We may earn receipts from the products uncommitted on this page and participate in affiliate programs . take More ›
interchange mangled , worn , or outmoded flooring is a surefire way to bestow a fresh look to your wash room . But this particular quad has traditionally been challenge to outfit since it ’s vulnerable to damage from so many sources : stain from spilled or splattered bleaching agent , warping or mold growth from appliance leaks , and dents from swop out one or both of the heavy appliances . And , if your laundry way is located in the mudroom , your floor faces additional threat like sopping umbrellas and mud cover in from the open .
To hold up all of this wear and snag , your new laundry room flooring should tick the following box at a lower limit :
Photo: AndreyPopov/Depositphotos
Ahead , we assess the pros and cons of five democratic laundry room knock down thought and harness out three that are n’t deserving the monetary value or trouble .
Carpet, hardwood, vinyl, and tile flooring.
Bob Vila has partnered with Empire Today to help you well get beautiful new story at a enceinte price .
1.Luxury vinyl tile
luxuriousness vinyl roofing tile ( LVT ) lie of multiple fused layer of material — most ordinarily a vinyl championship , a vinyl core , a printed design that can copy moreluxurymaterials , and a exculpated top “ wear ” layer . The outer - confront protective bed gives the flooring the raincoat and scratch- , stain- , and slit - resistance needed to withstand the high mass of moisture , humidness , and foot dealings in the laundry way and/or mudrooms . With only dry sweeping , wet mopping with soapy water , and the occasional coating with acrylic sealant , the laundry room shock will last for 10 to 30 years or long . ( There ’s no grout , so there ’s no need for grout cleaning . )
As you might judge from the name , LVT is more expensive than sail vinyl radical ; it cast from $ 0.50 to $ 12 per square animal foot in materials , accord to price guides onHome Advisor , a household improvement planning site .
But , some consumer will say it ’s worth the extra money :
Photo: mariakray/Depositphotos
Just watch out for unregularity or unevenness in the substrate , which may show through the flooring and cause gaps or lifts around edges .
2.Sheet vinyl
pro : cheap vinyl choice ; affords circumstances of looksCons : big sheets are harder to install and replace ; does n’t offer as much impact resistance
The most budget - well-disposed vinyl selection , at $ 0.50 to $ 5 per square foot , grant to Home Advisor , sheet vinyl can appear as a solid colour or a print excogitation . This case of flooring is paste down to the laundry elbow room subfloor in large , 6′- to 13′-wide sections , which have for few seams than LVT floor but also a more unmanageable do - it - yourself installation . Also , when damaged , total sheet must be replaced at a time .
Like LVT , canvas vinyl is waterproofed and stain- and scratch - repellent , and , as a grout - free floor type , it postulate onlydry sweeping or wet swabbing . However , it ’s thinner than LVT , and therefore offers less insulation against the inhuman and sound and is more prone to denting or tearing from fallen object or appliance move . It lasts only five to 20 geezerhood or more .
Photo: iriana88w/Depositphotos
3.Ceramic tile
pro : Cheapest entry price ; DIY - well-disposed installation and replacementCons : Grout grunge add up to cleaning effort ; slippery
Anywhere from $ 2 to $ 15 per satisfying foot , according to Home Advisor , ceramic roofing tile boasts a good start price for laundry room flooring . you may find it sold glass or unglazed , individual block of vary anatomy and size or in pre - position mosaic tile sheets that dispense with the need forindividual tile setting . And these clay - based tiles can be further customized through the utilisation of tint grout between tiles . But you ’ll require toscrub the groutwith an abrasive agent like baking soda , as well as regularly dry sweep and wet mop the roofing tile to keep it fresh .
Otherwise , glazed ceramic tile offers firm wet , chemical , and stain resistance over its 10- to 20 - year lifespan , even when face with standing water ( a real possibility in combo laundry - and - mudrooms ) . glassless tile first needs to be sealed with a penetrating tile sealer to provide these protections . All ceramic roofing tile is slipperier , colder , and noisy than other laundry way blow out of the water options , so know that the whir of the automatic washer or drier is more likely to reverberate on this eccentric of flooring . Choosing sealed het and/or textured ceramic roofing tile can create more warmth and adhesive friction underfoot .
Photo: Eva-Katalin/E+ via Getty Images
4.Stone
Pros : Lasts the long ; leads to higher home resale value ( which can offset high-pitched costs)Cons : Costs the most ; large and rotund tiles dissuade DIY installation and transposition
You ca n’t beat the durability ofnatural stone tiles made of slate , marble , travertine , limestone , or similar materials — not when they put up between 20 years to a lifetime of protection from wet , smear , and incision ! You ’ll pay a eminent price for the luxurious looks and practical indestructibility , anywhere from $ 4 to $ 20 per straight human foot , agree to Home Advisor , but this cost can partially be offset by thehigher resale time value of homeswith stone surfaces .
In addition to dry sweeping and slopped mop up the rock tile with a Isidor Feinstein Stone - specific or other pH - inert cleaner , or soapy pee , you ’ll involve to de - grunge grout with an abrasive agent like baking soda and water , as well as seal the roofing tile with a stone sealer to foreclose floor marks .
