Waterproofing the Floor - How?

You own a beautiful and expensive wooden floor and you want to make it waterproof because you know that water and moisture are not wood's best friends and they can damage your floor at some point. However, before you make your wooden floor waterproof, you first want to consider do you really need that. Water-resistant and waterproof are two completely different things and you should make sure to consider whether you just want your floor to be a bit more water-resistant, or you really need a waterproof hardwood floor. Once you are sure you want your floor to be waterproof, the next important aspect to consider is how you want to achieve that. In this article, we will discuss more what a waterproof wood floor is and how you can achieve the effect.

Waterproof or Water-resistant Flooring

As we have already mentioned, waterproof and water-resistant are two different things and will have different effects on your floor. Most of the owners of hardwood flooring actually want to make their floor more water-resistant, in order to prevent potential moisture, water, and humidity damages, especially if the floor is installed in rooms with higher indoor moisture levels such as the kitchen, bathroom, basements, conservatory. However, making the floor waterproof is something different and it is achieved using different methods.

Making your floor more water-resistant is usually achieved with the application of durable and hard-wearing finish that protects the bare wood from the impact of moisture to an extent. When it comes to the more effective wood floor finishes in this context, your best solution is choosing either a lacquer or a varnish as both types of finishes can offer the highest level of protection from moisture. On the other hand, oil finishes are not that good at protecting your floor from this enemy. However, finishes can help as long as you want to make the floor water-resistant, but when you want to make it waterproof, the process will require more time and definitely more efforts. 

What Does Waterproof Wood Flooring Mean

When it comes to waterproofing a wooden floor, you should first consider and decide on what you expect from the whole process and what are the results you desire. Only when you are aware of your real expectations you will be able to choose on the right product for waterproofing the floor, as there are a few types of products that are used to achieve waterproof hardwood floors. 

For instance, you maybe want to make sure that a few wet footsteps when you walk out of the bathroom won't affect the condition of your floor and damage it. Or you may want a more in-depth waterproofing of a floor in a room that you are planning to turn into a wet room. These two situations are different and require a different level of waterproofing of the floor, therefore different products and methods are used to achieve a different level of waterproofing. 

Waterproofing the Floor - How?

If you just want to make sure that a few wet footsteps won't damage your floor, this will be a quite easy project and all you need to do is not that intense as when it comes to a heavy-duty waterproofing of the floor. You should start by preparing the floor for the application of the waterproofing product, which includes cleaning and decluttering the entire room, where the project is planned, then cleaning the floor in-depth and thoroughly, repairing any potential damages and issues such as gaps, loose or damaged floorboards, etc.

Next, you continue with sanding the surface of the floor until the surface is absolutely smooth and even and there are no surface imperfections or dirt build-ups left. Once you are done with sanding, you can continue with the application of the waterproofing product of choice. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions of the waterproofing product you have chosen to apply as they will help you the most and tell you the best how you should work with the product properly. However, in general, most of the waterproofing products will require you to apply at least three layers of the product.

Remember, before you start applying the new coat, the previous one should be completely and absolutely dry, which may take some time depending on the type of waterproofing product you are working with. In between the coats you should also check for any imperfections and uneven application. Any bubbles and wrinkles caused by the product or poor application should be sanded off before you continue with the next layer of product. A natural fabric coat is usually the most effective tool you can use for the application of the product because it ensures even and uniform application and good coverage. 


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