Doing the laundry can be exciting if you have a decorative, practical, and comfortable space. However, designing it may be constrained by the difficulty of finding good laundry room flooring.
The laundry room floor, similar to the bathroom or mudroom, must be able to withstand moisture. Water can overflow from the washing machine or laundry tub. As a result, you will need flooring material that does not easily get cracked or clogged by water. Moreover, any laundry room floor must be able to withstand the vibrating of dryers and washers as well as the resultant heat. It should also be attractive and soft so that you can stand on it for extended periods.
With this in mind, here are the types of flooring materials that we would recommend for laundry and mudrooms.
Engineered hardwood is a combination of plywood and hardwood. The combination creates a high-performing and durable floor with multiple layers of wood. By having each layer face a different direction, engineered hardwood can provide water resistance for the laundry room.
Why would you choose engineered flooring for the laundry room? It is an ideal material because it can provide resistance to temperature changes. The multi-layer structure provides enough room for expansion without compromising structural stability. Similarly, the bonding together of a layer of veneer and high-density fiberboard creates a strong floor that can withstand pressure and heat.
SPC flooring, also known as rigid core luxury vinyl flooring, is one of the best laundry room flooring options. That is because it includes an ultra-tough structure that is 100% waterproof. The core is made from a combination of stabilizers, polyvinyl chloride, and natural limestone powder.
The vinyl planks mimic marble, ceramic, stone, and wood and are easy to produce. Furthermore, SPC vinyl is more affordable, durable, and stabilized than hardwood flooring. This is in part due to the presence of a UV coating that protects the planks from discoloration from the sun.
Installing unfinished hardwood floors and finishing them in your laundry room can fill your space with debris and dust while taking weeks to finish. That is why one of the emerging laundry room flooring trends is to go for pre-finished solid oak flooring that comes already sealed, sanded, and ready to nail into place. Each board is typically coated with polyurethane before it is put for sale.
Pre-finished solid oak provides a more durable finish than traditional hardwood flooring. That is because it includes a hard, factory-applied layer that holds up quite well. In addition, it is able to withstand the strains and water that are common in a laundry room.
Tile flooring is great for high-moisture rooms like your laundry room. It has impressive design options, versatile applications, waterproof capabilities, and low-maintenance benefits. You can choose mosaics, 3-D tiles, arabesques, and hexagons that work perfectly as a backsplash and accent.
It is common to treat the tiles before installation so that they don't deteriorate over time. The treatment is usually in the form of waterproofing the substrate and sealing the floor before tiling. A decoupling mat, moisture-resistant plasterboard, and sealers are some of the things you can use to seal the floor.
The most recommended types of tiles for a laundry room are natural stone and porcelain. Ceramic tiles are not ideal for use in a laundry room because of their construction.
Southern Luxe has a long lineup of unique flooring options for your laundry room. We sell flooring materials that match the quality and style of your interior and exterior spaces. Request samples of our products or contact us to start your project today!