This post may contain references or links to products from one or more partners of our parent company and/or subsidiaries of our parent company. For more information, visit this page.
March 5, 2021
Looking into waterproof vinyl flooring? We get it!
There are certain areas of the home that see a bit more splashing and spilling than others, and they require some additional planning. Bathrooms, kitchens, and mudroom flooring are at the top of this list—and unfortunately, you can’t put just any ol’ types of flooring in these rooms!
Enter waterproof vinyl flooring. This stuff comes with a ton of styles and perks, so you’re sure to find a look you love while taking advantage of the extra protection it offers.
But we know—some people hear the word vinyl and think grandma’s kitchen.
Take it from us: so much has changed in the waterproof vinyl flooring space. Today’s luxury vinyl floors are nothing like the sheet vinyl of yesteryear. The best vinyl plank flooring brands can mimic all types of wood flooring and some of the most beautiful types of tile around.
That’s why below, we’re going to be reviewing 12 of the best (or at least the most popular) waterproof vinyl flooring options on the market. And before that, we’ll make sure to cover all the different types of vinyl flooring out there and go over some waterproof vinyl flooring FAQs!
Table of Contents
You might be thinking: waterproof vinyl flooring? Aren’t all vinyl floors waterproof?
Well, yes… and no. All PVC flooring materials—that is to say vinyl flooring materials—are waterproof. But this only applies to the materials themselves. The way you install these materials has a huge impact on their waterproof qualities (or lack thereof). We’ll look into that in detail below.
Vinyl flooring comes in three main categories: LVP (luxury vinyl plank), LVT (luxury vinyl tile), and sheet vinyl.
LVP and LVT are essentially the exact same thing—a multi-layer vinyl floor that comes in pieces, just like wood planks or porcelain tiles. In fact, many people use the terms “LVP” and “LVT” interchangeably.
These luxury vinyl floors can have either a rigid or flexible core, and rigid-core luxury vinyl products are sometimes known as “EVP flooring”. We know, there are way too many acronyms in the world of waterproof vinyl flooring.
Let’s go over each of these floors in detail!
Perhaps the most popular waterproof vinyl flooring option is LVP, or luxury vinyl plank. And what makes luxury vinyl plank (LVP) different from luxury vinyl tile (LVT)? The way it looks!
Vinyl plank is a hardwood floor alternative—aka faux wood flooring. It comes in planks that look—and in many cases feel—just like authentic prefinished hardwood flooring. You can even use it to create different wood floor designs like mixed-width, herringbone, and chevron parquet flooring!
Vinyl tile, on the other hand, looks and feels like—you guessed it—tile!
If you like the look of wood, but you’re freaked out by wood flooring costs or the fact that even the best engineered wood flooring brands aren’t remotely waterproof, vinyl plank is a fantastic alternative.
Think of it this way: have you always wanted ebony flooring, but don’t know how to source it ethically? Or wanted hickory surfaces but without the, you know, disadvantages of hickory flooring? Maybe you want Douglas fir flooring but don’t want to stress the cost to refinish those hardwood floors?
Stop stressing—just get vinyl plank instead!
One of LVP’s biggest perks: it’s super easy to install, either as a do-it-yourself flooring project or for a professional installer (and to be honest, we’d recommend the latter).
Depending on the product, LVP can be glued down, loose-laid, or (most commonly) installed as click-together flooring to create a floating floor. What is a floating floor, exactly? It’s a floor that connects to itself using snap-lock grooves. Which means it doesn’t have to be attached to a subfloor!
Translation: the cost to install vinyl plank flooring is very affordable as waterproof vinyl floors go.
Because LVP can be installed in so many ways—and because it installs in pieces—it needs to be installed correctly. Otherwise, it can lose all of its waterproof vinyl flooring qualities!
Plus, one of the big disadvantages of floating floors is that, if they’re incorrectly installed, they can trap moisture between the subfloor or underlayment and the floor itself. And that’s a recipe for a bad time.
PS: wondering what subflooring is? It’s just the surface below your finished floor.
A lot of people confuse vinyl plank (LVP) with engineered wood or laminate flooring. And while they are similar in some ways, they are not the same types of flooring. Both engineered wood and laminate use organic materials in their construction, like wood pulp. And the best engineered wood flooring products are made entirely of real wood.
Yes, laminate and vinyl plank are both fantastic fake wood flooring options. But besides construction, you’ll find one major difference when comparing vinyl plank vs. laminate: one is waterproof, and the other isn’t!
Ok, ok—there are a few waterproof laminates like RevWood, but they’re not common. And yes, you can find some water-resistant wood flooring, but waterproof is something totally different. Even the best hardwood floor brands can’t offer anything that is 100% waterproof.
Again, luxury vinyl tiles are the same thing as luxury vinyl planks—but instead of looking like different wood flooring types, they look like different types of floor tiles.
All you have to know is this: all the best vinyl plank flooring brands sell tile-look options too. So when it comes to waterproof vinyl flooring, you have endless options. And of course, if you want to get crazy and blend the look of wood with the durability of real porcelain, you can check out wood-look tile. Again: so many options.
