When it's time to design or remodel your laundry room, the flooring choice you make really matters. Your laundry room flooring has to be able to stand up against the battle of potential scratches, heat and humidity from appliances, denting and the occasional spill or leak. Your flooring should be water-resistant (if not completely water-proof), easy to clean, maintain and, of course, very durable.
So, let's first take a closer look at the points you should consider then the best and worst flooring options for your laundry room to help you choose.
What to Consider When Choosing Laundry Room Flooring
- Should be moisture-resistant to minimize water and humidity absorption and keep floors from swelling, warping and molding.
- Should be stain-resistant to prevent everyday spills and splatters from permanently setting in
- Should be impact-resistant to fend off scratches and dents from foot traffic or appliances moves
- Should be easy to clean to keep the upkeep low
- Should be long-lasting to allow your floor to stay put longer without replacement
- Should be affordable to keep you within your budget
Best Flooring for Your Laundry Room
Vinyl
The main characteristic that makes the vinyl material the most suitable for the laundry room is its durability. Also, it's pretty inexpensive. The only thing to really keep in mind is that the subfloor needs to be clean and flat so it will be installed correctly.
Now, let's get into the three types of vinyl to choose from:
- Vinyl Tiles: Vinyl tiles are affordable, highly durable and easy to clean and maintain. They're simple to install and single damaged tiles can be replaced without having to replace the entire floor. Vinyl is also highly resistant to chemical stains and water. The choice of tiles allows you to create a unique design element in the laundry room without committing to a great deal of expense.
- Vinyl Sheets: Vinyl sheets are one of the most waterproof materials out of the three and they're exactly how they sound. They are sheet rolls that come in however much square footage you need that are then adhered to the subfloor with an adhesive that the manufacturer recommends. Sheet vinyl is easy to maintain and comes in a variety of colors, styles and designs to go with your space's décor. The only big disadvantage is that since it's one big sheet, dropping something sharp or dragging something heavy can puncture and scratch the surface, and then would have to be completely replaced.
- Luxury Vinyl Planks: This is the higher-end choice when compared to vinyl tiles and sheets. They come in endless amounts of styles and qualities and the planks themselves are durable and water-proof. However, any sitting water that might seep into the seams may cause some damage.
Ceramic
Ceramic tile is one of the best flooring choices for a laundry room from both a design and durability standpoint. They're water and chemical resistant and ones with natural finishes are more scratch resistant than ones with a high polish finish.
Natural Stone
You can't beat the look and durability of natural stone tiles like slate, travertine, marble, and limestone to name a few. They add an elegant, natural touch to your laundry room and are easy to take care of with a simple dry sweep or damp mopping. The only downfall is that it can be a bit expensive to install like most tiles are. Also, it's important to make sure they're well sealed to prevent staining from possible laundry detergent chemicals.
Laminate
It's easy to love the idea of using laminate flooring. It's hard to stop thinking how gorgeous the wood look can look in your home and how it can survive pet claw scratches and crazy kid traffic. But, the other thought that comes to mind is how it's not totally waterproof. Well, we have good news. There are actually waterproof and water-resistant laminate flooring options out there today. This is not a joke—it's now an irresistible flooring option! Let's discuss the differences between the two really quick so you can understand them better when choosing.
Water-resistant means that a certain element of the flooring is designed to withstand water better than normal. This typically means that you can have some water on the surface for a while before it soaks through. So, if you can't get to the spill right away, water-resistant laminate floors will buy you some time.
Waterproof means that the water will never be able to penetrate the flooring, no matter how much time has passed. While these two types are different, they have one thing in common—they're great options for the laundry room floor. And we happen to have some for you to choose from!
Hardwood
And to continue the good news, there is also waterproof hardwood flooring! Again, this is not a joke. It's an incredible innovation of a sub-layer of moisture protection for active families who want the classic hardwood look and feel without worrying about spills and pet stains.
Laundry Room Flooring Options to Avoid
Carpet
While having something soft underfoot while working in the laundry room sounds nice, wall to wall carpeting is not an ideal choice. Imagine for a moment that your washer overflows or begins leaking. Now you have both an appliance repair problem and a room full of carpet to rip out and replace. Also, many laundry products will harm the carpet and cause damage that's impossible to remove if spills happen (and they do).
Now that we've covered all the important basics and best and worst options, all you have to do is stop by one of our locations and see the best ones in person, and make your choice!
