By Reginald Tucker As the waterproof flooring category continues to rapidly expand, suppliers are employing various methods and technologies to differentiate themselves from the pack. Following is a sampling of the different innovations, processes and features suppliers are incorporating in their waterproof flooring products to offer consumers added protection against moisture incursion.
Armstrong Flooring
Rigid Core Vantage
Category: Rigid core
Features: Rigid Core Vantage delivers a combination of realistic wood visuals with the durability of rigid core construction. Standout features include a solid polymer core and a 20-mil urethane wear layer for optimal scratch resistance.
Benefits: Planks will not swell, buckle or lose integrity when exposed to water.
Cali
GeoWood
Category: Wood/SPC hybrid
Features: GeoWood combines real timber (oak and bamboo) layered over waterproof GeoCore—Cali’s stabilizing SPC limestone composite foundation.
Benefits: The technology utilized in GeoWood delivers rock-solid hardwood flooring with exceptional AquaDefy water resistance.
CFL
Firmfit
Category: Resilient
Features: CFL’s Firmfit is 100% waterproof and comes with an enhanced surface treatment resulting in superior antibacterial features.
Benefits: Firmfit offers consumers one of the strongest waterproof flooring products on the market that’s also dent-proof, sun-proof and anti-bacterial.
COREtec
Categories: WPC, SPC, Rigid
Features: The original industry disruptor, COREtec represents the next revolution in luxury vinyl flooring. Patented COREtec technology provides proven strength and wear resistance.
Benefits: With COREtec’s range of high-performance products, consumers can enjoy a 100% waterproof, kid-proof and pet-proof floor with the authentic look and feel of wood and natural textures.
Engineered Floors
Ensignium
Category: Rigid core
Features: Ensignium represents the next step in the evolution of premium hard surface flooring, featuring proprietary enhancements to rigid core technology.
Benefits: Advanced technology provides high dimensional stability and high indentation resistance in a 100% waterproof flooring construction.
Inhaus
Sono Eclipse
Category: PVC-free rigid core
Features: Sono Eclipse, the next-level iteration of its precursor, Sono, is made solely with polypropylene and mineral powder, resulting in a completely waterproof product that does not contain phthalates. And thanks to Inhaus’ Megaloc angle-fold locking system, the product resists moisture incursion.
Benefits: “Our products are made exclusively in Germany,” said Derek Welbourn, CEO. “We are focused on creating premium value and giving our customers reasons to select our products over our competitors.”
Mannington
AduraMax portfolio
Categories: WPC, SPC
Features: AduraMax is a WPC floor with an attached pad that dampens sounds up to 30%, while AduraRigid, an SPC product, provides greater indentation resistance. Hydroloc core protects subfloors from moisture.
Benefits: The AduraMax family of products from Mannington gives consumers who are looking for a visually appealing, high-performance waterproof flooring a range of options that check all the boxes.
Mohawk
SolidTech Plus
Category: LVT
Features: SolidTech Plus delivers strength, durability and features Mohawk’s Uniclic MultiFit technology for an impenetrable, tight seal that locks out moisture from accidental splashes and spills. For extra protection, SolidTech Plus also features Mohawk’s EasyClean technology for enhanced stain and soil protection as well as All Pet Plus Protection.
Benefits: Being 100% waterproof, SolidTech Plus is suitable for wet areas such as kitchens and built to withstand spills and pet accidents.
MSI
Everlife LVT
Category: Rigid core, dryback
Features: A breakthrough innovation in protection, MSI’s proprietary CrystaLux technology offers protection against scratches, spills, pet accidents and sun damage.
Benefits: “MSI’s CrystaLux technology is a disruptive technological innovation that gives our customers the confidence to offer the highest quality waterproof flooring in the industry,” said Sam Kim, senior vice president – product, MSI.
Novalis
NovaFloor Maybree
Category: Rigid core LVT
Features: NovaFloor Maybree offers consumers in the market for a durable, rigid core LVT product the ideal balance between style, beauty and performance. Extra-thick 6mm planks are married to a 20-mil NovaShield wear layer for enhanced durability.
Benefits: NovaFloor planks can take a beating in the most high-traffic areas and will still look beautiful for years to come.
Provenza
MaxCore
Category: LVT
Features: MaxCore 100% water- proof floors feature an engineered solid core construction for maximum impact, dent resistance and stability. An innovative wear layer featuring Provenza’s LVProtec aluminum-oxide finish includes a ceramic bead-based technology for optimal protection against everyday abuse.
Benefits: Provenza’s MaxCore luxury waterproof vinyl products were designed to exceed the demands of builders, architects and residential consumers.
Republic Floor
Pure SPC
Category: SPC
Features: Pure SPC features the company’s proprietary SPC technology, which is completely inert and waterproof. Unlike WPC floors, Republic’s stone composite contains no wood or limestone. At 7mm-thick, it is stronger and snaps into place easier than typical 5.5mm composites, the company stated.
Benefits: “Most companies are doing cheap plastic replacement, a few are doing limestone powder and some are doing polymers to bond together,” said Rotem Eylor, Republic Floor CEO. “We use 80% in four different stone polymers, 8% plastic mix and 12% polymers for added durability.”
Shaw Floors
Floorté
Categories: WPC, SPC, hardwood/rigid core hybrid
Features: Shaw Floors offers a variety of waterproof and water-resistant products across several categories. Its Floorté collection of 100% waterproof rigid core products features planks and tiles that are built to endure. In addition to being 100% waterproof, Floorté Classic Series (WPC) provides quiet and comfort, while Floorté Pro Series (SPC) stands up to high traffic and extreme temperatures in the most demanding environments. Floorté Hardwood Series offers a real hardwood veneer atop a SPC core.
Benefits: Regardless of the consumer’s preference for a specific hard surface product, Shaw is one of the best vinyl plank flooring brands on the market when it comes to offering waterproof options that can meet any budget, performance need or end-use application.
Valinge Innovation
Woodura
Category: Engineered wood
Features: Woodura technology uses a thin sheet of wood and a powder mix layer that are fused together under high pressure and heat. The powder mix perfectly fills up the natural openings of the wood, enhances the wood appearance and gives a durable and waterproof wear layer. The product also features Välinge’s enhanced fold-down system, 5GDry, which prevents water from penetrating the joints of the wood floor pattern.
Benefits: By combining a waterproof floor made with Woodura technology and an improved locking system via 5GDry, retailers can confidently sell consumers a product that will stand up to the rigors of daily wear.
Wellmade
HDPC Waterproof Hardwood
Category Hardwood/Rigid core hybrid
Features: The patented High Density Plastic Composite core features a real hardwood wear layer while surpassing the performance standards of competitive rigid core products, the company said. The product boasts increased density with superior thermal properties, yielding a dimensionally stable and waterproof floor. Plus, an attached pad and Uniclic locking system provide easy installation.
Benefits: Product performs in areas prone to moisture such as kitchens, bathrooms and below-grade basements.