Like LVP, you can install LVT as a glue-down, loose-lay, or click-together floating floor. This makes it a great waterproof vinyl flooring alternative for real tile, which needs to be spaced and grouted (which is a huge hassle). And while snap-together tile flooring does exist, it’s nowhere as easy to install as LVT.
Bonus: you can also find peel-and-stick LVT that installs exactly the same way as peel-and-stick carpet tiles. Which is to say “with ease”. In fact, with the exception of magnetic flooring, it might just be the easiest flooring to install.
And here’s the other side of the DIY coin. In order to make your LVT an actually, you know, waterproof vinyl flooring option, it needs to be installed correctly.
Sure, you might be thinking this is one of the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring/LVT. But really, the same is true for any floor.
The most durable wood flooring is only as stable as its installation. Wood floor patterns only look beautiful if they’re arranged properly. Hemp flooring is only eco-friendly if you use the right adhesive. You get the point!
The third main type of waterproof vinyl flooring is sheet vinyl. Vinyl sheet is exactly what it sounds like—soft vinyl that comes in a huge roll and is cut to size. It comes in a huge variety of colors and patterns.
And if you’re thinking about the waterproof vinyl flooring from every non-renovated guest bathroom you’ve ever been in, yes—this is that material.
Just remember: sheet vinyl is not the same as linoleum. While people confuse linoleum vs. laminate vs. vinyl all the time, they’re actually very different materials. Linoleum is made of organic materials and is super eco-friendly flooring. Vinyl, on the other hand, is made of plastic.
As we mentioned, sheet vinyl is cut to size from a roll. Then, it’s glued to a subfloor. This makes it a super waterproof vinyl flooring option if it’s installed correctly, as there are no seams for water to drip through!
However: if you’re on the hunt for low-VOC vinyl flooring, just remember that you’ll need to install your sheet vinyl with a special adhesive. Some floor glues can contain VOCs, which can cancel out the benefits of choosing a low-VOC flooring option in the first place!
Because vinyl sheet has to be cut perfectly to the size of a room (and glued down in one huge piece) it can be a pain and a half to put in. Translation: it’s a bit less DIY-friendly. After all, you don’t want your floor to bubble and warp.
We know you have questions about waterproof vinyl flooring. That’s natural! Luckily, we’re here to answer them—so let’s get to it!
Absolutely! Like we said, all it takes is the proper installation (which is why we’d recommend having your floors installed by a top-rated flooring store near you rather than by a faceless big box store).
But don’t worry; whatever vinyl floor you go with (LVP, LVT, or sheet)—it’s going to be way cheaper than the cost to install engineered hardwood floors, the cost to replace hardwood with carpet… cheaper than installing almost any other types of flooring, really.
That’s a great question! Most vinyl plank/vinyl tile is composed of 3 layers:
Additionally, some brands include built-in underlayments like rubber or cork. Looked into the pros and cons of cork flooring and want all the good stuff but none of the actual, well, disadvantages of cork flooring? Cork underlayments are a great choice.
The life of any floor depends on how well it’s maintained (and the quality of the materials purchased). That said, many of the best vinyl plank flooring brands offer limited lifetime warranties—so the answer is clearly “a long time”.
Vinyl floors are incredibly easy to maintain. They just require sweeping and the occasional mopping. Just remember: only use approved vinyl floor cleaners if you need something a little tougher. Some conventional floor cleaners can destroy a vinyl floor’s wear layer!
Sadly, you can not refinish vinyl flooring the same way you can refinish bamboo flooring or wood flooring. Once the wear layer is worn through, the floor’s lifespan is done.
Endless styles. Like we said, you can get wood-look or tile-look floors with LVP and LVT, or fun, intricate patterns (or no pattern at all) with vinyl sheet. Ash flooring? Sure. Teak flooring? Definitely. Wide-plank wood flooring? Why not. Again: lots of options.
So, now that we’ve covered the basics of vinyl flooring and answered some FAQs, let’s look at 12 of the most popular waterproof vinyl flooring options on the market.
Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily the best vinyl plank flooring brands on the market (though some are)—they’re just the most popular. You’ll see what we mean in a moment.
Proximity Mills is a new kid on the block, but they’re our top pick for best overall value.
The company offers 11 different lines of SPC luxury vinyl plank flooring, each with numerous different colors and styles. The floors are waterproof and come with a very thick wear layer—at least 12 mils on every product. Plus, they’re ceramic bead-infused wear layers, which means they’re extra durable. And Proximity Mills reviews are, in a word, fantastic.
Although vinyl is not always known as the most environmentally-friendly flooring choice (because it’s made of plastic), Proximity Mills offers low-VOC and zero-VOC options. And as part of their commitment to sustainability, many of their products can be recycled, too. Not bad for $3.50–$7 per square foot!
COREtec believes in their core values—strength, style, and simplicity. Their products come in a variety of different styles and installation styles. The reviews for this product are great, but it’s on the more expensive side (ranging from $6.20 to $9.00 per square foot for product only).
