When you live in a flood zone such as a coastal community or city where there is frequent rain or a high water table, there are special considerations you should take when choosing flooring for your home. Water damage cleanup companies tear out carpet more than any other flooring during flooding because it is prone to mold and mildew after being saturated in water. Laminate flooring is also prone to peeling, curling, or warping after it’s been saturated. Replacing your flooring can be the most labor-intensive and expensive parts of water damage cleanup. If you buy a home where flooding has occurred, you should consider replacing the flooring with these top flood-resistant materials.
Tile-Tile flooring is adhered to the concrete slab using mortar when the home is in a coastal, humid, or floor prone climate. Avoid using mastic adhesive as it is not water-resistant. The tile material is impervious and resistant to mold and mildew. Porcelain grade tiles are the highest-rated for durability and density. Tile is also extremely easy to work with during water damage cleanup if a flood does happen.
Treated Concrete- Concrete floors that have been treated refer to a coating that is applied such as epoxy or stain. Epoxy is common for garages and basements because it is oil and solvent resistant. Concrete floors are not typically found inside homes; however, if you choose not to install flooring and have just the concrete subflooring, a stain can help add color and dimension.
Rubber Flooring- This nonpermanent flooring is great to use in basements in flood prone areas. Rubber flooring comes in large rollout mats and is water and mold resistant. Rubber flooring can be adhered to the concrete floor using double sided carpet tape and if water damage cleanup is ever needed due to flooding, the flooring can be rolled up and carried out easily to get cleaned and dry.
If you don’t know which flooring type is best for your home, make sure to talk to your restoration team about their recommendations for flood-resistant flooring. They can let you know the most durable types available in your area.
If you need to talk to a professional about a water damage cleanout in your home, call ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh at 412-376-4645.