the job!

Getting your vinyl and luxury vinyl flooring installed professionally is the best way to ensure maximum water resistance. We can arrange fitting with a team of independent fitters – it’s just one of the many flooring services we offer at Tapi.

If you’d like to explore our water resistant flooring options, head to your nearest Tapi store where our friendly floorologists will show you the full collection and share their expertise. You can also book a free home visit and we’ll pop round with water resistant samples that you can try out in your own home.

We’ve got lots more helpful flooring guides too over on the Ideas Hub, including the pros and cons of laminate and LVT.