Many flooring materials are prone to mold, mildew, and rot. Such materials may be good for bedrooms, but they aren’t the best choice for areas like kitchens, bathrooms, or hallways.
In such locations, many homeowners want waterproof flooring that guarantees durability and functionality.
Waterproof Flooring Average Cost
Since the total cost of waterproof flooring depends on several factors, it’s hard to discuss the average price.
In addition to the type of material used, the size of the project, layout, labor, and complexity are vital in determining the price.
The average cost of waterproof floors ranges between $1.30 and $109 per square foot.
Homeowners who want more affordable waterproof flooring options can choose sheet vinyl, engineered wood, or cheaper ceramic tiles.
High-end waterproof flooring options include luxury vinyl, stone, and custom tiles.
Waterproof Flooring Cost Breakdown
As mentioned, different factors play a role in the final cost of waterproof flooring. Since the material is one of the most important factors, let’s discuss it first.
One of the best waterproof flooring options in terms of material is tiles.
The national average cost of installing porcelain and ceramic tiles ranges between $840 and $2,850.
Porcelain tiles cost $6.50 and $43 per square foot, while ceramic tiles cost between $3.50 and $109.
Another excellent waterproof flooring option is sheet vinyl.
The average price of vinyl flooring is between $1.30 and $19 per square foot. Luxury vinyl flooring costs up to four times the price of sheet vinyl.
Stone is also waterproof and can be a great flooring option, but it’s on the expensive side. A square foot of stone flooring costs $6-$24.
Many homeowners go for water-resistant and waterproof engineered wood flooring. This type of flooring costs between $3 and $5.50 per square foot.
| Material | Price per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Tiles | $3.50-$109 |
| Vinyl | $1.30-$19 |
| Stone | $6-$24 |
| Engineered Wood | $3-$5.50 |
Labor is also an important part of the final cost of waterproof flooring.
The final price depends on not only the size and complexity of the project and the required completion time but also the chosen material.
For example, labor costs for installing vinyl flooring start at around $1 per square foot, while custom tiles can cost more than $110 per square foot.
On average, flooring installers charge $57-$114 per hour.
Did you know? While larger projects cost more in total, it’s often possible to get a good deal on the price per square foot. Small projects tend to be more expensive per square foot because the installers usually have a minimum call-out fee.
Keep in mind that additional factors can affect the total cost of installing waterproof flooring.
For example, if there’s an issue with the subfloor, you’ll need to replace it before installing the flooring. Common subfloor problems involve broken floorboards or water damage.
Replacing the subfloor costs between $1.80-$2.30 per square foot.
Another common problem is damaged underlayment, the layer of thin material between the floor and subfloor that keeps the moisture out and absorbs sounds.
Installing underlayment costs between $3.20-$5.00 per square foot.
If you want to hire a contractor to remove your old flooring, you’ll need to pay between $0.80 and $5.70 per square foot.
Moreover, if you want to hire someone to remove your furniture, it will cost you $57-$114 per hour.
Popular Waterproof Flooring Options
Below we go through five popular waterproof or water resistant flooring options along with an explanation of what they are, their pros, cons, and costs.
AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood
AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood is an exclusive water-resistant flooring option made of genuine hardwood with a limestone core.
The special UV-cured coating reinforced with quartz makes this material water-resistant and perfect for any area in your home, including bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways.
AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood can resist moisture spills for up to 24 hours.
So, if you spill something on your floor, you don’t have to rush to clean it up and worry about damaging the material.
Another benefit of this exceptional flooring option is that there’s no need for acclimation – the conditioning of hardwood floor boards so that their moisture content matches that of the environment.
This process isn’t necessary with AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood, making installation much quicker.
Plus, if you’re installing this type of flooring on an area of less than 4,000 square feet, there’s no need to use transition molding.
AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood comes in a wide range of colors and designs. Every design has a unique appeal, and you can choose the one that matches your décor.