You can find COREtec products at a flooring store near you, and you can order samples directly from their website.
Pergo Extreme is advertised as dent-proof, waterproof, kid-proof, and pet-proof. And to be fair, Pergo Extreme reviews are largely positive, if a little mixed. That’s understandable, though—the company has been making composite flooring since the 1970s, and with longevity comes ups and downs. Pergo Extreme is easily found at flooring stores nationwide if you want to see it in person.
Mohawk is the world’s largest flooring manufacturer. And perhaps their most popular waterproof vinyl flooring product is called SolidTech Plus. The price point for the SolidTech Plus is around $3.50 per square foot, though you can get an exact quote at your local flooring store.
SolidTech Plus boasts an SPC core and a very decent wear layer—and with those features at its price, it’s easy to see why this is a popular option.
CoreLuxe is a product made by LL Flooring (aka Lumber Liquidators). There are three different levels of this engineered vinyl plank—CoreLuxe, CoreLuxe XD, and CoreLuxe Ultra. Quality and thickness are the biggest differences between the three types (as well as price).
CoreLuxe starts at just under $2.00/square foot, while CoreLuxe Ultra runs closer to $4.00/square foot.
Simply put, we’d recommend skipping this product. Lumber Liquidators—sorry, “LL Flooring”—has had huge issues in the very recent past with selling toxic, dangerous products. Oh, and denying selling those toxic products, and then getting caught fibbing about not selling those toxic products.
LifeProof vinyl flooring is Home Depot’s flagship in-house LVP brand. Is it one of the best vinyl plank flooring brands? Read some LifeProof flooring reviews and judge for yourself (but spoiler: the answer is no).
That said, it is a very budget-friendly option when it comes to waterproof vinyl flooring—even if you do get what you pay for. LifeProof is priced between $2.00–$4.00 per square foot depending on your location.
Cali is better known for producing some of the best bamboo flooring than it is for producing waterproof vinyl flooring—but the company is branching out.
These days, they offer vinyl plank options with lots of different realistic grain patterns. Studied up on the pros and cons of hickory flooring but can’t stop thinking about how beautiful it looks? Cali has five different hickory patterns. You’ll find this flooring option for $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot at many retailers, so check out your local flooring store to see the variety.
Just remember, though: ask about their wear layers. They might not be what you’re looking for. Seriously. That’s all we’ll say about that.
The ADURA Max product by Mannington is waterproof, kid-friendly, pet-friendly, easy to clean, and scratch-resistant. It’s available in both planks and tiles, and in a wide variety of styles.
One factor that sets it apart is its sound dampening, shock-absorbing backing layer. Manning claims this can dampen sound by up to 30%, bringing a little more peace and quiet to your home.
Mannington has been in business for over a century and has always been a leader in innovation. And while ADURA might not be the most budget-friendly waterproof vinyl flooring, people love it.
SmartCore flooring is Lowes’ in-house waterproof vinyl flooring brand. Like its competitors, it’s waterproof—but like Home Depot’s LifeProof, it’s very much a budget option (in quality as well as price).
That said, SmartCore comes in a decent variety of styles, including quite a few different options that resemble different shades of oak and pine flooring. Coming in between $3.00 and $4.00, it’s affordable, if not as good as other brands in the price range.
Armstrong took customer feedback about their now-defunct Luxe line to heart and came out with a much better quality product—PRYZM.
Simply put, this is a very high-quality LVP product as waterproof vinyl flooring goes. It’s advertised a comfortable floor to walk on, and its wear layer contains industrial diamonds for extra protection.
PRYZM is comparable with other high-end vinyl plank flooring options at $4.00–$7.50 per square foot.
Shaw Industries is the second-largest flooring company in the world after Mohawk, so we can’t have a list of waterproof vinyl flooring options without including them!
Their Floorte line comes in both a “classic” and “pro” series, the latter of which boasts a (ridiculously impressive) 30-year commercial warranty. It’s a high-end LVP option, and the price—$4.00 to $7.50 per square foot—reflects that.
Rounding out our list of waterproof vinyl flooring options is Floor & Decor’s NuCore flooring. What makes NuCore’s core so “nu”? Well… Floor & Decor doesn’t really say. This lack of any concrete information about the product is a common theme in NuCore flooring reviews.
All of that to say, NuCore is a budget option, and it performs like one. Enough said!
The best waterproof vinyl flooring is… whichever one works for you!
Whether you go with LVP, LVT, or sheet vinyl, the important thing is that you find a product that works for your aesthetic and price range.
And even more importantly, you need to install it correctly! As we said above, the only truly waterproof vinyl floor is one that’s been installed properly.
So: for professional help finding and installing your waterproof vinyl flooring, find a top-rated flooring store in your area. They’ll be able to help you with everything!
And for more info on all things flooring, make sure to read up on:
This post may contain references or links to products from one or more partners of our parent company and/or subsidiaries of our parent company. For more information, visit this page. Updated 9/20/23 Want to give your laundry room an upgrade and looking for the best laundry room flooring? You’re in the right place! Laundry rooms see […]
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