Best flooring that is resistant to water damage?
flooring - What type of subfloor will stand up to water in a bathroom? - Home Improvement Stack Exchange
A customer wants a waterproof bathroom floor. Retailer recommended this product. Should I install this? I usually use Lifeproof.
Laminate flooring for bathroom?
Which waterproof vinyl plank flooring is the best selling?
What are some popular brands of waterproof vinyl plank flooring?
How do I install vinyl plank flooring?
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Few years back my partner and I bought a fixer-upper and we've been slowly fixing it up. Unfortunately there are a lot of "landlord specials" including the "new" flooring in the upstairs than includes poorly cut and improperly installed vynl planks and these like rubber tiles that aren't attached in any manner at all (can easily pull them up).
Anyway, as we are looking at flooring options I want something that is very water resistant. We have a number of elderly pets and tend to adopt animals with higher needs that often means more bathroom accidents on the floor. The cheep vynl flooring never stood a chance and I can't wait to get rid of it...
What is the best very water resistant floor that doesn't look terrible but also won't cost a fortune?
First of all, you cannot assume that any flooring you install is going to be "waterproof". That is an impossible standard in home construction, so the solution is to PREVENT water from getting to the floor surface and also to ACCOMMODATE any that does get there.
That being said, you should choose a flooring material that doesn't degrade when wet. Tile is one choice, vinyl flooring is another, also some engineered flooring products. Check with your local supplier for some good wet-location choices.
To prevent water from getting to the floor in the first place you want to fix the problem with your shower/bathtub so that the water is not able to be sprayed or splashed on it. Obviously shower curtains are one cheap solution but it seems in your case that's not being used. How about a surround that keeps the water contained in the shower/tub?
Finally as far as your underlayment, use a product that can withstand long-term water exposure. Cement-based backer board is a commonly used product for this application.
I've had lots of problems in rental properties with tile floors over "waterproof" wood-based subfloors (either "waterproof" plywood or "waterproof" particle board).
These subfloors always flex a little bit under load, which inevitably ends up cracking joints between tiles. Sometimes cracks are impossible to see. Then water seeps below the tiles and degrades thinset mortar and subfloor. Eventually tiles come loose. Even if the wooden subfloor is protected by a waterproof membrane, the subfloor might hold but the thinset will eventually fail if it stays soaked.
I've switched to vinyl flooring. It's easy to install, it comes in a roll, just put it down on the floor... and it is in one piece and watertight. Add silicone caulk on the edges and that's it. Silicone caulk must be checked for mold or degradation once in a while, but problems are easy to spot unlike hairline cracks in tile joints.
It is also more comfortable than tile, as it feels warm to naked feet. That's a nice perk.
If you don't want to use vinyl and you really want to use tiles, then I'd recommend using epoxy grout. It is awesome also for wet areas around showers and bathtubs. Unlike cement-based grout, it is non-porous, so if it gets moldy, it is very easy to clean. Also it's much harder to crack.
The edge by the tub is actually breaking in due to it being wet.
Looks like you have to really check the subfloor for rot. A full bathtub is very heavy, it needs a solid support. Also rotten wood will flex a lot and this will crack all the joints, and tear silicone caulk in the corners.
My question is, what type of wood should I use for a bathroom sub floor
If you use vinyl which is flexible and does not crack... then the floor is allowed to flex a bit. I'd go with 22mm marine plywood.
If you glue the vinyl to the subfloor, DO NOT put glue all the way to the edges! Leave about 100mm (4") unglued. So when you walk on the floor and it flexes, the subfloor will move down a bit, but it won't pull the vinyl down, so it will stay attached to the silicone corner joint and not tear it off.
If you take your current subfloor out, check under the tub for rot, also check the drain and all the fittings and joints while you're in there.
and should I coat it with waterproof sealer?
Not 100% necessary if you use vinyl floor, although it can't hurt. You should use plywood or OSB rated for "outdoors" or "marine" which means it's made with waterproof glue.