Is there such a thing as waterproof Laminate Flooring? Some companies claim to sell just that – even offering a twenty or twenty-five-year guarantee on it staying watertight.

But does it work? Is it safe to put laminate in an area of your home that’s likely to get very wet?

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is usually made up of four layers. A high-density fiberboard makes up the middle layer/core which is the thickest part with a balancing paper on the bottom. The fiberboard is covered with decorative paper and finally, it is laminated.

Laminate flooring is popular for lots of reasons some of which I have listed below. We have laminate throughout our downstairs and it works well.

• Budget-Friendly
• Easy to install yourself
• Can be reused several times
• Doesn’t scratch unlike real wood flooring
• Comes in a wide range of colours and designs
• Lasts for many years
• Can be used in a commercial setting
• The click system means no glue is required

One thing laminate flooring doesn’t like, however, is water.

Small spills and drips are fine provided they are cleared up quickly, but anything bigger like a leaky pipe or freezer that’s broken down can cause serious damage.

This is why typically laminate flooring is not recommended for kitchens, utility rooms and bathrooms as the risk of it getting damaged is too high.

Waterproof Laminate Flooring

While laminate flooring has a wide range of positive attributes, one thing it lacks is being completely waterproof.

While it can handle small amounts of water, such as spills and being mopped with a well-wrung-out mop, large amounts of water can seep through and damage the laminate.

Because laminate clicks together, it is very difficult to create a seal between the truly impenetrable pieces.

Once damaged, laminate flooring cannot be repaired, so will need replacing. If you don’t have or are unable to find laminate flooring that is a match, you may have to replace the whole floor.

Water damage causes laminate to ‘bubble’, damage that will be pretty noticeable.

This is why Laminate flooring is not recommended for bathrooms, as water damage is likely to be inevitable, especially if you have young children who like to splash about. I

f you’d like to see some recommended types of bathroom flooring, see this post.

I think the key is to look at the term ‘waterproof’ compared with ‘water-resistant’.

Water-resistant generally means that the laminate will be okay if any water spilt on it is quickly dried or mopped up.

Continual spillages, such as you might get in a bathroom are likely to cause damage to the high-density fibreboard in the middle of the laminate.

Some companies have developed types of laminate that are made from PVC rather than fiberboard and these are much more likely to be truly waterproof.

However, these types of laminate are rarer and therefore there are fewer styles and designs to choose from.

What To Do If Laminate Flooring Gets Wet

If your laminate flooring does get wet there are a few things you can do to make sure you minimize the damage

• Mop up any spills as quickly as possible to avoid the laminate becoming waterlogged.

• Only ever mop laminate with a well wrung-out mop

• For larger spills, try using a vacuum with a suction function to suck up the water as quickly as possible

• Remember small areas of laminate are easy to replace provided you have boards in the same colour and style

Should I choose laminate flooring for the kitchen or bathroom?

I wouldn’t choose laminate, even waterproof or water-resistant laminate for my kitchen or bathroom. For me, the risk is just too high when many alternative flooring options will work well and not potentially cause problems and additional costs further down the line.

While using tiles may be slightly more expensive, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that they won’t become water-damaged should your washing machine leak or if your bathroom burst a pipe.

For a more budget-friendly option, vinyl is a great choice, especially for bathrooms as it’s completely waterproof and easy to mop.