Waterproof Flooring

Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring is regarded as one of the most popular flooring types in the market today. Given the already existing durability and ease of installation, this flooring category is one of the most preferred also due to its waterproof capabilities.

Wood Plastic Composite also knew as WPC flooring is simply made from ground wood particles mixed with heated thermoplastic resin after that put into a mold. WPC can also mean Waterproof core. The main components of WPC include wood flour, calcium carbonate, and thermoplastics. It is luxury vinyl tile coated and reinforced by a more rigid core. The Wood Plastic Composite has layers that make it such a great choice for flooring;

Wear layer function is to protect the flooring against excessive wear and tear. The wear layer varies in thickness depending on the manufacturer. The layer also ensures that the flooring has ease of cleaning, stains, and spills are not easily absorbed by the flooring and can easily come off. This superior stain resistance makes the Wood Plastic Composite flooring perfect for commercial use.

Printed vinyl layer is responsible for the appearance of the flooring. This layer varies from wood-like an appearance to stone like appearance. With the advanced technology in place, one can hardly tell the difference between wood flooring and Waterproof flooring. The Wood Plastic Composite flooring is one of the highest quality in regards to flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Top Layer makes the flooring durable over long period and also quite resilient to any damage. The layer act as a resistant to scratches and dents.
COREtec Core Structure is referred to as the extruded waterproof core. This layer is very essential as it prevents expansion and contraction of the flooring when the humidity and temperature of the surrounding changes. The COREtec core structure is very dense and makes the flooring quite solid.
Attached Cork Underlayment absorbs sound; it gives the floor its sound insulation property. The WPC does not require an underlayment because of this preexisting layer. This layer also repels any natural growth of both mold and mildew.
Wood Plastic Composite is another way of putting luxury vinyl tile or enhanced waterproof vinyl and luxury vinyl plank flooring. Most WPC is usually Polyethylene based and there exist in the form of various colorants, Ultraviolet stabilizers and other agents that assist in achieving the final product.
Wood Plastic composite flooring is usually regarded as a product of luxury vinyl tile, is one of the most installed types of flooring in todays market. The fact that it has wood in its name does not mean that this product is wood based as many people have been misled to believe. Most people who want to have the aesthetic value of wood but not the maintenance cost usually opt for the Wood Plastic Composite. This flooring mirrors the real hardwood floors very intricately but is cheaper and accessible. The Wood Plastic Composite is suitable for businesses and commercial areas which require little maintenance but need that appealing look.

WOOD PLASTIC COMPOSITE THICKNESS

The thicker the Wood Plastic Composite plank, the denser it is. Dense WPC means that you have more stability as you walk on the floors, they tend to offer the extra cushioning needed when standing for very extensive periods and heavy traffic. The plank has a better underfoot and also more flexible and durable in the long run. The plank thickness of the Wood Plastic Composite varies from 4mm, 5.5 mm, 6.5mm, and 8mm.
WOOD PLASTIC COMPOSITE WEAR LAYER THICKNESS
The wear layer is usually the top layer of the Wood Plastic Composite flooring. This layer is responsible for protecting your floors from any damage, therefore, the thicker it is, the better for the WPC. The MIL number determines the level of resistance your floors have to tear and wear. Here are different measurements of the wear layer and their suitability;
8MIL is the lowest measurement of the wear layer but is quite effective and durable. This measurement is most suitable for any residential housing.
12MIL depending on the traffic flow of your home, you should gauge which wear layer is suitable. Areas of high traffic should incorporate the 12MIL wear layer flooring.
20MIL are most suitable for commercial or business areas that have heavy amount of traffic and prone to tear.

Wood Plastic Composite versus Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring also referred to as the floating wood tile is a composite synthetic flooring joined through lamination. The laminate flooring photographic surface is usually a replication of wood or stone giving it that natural appearance. The clear wear layer protects the flooring from damage and moisture. Laminate flooring is usually mistook for vinyl flooring.
The Wood Plastic Composite flooring is different from the laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is not entirely suitable for places with high moisture content. Installing laminate flooring in areas like the bathroom, basement or kitchen is not advisable because of water infiltration through the floors. On the other hand, WPC flooring characteristic of being waterproof makes it most suitable for these three main areas. The Wood Plastic Composite products are more appropriate for installation in vast areas, unlike the laminate flooring which manufacturers stipulate one must leave room for expansion. The Wood Plastic Composite can cover more room space and commercial areas because it does not need the expansion moldings.
The enhanced luxury vinyl has a top wear layer responsible for making it resistant to water, provide comfort and extra cushioning and also acts as an insulation to sound. This wear layer makes the WPC long lasting and durable.