Like other flooring options, AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood has a few disadvantages.
The most significant one is that it’s water-resistant for up to 24 hours only.
Numerous other flooring options offer longer water resistance, which is worth considering.
The price of AquaGuard® Engineered Hardwood ranges between $3.80 and $5.10 per square foot.
AquaGuard® Bamboo
Many homeowners love the appearance of bamboo flooring but decide against it because it doesn’t do well if frequently wet.
Thanks to AquaGuard® Bamboo, you can have the best of both worlds and enjoy the beauty of bamboo flooring without compromising on water resistance.
AquaGuard® Bamboo features a high-density composite core and a stranded bamboo veneer.
The multi-layer aluminum oxide coating is the finishing touch that keeps the flooring water-resistant for up to 30 hours.
This bamboo flooring can be installed on up to 1,600 square feet without transition molding.
Thanks to the high-quality coating, AquaGuard® Bamboo is child-friendly, pet-friendly, and can be used in areas with heavy traffic.
The flooring is eco-friendly and perfectly safe for indoor use, which is confirmed by the GreenGuard Gold certificate.
Since AquaGuard® Bamboo flooring is manufactured in different designs and colors, you can be sure you’ll find whatever you’re looking for.
One important potential drawback to keep in mind is that this flooring can’t be refinished.
A square foot of AquaGuard® Bamboo costs between $3.60 and $4.40.
Did you know? Although many people believe bamboo is a type of tree, this plant belongs to the grass family.
NuCore® Waterproof Flooring
If you want the appearance of real wood flooring with waterproof properties, NuCore® Waterproof Floor may be the right choice.
NuCore® is 100% waterproof and can be installed in any area of your home, including bathrooms and kitchens.
NuCore® Waterproof Flooring is comprised of several layers.
The first layer is natural hypoallergenic backing, resistant to mold, mildew, and sound.
The second one is a thick, rigid, 100% waterproof core, while the third is premium luxury vinyl.
The final touch is the anti-microbial, scratch- and stain-resistant layer that makes this flooring option so durable and functional.
NuCore® Waterproof Flooring doesn’t require acclimation and features a simple drop-and-lock installation.
You can choose whether you want a cork underlayment that makes the floor quieter and warmer.
While NuCore® Waterproof Flooring is waterproof, it’s not scratch-proof.
Many people who have it installed stated this type of flooring is relatively easy to scratch, which can be a significant drawback.
The price of NuCore® Waterproof Flooring ranges between $2.40 and $4.80 per square foot.
DuraLux® Waterproof Luxury Vinyl
DuraLux® Waterproof Luxury Vinyl is 100% waterproof and dent-, scratch-, and stain-resistant, thanks to the rigid core and a special protective layer.
This flooring option also features a built-in sound-reducing underlayment, making it perfect for areas with heavy traffic.
Homeowners can use DuraLux® Waterproof Luxury Vinyl in any room, even sunrooms and balconies, without being afraid it will get damaged due to moisture.
Thanks to the easy installation design, setting up this flooring option doesn’t require special tools or glue, which is another significant benefit.
There’s also no need for acclimation, making the installation process even quicker.
DuraLux® Waterproof Luxury Vinyl comes in dozens of designs, some of which resemble wood and tiles.
Homeowners will have no problem finding a design that blends in perfectly with the room they’re redesigning.
While DuraLux® Waterproof Luxury Vinyl is advertised as dent-resistant, some homeowners have stated their flooring was damaged after only a few months. Since the homeowners didn’t explain how that happened, we can’t say whether this is a disadvantage you should keep in mind.
The price of DuraLux® Waterproof Luxury Vinyl varies between $1.40 and $3.40 per square foot.
HydroShield®
HydroShield® is a wood-based laminate with water-resistant properties.
It looks and feels just like genuine hardwood and can be used in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and other moisture-prone areas.
Since the flooring is resistant to stains, it’s perfectly suitable for families with small children and pets.
HydroShield® flooring has several layers.