Photo: Empire Today
Like ceramic roofing tile , stone laundry room flooring will experience cold and slippery , but you’re able to forfend this by installing heated and rough-textured stone . Keep in mind that the heavyweight and large size of the tile — anywhere from 12×12 to 18×18 inch — couple with the possible motivation for two layer of subflooring pull in it difficult for most homeowners to install or exchange themselves . The monetary value of professional initiation and any repair should be factor out into the estimated cost of this flooring .
5.Laminate flooring
Pros : Resists fleet ; provides best wet immunity when seams are gluedCons : Generally more vulnerable to wet ; sounds vacuous
Laminate flooring , available for $ 0.7 to $ 2 per square infantry , according to Home Advisor , consists ofeasy - to - install interlocking planksmade of backer newspaper publisher , a wood - based core group , a printed newspaper publisher layer , and a wear stratum . The print layer can be made to look like innate materials such as Grant Wood or stone , dim-witted solids , or complex patterns . The wear layer effectively preserve the floor color when exposed to sunshine and protect the flooring from shekels , dents , and scuffs .
But its core being a Sir Henry Wood product , the floor produce a empty sound when walk over that can annoy the sound - raw . ( You may be prepared to level with rugs . ) More importantly , laminate flooring can well or warp with grievous body of water exposure , which makes it a less ideal option when your laundry appliances are site in a mudroom . This also stand for you also should n’t wet wipe up it — onlyvacuum , sweep , and pass over up spillsas they come , and juiceless mop it with a unaccented spraying of water .
Photo: Joey Kotfica/Photodisc via Getty Images
Aqua Defense Waterproof Laminate Wood Flooring
This exclusive laminate flooring option from Empire Today is among the expert floor for laundry rooms thanks to its fully waterproof protection . When coupled with the optionalAqua Defenseprotection , this flooring can handle heavy spills and even standing water , so it ’s double-dyed for laundry room floor .
For a unlined looking in your home , you’re able to also opt for the same wood laminate floor throughout your space , and upgrade the planks with Aqua Defense for certain areas prostrate to have blind drunk ( like the kitchen , bathroom , or laundry room ) . This provides excellent water protection where you need it , while uphold the same flooring design throughout .
Empire Today ’s wood laminate flooring is available in multiple gray-headed and brownish tones . Many of these options are covered by modified lifespan warranty to protect against wear , stains , and pass .
If you desire your laminate storey to exist up to its potential lifespan of 10 to 30 years , consider applying a astragal of body of water - resistant PVA ( polyvinyl acetate ) mucilage to the natural language ( i.e. flat edge ) of board before interlace them ; it will act as a barrier to moisture . Similarly , name and repair laundry way outflow early on , and avoid strain - dry dripping garments in a laundry elbow room where this type of flooring is set up .
Avoid These 3 Types of Flooring in Laundry Rooms
While LVT , tabloid vinyl , ceramic roofing tile , stone , and laminate all have the makings to be attractive and durable washing elbow room coldcock , there are still some option that fall poor . mind of the pitfall of the following three picks .
1. Carpet
Though relatively low in monetary value ( $ 2 to $ 7 per square foot , fit in to Home Advisor ) and ardent and cushy underfoot , rug is the bad candidate for laundry rooms . Its cat sleep promptly catch laundry lint and dust as well as absorbs water from appliance leaks , overflows , and detergent or other chemical splashes .
The longer the plenty , the slower the rug take to dryandthe more likely it is that mould , filth , and fusty smells will take root in your carpeting . You may even find yourself thrust to replace it before its 10 - year lifespan is up .
2. Hardwood
Available for $ 3 to $ 14 per square foot , consort to Home Advisor , hardwood is certainly worthwhile in other interiors where it can be have a bun in the oven to last 20 age or longsighted . But its natural lovingness , radiancy , and enduringness are all diminished in the washables room . Moisture can warp and/or decompose it , while high-pitched foot traffic , replacement of appliances , and spills canlead to splinters , dent , or stain .
you may certainly piece nick with forest filler and seal the hardwood to improve its moisture resistance , but these tasks have to be repeated on a regular basis , which may not be worthwhile in a non - public quad like the laundry room .
3. Bamboo
Made from bamboo pole or stems , bamboo can betwo to three times harderthan certain hardwoods like pine and offer similar lifespan ( 20 year and up ) for the lower Leontyne Price of $ 5 to $ 15 per square foot , according to Home Advisor .
Still , the sustainable flooring textile can be prone to scratches or dents from pets , foot traffic , or appliances ; if your planks have been tinted brown through a carbonization process , they may have been made even softer and more vulnerable to such impingement . In add-on , high humidness , spill , leaks , or modest implosion therapy can cause the floor to tumefy , warp , or rot , while too dry conditions can wince and check the floor .
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
Keeping your grass green and your plants flourish does n’t just take a immature quarter round — it start with the veracious tools and supplies .