If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the laundry room is the liver. It’s not often thought about and definitely isn’t as exciting, but having a well-functioning laundry room is the key to a well-organized household.
There are many different options to consider when installing new flooring in a laundry room. Of course, there are more traditional options such as sheet vinyl flooring and tile, alongside the baseline concrete flooring. But with newer floors growing in popularity, it’s always good to go over your options and see what’s best for you.
Sheet Vinyl Flooring
A traditional and economical option, sheet vinyl flooring is in millions of American homes and is great for laundry rooms. Sheet vinyl flooring is a thin layer of completely waterproof material that’s installed over your subfloor. When installed properly, the seams running between two pieces of sheet vinyl keep water out of the subfloor, making it great for moist environments. Sheet vinyl is even better for smaller laundry rooms or closet washer/dryer setups, as small enough spaces require no seems. No seams mean no chance moisture can get through the middle of the floor. However, anyone who’s had a sheet vinyl floor before knows that their price is reflected in the feel and look of the floor. Most people don’t really care about the look of their laundry room, and if you’re one of those people then sheet vinyl is a perfect option. Otherwise, there are other good options that don’t compromise on style.
Luxury Vinyl Planking
Luxury vinyl planking has grown in popularity in the last few years. Most LVP is cheap, waterproof, and looks great, while also being easy to install. This makes it super popular for anyone looking for a DIY project for their house, with a laundry room being a good place to start practicing. LVP is made up of a high-resolution image covered by a clear wear layer, supported by a durable core underneath, and finally an underlayment layer on the bottom. The wear layer and high-res image come in all different styles, colors, and textures. Some high-quality LVP can even mimic real wood flooring, making it great for rooms where hardwood floors can cause problems. Most LVP floors have similar qualities, but those that differ usually have different cores. For laundry rooms, any LVP floor can be a great option due to its durability and price, but here are the two most common core types and their specific benefits.
WPC Flooring
WPC stands for wood plastic composite, which refers to the combination of wood-based materials and thermoplastics that serve as its core. At least, this was the case until it was discovered that the wood materials compromised the waterproofing of the floor. Recently, manufacturers have chosen to instead use wood-like materials to keep the waterproof qualities present in other LVP flooring while still adding those qualities normally seen only in wood flooring. This means that it’s softer and more insulating than SPC, but also comes with a slight increase in price and a small compromise in durability. For a laundry room, we suggest going with SPC over WPC since SPC performs better at a cheaper cost with no visual differences, but modern WPC is still a great choice for the added comfort.
SPC Flooring
SPC stands for stone plastic composite and is WPC’s more durable cousin. Its core contains a high amount of calcium carbonate, which is found in limestone. As such, it stands up to the abuse that is common in any laundry room. It is also relatively cheap, with similar quality SPC usually being around a dollar cheaper than WPC per square foot. And just like WPC, SPC is 100% waterproof. The only issue is that SPC is harder to walk on and less insulating, both caused by that higher amount of calcium carbonate. Most people won’t notice the insulative difference, but if you like a softer step, either buy floor mats alongside your SPC or stick with WPC. However, for those looking for a stylish yet durable floor, SPC is the clear winner.
Tile
Tile is a classic choice for any laundry room. Durable, reliable, and stylish, it can add a lot to a laundry room without taking much away. It’s also great for higher-priced rentals since they tend to see more traffic than usual households. However, for houses with high-traffic laundry rooms, they can be a bit uncomfortable due to being cold and hard. You can mitigate this a bit using floor mats, subfloor heating systems, or even just by living in a warmer climate. If you love the look of tile or just want one of the most durable options out there, tile flooring is the best floor for you.
Concrete
Chances are that some people reading this article are looking for options to replace their concrete flooring. Concrete is cold, hard, and, frankly, a little boring, making it an unpopular choice to keep around. However, it’s got two benefits we can all agree on: it’s functional and it’s durable. If you want to keep those benefits while still improving your floor, you can always get a few rugs for a softer step, or even consider detailing the concrete for a more personalized look. Otherwise, the other options listed so far are all great ways to improve your floor.
Floors to Avoid
There’s a reason we’ve been saving the floors for last. All of these floors tend to underperform under pressure. They’re softer, meaning they’re more prone to physical damage, and they’re not waterproof, which is borderline essential in a laundry room. And this is all because of one shared quality: they’re made of wood! Wood can absorb moisture, causing it to swell and warp, as well as being prone to discoloration. If you’re looking for the style and comfort that only wood floors provide, we suggest looking at higher-quality WPC. But if you really need a real wood floor in your laundry room, here are your options.
Laminate
Despite being similar in construction to LVP floors, there’s one key difference that makes this floor terrible for high-moisture environments: it’s got wood in it! Underneath the surface image of any laminate flooring lies a core made partially of wood fibers, which gives it the unfortunate quality of moisture absorption. Laminate floors can swell, warp, and possibly even delaminate in high moisture environments, meaning that they just won’t last as long as other products when installed in a laundry room. However, if you really want to put some type of wood floor in your laundry room, this option is the cheapest option of the three wood types.
Engineered Hardwood
Surprisingly, engineered hardwood is not as bad as laminate floors. Engineered hardwood is similar to laminate in the way it’s constructed, but it has a real wood top layer and a higher-quality core, preventing it from soaking up as much moisture. Still, it’s made from wood and wood will soak up moisture no matter what. That means engineered hardwood floors are prone to the same types of problems that laminate floors face in the laundry room. In addition, engineered hardwood usually must be glued down or nailed down, which both cost a lot more than the simple installation that laminate or LVP floors have. And don’t forget the higher price tag too. We recommend against engineered hardwood in a laundry room, but if you want both the feel and look of a real wood floor in your laundry room and have extra money in the budget for remodeling, engineered hardwood is the way to go.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is exactly that: complete, solid, 100% wood flooring. Thus, all moisture issues mentioned previously are even more exaggerated here. In addition to moisture, some wood flooring can warp due to temperature changes. And last, solid wood flooring is among some the most expensive flooring you can buy. If you really want to have solid wood flooring, we recommend putting it in a living room, bedroom, or your hallways, but definitely not in any laundry room.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a combination of style, durability, and price, we always recommend SPC as our top choice. Its stone-based core makes it strong and waterproof, and its design capabilities are through the roof. However, the traditional choices of sheet vinyl and tile can all be good options depending on your unique tastes and needs. Even concrete floors can be a great option if you’re willing to put in a bit of extra work to liven them up. But if you’re considering any wood-based products, we recommend finding a good alternative unless you’re fine with replacing your floor again in the near future.