Water is often the bane of a floor’s existence. No matter whether it is hardwood or a concrete floor, a simple spill left there for too long or some other liquids can easily cause your floors to warp and become uneven.
The solution? Either a waterproof finish or a waterproof floor. Both solutions, however, require you to choose between a number of different products and materials. Let’s explore these solutions to help you figure out what’s best for your situation.
Floors
Tile floors are particularly effective when it comes to staying safe from the effects of water. Paired with natural stone, these two floors are ideal for kitchen and bathroom specifications, where water and moisture are always present.
Another relatively waterproof flooring solution is vinyl. Reputable providers like Dex-o-Tex can help you find the right solution. Vinyl, in this case, is a form of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a thermoplastic polymer that is known for its extensive use in plumbing.
Concrete is, at the very least, water resistant – but with time it does wear down, which is why coatings are necessary. If you don’t have the option of concrete floors, you need the right coating to take care of the job. Different floors need different kinds of coating – laminate has other needs than wood, and not every floor can take on a solid thick layer of epoxy.
Coatings
Coatings come in a lot of shapes and forms. The most common and powerful form of waterproof coating is epoxy. Epoxy, unlike vinyl, is a thermosetting resin. Thermosetting is different than thermoplastic – it means that instead of allowing the plastic to melt again once it’s heated too much, thermosetting resins are basically superheated, hardened through cooling, and that’s it. They won’t be melted through reheating, unlike thermoplastic types of plastic.
Aside from epoxy coatings, there are polyurethane coatings that aren’t quite as resistant, but easy to apply – all you need is some time and a paint roller. As explained by Concrete Network, they become rubbery coatings. Remove and refresh the coating twice a year, and you’ll be good to go.
