Best Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring Options

No matter what type of flooring you have installed in your home, water can cause a variety of issues. Waterproof flooring exists, but only with certain styles like laminate and vinyl. While vinyl is synthetic which makes it immune to water damage, not all vinyl is considered completely waterproof.

In this guide, we’re going to touch on the best waterproof vinyl plank flooring while breaking down the top brands and tell you what to expect when it comes to pricing.

Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof Vinyl Flooring

When shopping for vinyl flooring, the first thing you’re likely to notice is all are listed as either waterproof or water resistant. While our goal is to highlight the best waterproof brands, it’s important to understand the difference between these two products.

The main thing that separates these two types of vinyl plank flooring is the way it’s made. While the layers can essentially be the same, click-lock edges allow these planks to form a watertight seal. Keep in mind, the subfloor below will only be protected if the flooring is properly installed, otherwise, spills may still get through.

Water-resistant vinyl flooring isn’t quite as popular as waterproof vinyl, which means the overall selection of styles and sizes are smaller. You can still find stone and wood-look patterns from big brands like Shaw and Armstrong but may need to plan more carefully. The actual format varies as well, which can also have a major impact on durability and the installation process.

Waterproof vinyl flooring is thicker and generally gives you the option of a thicker wear layer. You can find these planks with a flexible or rigid core if you prefer more stability and want a different feel from your flooring. 90% of waterproof vinyl flooring has a click-lock installation system for ease of use, whereas water-resistant vinyl manufacturers tend to favor adhesives whether installed in a kitchen or livig space.

The Best Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring

A quick search online can bring up thousands of results for “waterproof” vinyl flooring, but you’ll quickly realize that finding the best brands is no easy task. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the top waterproof vinyl flooring manufacturers along with a small selection of some of their best-selling colors and styles.

Shaw Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring

Shaw is one of the larger vinyl flooring manufacturers, and also one of the easier to acquire for the average homeowner. Their products can be found online and locally through home improvement and flooring styles, with more than 100 styles to choose from.

When it comes to waterproof vinyl flooring, their selection is second to none. The company produces high-quality WPC and SPC vinyl flooring planks like Paragon Plus which are available in seven different finishes. These 6mm planks have a 20mil wear layer while the company’s Tenacious HD Plus collection is a little narrower but just as durable.

In addition to the company’s rigid core planks and tiles, you can also find flexible vinyl flooring that requires a glue-down installation. Farmers Market is an example of that, and while it’s only 2mm thick, it’s still completely waterproof. The Shaw Perennial and Westwork Collections are similar in construction, but with more styles and a better warranty.

Pergo Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring

Pergo is another well-known brand homeowners in the United States and abroad are familiar with, but not for reasons you might think. The company initially made a name for itself by manufacturing laminate flooring but has since moved into other lines including luxury vinyl plank flooring.

At the moment, Pergo has six collections of waterproof vinyl flooring including a mix of newer lines. The Pergo Extreme Collections consist of tiles Wood Fundamentals, Wood Originals, and Wider Longer. Fundamentals have an extra layer of scratch protection while Originals have “enhanced” visuals. Pergo Extreme Wider Longer flooring is also enhanced, but 10” wide and 72” long.

While those styles are hard to ignore, the company’s DuraCraft Collection is one of their most popular. These realistic boards are highly detailed with beveled edges and easy to install thanks to a pre-attached pad. The colors range from darker shades including Steel Oak to browns and lighter hues like Iced Olive Wood.

SmartCore Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring

SmartCore is one of the more interesting brands on our list along with the premium version of these planks called CoreTec. The former is found through Lowes in the United States and is one of the thicker products for the price.

SmartCore vinyl plank flooring ranges between 6mm to 7.5mm in thickness. The majority of the colors are in the brown range, although there are some interesting multi-colored ones like Monroe Oak and Jackson White Oak. These products come in three varieties as well with standard SmartCore, SmartCore Pro, and SmartCore Ultra. COREtec isn’t found through home improvement stores but is a significant upgrade over SmartCore vinyl flooring.

While purchased by Shaw, they have three excellent collections including the commercial-grade COREtec Pro. COREtec Stone provides homeowners with crack-resistant vinyl tiles, and COREtec Original is their standard line of WPC flooring with cork backing. The premium line is called COREtec Advanced+, and it’s the best option when you prefer varied lengths and more variegated patterns.

Lifeproof Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring

Lifeproof is a brand we’ve touched on in the past and a popular choice for homeowners interested in affordable flooring. They also have one of the larger selections of waterproof vinyl along with a unique ISOCORE core that’s rigid but still comfortable beneath your feet.

The easiest way to sort through Lifeproof flooring is on Home Depot’s official site where you can browse by size, style, or wear layer. Styles like Alys Oak,Sundance Canyon Hickory, Elk Wood, and Georgia Clay are in the premium class with 22 mil wear layers. These planks range from 7.1” to 8.7” in width, are Phthalate-free, and come in around two dozen styles.

You can find more affordable options in the same size if you drop down to a 6 mil wear layer, but 12 mil wear layers are also available. Lifeproof is one of the company’s store brands, but it’s not the only one as the Home Decorators Collection is another in-house line from this home improvement store.

DuraLux and NuCore Waterproof Vinyl Planks

Home Depot and Lowes may be the largest home improvement stores in the United States, but they are far from the only options when it comes to flooring. The aptly named Floor & Décor has gained a lot of ground since their launch in 2000, and they have an impressive selection of waterproof vinyl flooring from two brands.

The biggest line of waterproof LVP from Floor & Décor comes through their NuCore lineup. NuCore Performance is considered the premium collection, and while there isn’t much variance in size or thickness, there are more than 40 styles to choose from. The regular or standard line of NuCore is almost as large, but with some important differences in the construction.

All the flooring in this category uses a drop-lock installation system but comes in two thicknesses. Styles like Chiffon Ceruse are slightly thicker at 8.5mm, but there are also “extra-wide” boards in this class including

Waterproof Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost

Vinyl flooring has always been more affordable than solid hardwood or engineered flooring. A few factors do impact the price, however, including the thickness of the board and technologies used. In the case of waterproof vinyl flooring, it does have an effect on the overall price.

On average, you can expect to pay between $1.99 to $3.50 per square foot for vinyl plank flooring that’s water-resistant or has a flexible core. When you move up to the waterproof vinyl flooring category, the base price on this flooring increases by $1-3 per square foot.

The brands in our table give you a good idea of what to expect, although companies like Mohawk, Artmore Tile, and TrafficMaster have a variety of styles available as well. Keep in mind, the cost represented is just for the flooring and does not take into account any extras or the installation of vinyl plank flooring.

Final Thoughts

Waterproof vinyl plank flooring is readily available for homeowners that want something resilient and waterproof for any room in their home. It’s not the only waterproof type of engineered flooring, however, as waterproof laminate is also an option if you prefer something a bit more solid underfoot. Whichever style you choose, remember to keep the cost of installation in mind unless you plan to cut and install vinyl yourself.