Renovating a laundry room is smart for homeowners who want a more functional space. Many people neglect their laundry rooms, treating them as an afterthought compared to the rest of the house.
However, laundry rooms experience heavy use, making choosing durable, water-resistant flooring vital. Whether hanging up clothes to dry or cleaning up spills, your laundry room floor needs protection from moisture and damage.
This guide explores various ways to waterproof your laundry room floor, ensuring your home stays safe from water damage. We’ll cover the most effective solutions to protect this often overlooked space, from membrane applications to different flooring types.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Waterproofing a laundry room floor is essential to prevent water damage from leaks, spills, and moisture. The subfloor should be protected with a waterproof membrane, and durable, water-resistant flooring options like vinyl, luxury vinyl, tile, and engineered wood are ideal.
Caulking edges and sealing grout will further enhance water protection. Avoid common mistakes like rushing the installation process, improper cleaning, and using the wrong tools.
Proper waterproofing will help maintain your laundry room’s functionality and protect your home from costly repairs.
Waterproofing The Subfloor
The first area to address is your laundry room’s subfloor. Water penetrating below the flooring can seep into the subfloor, leading to warping and damage.
Installing a waterproof membrane under the flooring protects the subfloor from moisture. The waterproof membrane applied using a trowel, forms a barrier that keeps the subfloor dry.
It must be allowed to dry completely before any flooring is installed. This extra layer of protection is especially important if you are using hardwood or engineered wood flooring, which is susceptible to water damage.
Flooring Options For Waterproofing
Choosing the right flooring for your laundry room is equally important. While aesthetics matter, the primary consideration should be how well the flooring resists water.
Look at some of the best flooring materials for a waterproof laundry room.
1. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is a popular and cost-effective option for laundry rooms. It’s available in sheet and tile form, with sheet vinyl being more water-resistant because it has fewer seams.
Vinyl is easy to clean, comes in various colours and patterns, and can withstand heavy use. For added protection, you can extend the vinyl a few inches up the walls and cover it with a baseboard.
If your vinyl flooring gets damaged, it’s important to caulk any holes or replace damaged sections to maintain its waterproof properties.
2. Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF)
Luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) is a more premium option that mimics the look of hardwood. This flooring comes in planks and is designed to resist water.
When installed properly, it offers high water resistance and durability, making it a good choice for those who want the look of hardwood without the risk of water damage.
3. Tile Flooring
Tile, especially ceramic and porcelain tile, is another excellent choice for laundry rooms. Tiles are naturally water-resistant and easy to clean, but the grout between them can be porous.
Sealing the grout and caulking the edges of the tile will help ensure that water doesn’t seep through to the subfloor. Natural stone tiles are another option, but they require regular sealing to protect against moisture.
Stone is more expensive than ceramic, but with proper care, it can last a lifetime. However, homeowners should be mindful of stone’s porous nature, which can stain or etch when exposed to certain chemicals.
4. Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood is a more stable and water-resistant alternative to traditional hardwood. Constructed in layers, it’s designed to resist buckling, warping, and shrinking when exposed to moisture.
While it’s not completely waterproof, it offers better protection than regular hardwood flooring. For homeowners who want the look of wood in their laundry room, engineered wood is a good compromise between style and functionality.
5. Laminate Flooring
In recent years, manufacturers have developed waterproof laminate flooring, making it a viable option for laundry rooms. Like engineered wood, laminate mimics the appearance of real hardwood but without the high maintenance.
It’s easy to clean and maintain, but you should always seal the edges properly to prevent water from seeping underneath.
Other Waterproofing Techniques
In addition to choosing the right flooring, there are other ways to enhance waterproofing in your laundry room. Here are a few techniques that can help you keep water damage at bay:
1. Caulking
Caulk is essential for sealing the edges where the floor meets the walls or baseboards. Using silicone or bathroom caulk ensures a watertight seal that can prevent leaks from seeping into adjacent rooms.
Sealing around drains or pipe holes further protects your laundry room from water damage.
2. Concrete Floors
If your laundry room is built on a concrete slab, you already have a durable, water-resistant foundation. However, concrete can be cold and uninviting.
Consider staining or painting the concrete for a more polished appearance to improve the look. Concrete is easy to clean and has a long lifespan, making it a practical choice for laundry rooms.
3. Membrane Application
Applying a waterproof membrane to the subfloor before installing any type of flooring effectively protects it. Membranes can be laid directly on vinyl or other surfaces and form a protective barrier that keeps moisture from seeping through.
This is particularly useful if you’re using materials like hardwood or engineered wood, which are more vulnerable to water damage.
Common Mistakes In Floor Finishing
While waterproofing your laundry room, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can undermine your efforts. Here are some frequent errors to watch out for:
1. Skipping Thorough Stripping
When stripping old flooring before applying a new finish, ensure the surface is completely clean. Any leftover finish or debris will affect the new finish’s final look and durability.
2. Rushing The Process
Allow enough time for the floor to cure before using the space. Rushing through the process or using shortcuts can result in an uneven or weak finish, which may lead to water damage.
3. Improper Cleaning
After stripping the floor, it’s important to mop it with clean water and a neutralising solution. With proper cleaning, the new finish may adhere properly, leading to problems down the line.
4. Using The Wrong Tools
Always use the appropriate tools to apply finishes and waterproofing materials. Using a regular mop instead of a floor-finishing mop can leave streaks and lint, ruining the finish.
5. Not Sealing Edges
Be sure to seal all edges where the flooring meets walls or baseboards. Gaps can allow water to seep into other parts of the house, causing damage that may not be visible until it’s too late.
Conclusion
Waterproofing your laundry room floor is essential for preventing long-term damage to your home. The right combination of waterproofing membranes, durable flooring materials, and proper sealing techniques can protect your laundry room and adjacent areas from water damage.
Vinyl, tile, engineered wood, and laminate are good choices for waterproof laundry room floors. Each has its own advantages, and the best option depends on your budget, style preferences, and willingness to maintain it.
Remember to use caulk and other sealing methods to ensure a watertight finish. Whether you’re renovating your laundry room or building one from scratch, taking these steps will give you peace of mind and help maintain the long-term health of your home.
FAQs About Laundry Room
What Is The Difference Between A Utility Room And A Laundry Room?
At first glance, you may think that utility rooms and laundry rooms are exactly the same, since both will have ‘a sink, washing machine and dryer’, but a utility room typically will also accommodate cleaning equipment and products, and maybe even functional elements like a boiler or water heater.
What Is Typically Stored In A Laundry Room?
Let’s start with the obvious: keep your laundry detergent, stain remover, fabric softener and bleach nearby in a cabinet above your washer and dryer. If you’re short on space, a slim cabinet with roll-outs that take advantage of the depth of the cabinet could work.
What Do You Use Laundry Room For?
Laundry rooms are more than just a place to wash and dry your clothes. Any extra storage can be used to store cleaning supplies, back stock of household products and infrequently used household items. Create designated storage areas, zones, for each group, such as in these three examples.
Can You Put A Shower In A Laundry Room?
It may sound strange to have a shower installed into your laundry room area but if you have young kids or pets, and enjoy a clean home, this might be the right addition for you. This type of shower stall can be installed into the corner of your laundry room and the compact design will allow for standing room only.
Does Laundry Room Need Ventilation?
Proper laundry room ventilation is often overlooked by homeowners when remodeling their homes. Laundry room ventilation is important as it can be a major source of contaminants in your house. A poorly ventilated laundry room will have moisture buildup.