ADVANTAGES OF WATERPROOF FLOORING
Manufacturers have come up with different references such as enhanced vinyl plank, waterproof vinyl or even engineered luxury vinyl flooring for branding purposes. All WPC products are considered as Luxury Vinyl Tiles, or luxury vinyl products but not all luxury vinyl is WPC. However, most luxury vinyl products have the same features that are a top resistant wear layer, a 3D imprinted photographic film, thick and durable layers and a textured surface.
The thickness and durability of WPC floors can help you save on costs imparted by the subfloors. During most installations, one is required to prepare the subfloors and at times with the help of a contractor. Nonetheless, this does not happen when it comes to WPC flooring. The WPC is dense enough to cover up any faultiness of the subfloor hence no extra charge is incurred.
The enhanced luxury vinyl tile has high resistance to corrosion given its rigid coating. Thus making is less prone to rot and decay.
Resilience. The WPC is a mirrored wood or stone floor. Most people prefer having the real deal in their homes instead of an imitation, however, with regards to comfort and resilience, the WPC tops the charts. They are a better underfoot as compared to stone add wood and still give off the same aesthetic value.
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Minimal maintenance. The Wood Plastic Composite only needs the occasional damp mopping and vacuuming to keep it looking new and appealing.
The Wood Plastic Composite is 100% waterproof making it most suitable for areas or rooms that are susceptible to high moisture content such as the kitchen or the bathroom.
The enhanced luxury vinyl floors are primarily made from recycled plastic and waste products making it easy to sustain.

CONS OF WOOD PLASTIC COMPOSITE

Pricing. The cost of purchasing the Wood Plastic Composite flooring is quite expensive. The WPC flooring is quite formidable and offers a range of benefits to the home, and all these are reflected by the price tag. However, with its popularity on the rise and more and more companies getting into the production of WPC, the prices might subside given time.
SUITABILITY OF WOOD PLASTIC COMPOSITE FLOORING IN DIFFERENT AREAS
The Wood Plastic Composite flooring is so flexible and can be used almost everywhere in the house. The unique features of the flooring allow it to be used in areas like;
Kitchen. If you are fond of the hardwood floor look in the house then look no further, the wood like appearance of the WPC is most suitable. Usually, hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring is not suitable for the kitchen due to the traffic and moisture content. The WPC gives a great alternative to the hardwood flooring and also a cheaper choice. This flooring is also more comfortable to stand on for long periods when cooking or to clean up.
Bathroom. Instead of going the conventional style and use ceramic tiling for your bathroom floors, try WPC for a change. Their waterproof ability will ensure there are no damages and also you will not have a flooding problem in the area.
Basement is usually the first place to experience flooding and make it a tad difficult to choose the flooring. However with the WPC flooring, you will have nothing to worry about, your basement can look stylish and still practical with the layout.
Commercial spaces or areas which experience high traffic should embrace the used of WPC as it is durable, resilient and appealing to the eye.

Wood Plastic Composite versus LVT
LVT is a luxury vinyl product which appearance has more similarity to ceramic or tone tile. The surface of the LVT embraces the aesthetic level of the ceramic and stone tile that at times it is hard to differentiate. In some cases, the LVT is installed using grout. The Luxury Vinyl Tile is made of several layers just like the laminate flooring, its main component being PVC vinyl hence resulting into a solid and flexible flooring.
Unlike the LVT, the Wood Plastic Composite does not require a lot of subfloor preparation during a new installation. It is important for one to carefully prepare the subfloor before installing the LVT as any obstructions or unevenness will transfer to the surface. This factor applies to both the solid-locking LVT and the traditional glue-down LVT. Extra preparation is required when there are cracks and divots over wooden and concrete subfloors to cover up the protrusions. Wood Plastic Composite is more solid and rigid and therefore is not affected by such factors, nevertheless, it is still key to prepare the subfloors effectively to ensure a long lasting covering. The WPC solid core allows it cover more area and be more extensive as compared to the LVT.
The Wood Plastic Composite is also waterproof as compared to the LVT.

Wood Plastic Composite flooring has an extensive use and very minimal restrictions. This flooring is recommended to and targeted at different audiences such as:
Pet owners. Keeping pets can be quite a handful with their playful nature and at times if not trained, often accidents tend to happen. The Wood Plastic Composite flooring is the best flooring for this type of scenario as it will not tear during the animals play or plight. Also, the protective wear layer of the flooring prevents staining and makes the Wood Plastic Composite flooring easy to clean. The WPC can look presentable for a very long period with minimal maintenance.
Business owners. High traffic areas are prone to scratches, staining, tear and wear but which flooring type is most suitable for such places? How do you maintain an appealing look of an office or business over a long period? The Wood Plastic Composite flooring is not easily left with markings or footprints on the surface, so it easily maintains the aesthetic appeal of the office or business. The WPC is a great option as it offers a broad range of designs to choose from and also durable over the years leaving your office space looking presentable.
Parents if you have many children or even just one, the WPC floor will be a great addition to your home. With the Wood Plastic Composite Floor, you are assured that your children will not destroy your floors as easily if it were wooden or carpeted.

Anyone can buy and install the Wood Plastic Composite flooring; there is no discrimination when it comes to having real floors. The installation process of the WPC floors is simple and direct- interlock floating. Given that you do not need to worry about subfloors then installation will be a walk in the park. However, if your subfloor is completely unleveled, then you might need to fix it before installation. Oversight is only allowed in cases where there are cracks and a bit of wavering.