The bottom one is designed to provide exceptional dimensional stability, while the second layer features a moisture-resistant coating.
The third top layer is a high-density wood-based core covered with a protective coating that guarantees lifetime residential wear resistance.
This flooring option offers water resistance for up to 24 hours.
It’s very easy to maintain since you’ll only need a wet mop to keep it spotless. HydroShield® comes with a lifetime residential warranty which confirms its quality and durability.
While HydroShield® is water-resistant, the flooring isn’t waterproof, which some may consider a disadvantage.
If you want to purchase HydroShield®, you’ll need between $1.95 and $2.50 per square foot, depending on the chosen design.
Organic vs Inorganic Materials
Before we discuss which materials are better if you want waterproof or water-resistant flooring, we need to explain what “organic” and “inorganic” mean in this context.
When we use “organic” to describe a flooring material, we usually mean a plant-based material like wood, bamboo, or hardwood.
Inorganic flooring is made from materials like plastic.
Since organic materials tend to decompose when exposed to moisture, they can quickly become a breeding environment for mold, mildew, and bacteria.
This is why organic materials aren’t the best choice for moisture-prone areas in your home like bathrooms or kitchens.
In moisture prone areas, inorganic flooring materials are a much better option.
One exception to the rule is carpeting. Most carpets (except those made of wool or cotton) are synthetic, i.e., inorganic.
However, carpets retain moisture, which is why they are a poor choice for wet locations.
Pro Tip: Keep in mind that not everything is black and white. Numerous flooring options feature both organic and inorganic materials. The ratio between the two determines how water-resistant or waterproof the flooring is.
For example, bamboo is an organic material. However, bamboo flooring contains a lot of glue and synthetic resin, making it a great choice for wet areas.
What Are The Different Types Of Waterproof Flooring?
Let’s first explain the difference between waterproof and water-resistant flooring.
Waterproof floors are made of materials that repel liquid for long periods without any signs of damage.
Such flooring can handle both small spills and bigger accidents like flooding.
Water-resistant flooring also repels liquid, but only for a certain period, usually between 24 and 30 hours.
After this period, the water resistant flooring can become damaged due to moisture.
Moreover, water-resistant flooring isn’t designed to handle large amounts of water.
Most ceramic and porcelain tiles and vinyl flooring options are waterproof.
Nowadays, technological advances allow manufacturers to create waterproof flooring made of organic materials.
You can find bamboo or hardwood flooring with waterproof properties.
What Flooring Is Truly Waterproof?
Most vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof.
The same goes for tiles, which are a classic when it comes to waterproof flooring and design.
While these two materials are referred to as waterproof, you can find other, more unusual options on the market, like bamboo or hardwood. Such materials are often covered with a special protective layer that makes them waterproof.
Is There 100% Waterproof Flooring?
Yes! Besides vinyl and tiles – the standard waterproof flooring options – homeowners can now choose bamboo, hardwood, and even laminate flooring with waterproof properties.
Be careful not to confuse waterproof with water-resistant when purchasing flooring.
Is Vinyl Flooring 100% Waterproof?
Most vinyl floors like luxury vinyl and luxury vinyl plank floors are 100% waterproof.
However, this isn’t universal. You can come across vinyl flooring that isn’t waterproof but water-resistant.
Therefore, it’s vital to read the label carefully before purchasing flooring.
What Is The Best Waterproof Floor?
Answering this question is impossible because it depends on the individual’s preferences.
Some prefer classic tiles, while others like bamboo, laminate, or hardwood.
Pro Tip: Whatever you choose, remember that materials are either waterproof or not waterproof; there’s no in-between. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure you get what you’re looking for.
Exploring Waterproof Flooring
Contrary to popular belief, finding 100% waterproof floors is possible.
Such flooring can handle large amounts of water without fading or warping.
If you want to purchase a floor that is waterproof, be careful not to confuse it with water-resistant options. Such flooring materials can handle only small amounts of water for a short period.
