Is waterproof vinyl flooring really waterproof?

There are a number of vinyl click flooring products claiming to be 100% waterproof, I get asked often about this, people want to know what type of flooring will be the most durable, especially when it comes to basement flooring where moisture is common and flooding is a possibility.

So are these floors really waterproof ?

The Answer is Yes and No,

​Some of the SPC (stone plastic composite) vinyl click planks will not get damaged from water, I remember years ago the Coretec salesman carried a water bucket with a piece of flooring submerged in the water to demonstrate the waterproof aspect of the flooring.

So yes, there are floors that are 100% waterproof!

But the real question is, what happens if my basement floods?

Your basement is different from a piece of flooring submerged in a bucket of water, once water goes under the flooring it's important to get the subfloor dry as soon as possible or mold can start growing. To do that, you would have to take apart at least some of the flooring and have fans blow air underneath the flooring, you will also have to take off some of the base moldings to be able and take apart the flooring, depending on the layout you may have to take apart more or less flooring so you can get the air to reach the whole subfloor.

Furthermore if the leak is sewage it is almost impossible to sanitize and disinfect without taking the complete floor apart and cleaning each piece.
If there is a minor leak or spill and water didn't get under the flooring you can just dry the floor and it will be good.
Bottom line,

​waterproof flooring may need to be replaced if there is a major flood, but can withstand minor leaks and some moisture, and overall is a good option for basements.

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