Introduction

Laminate flooring’s unique design provides superior water performance. NALFA’s Surface Swell - Assembled Joint test method is a reliable means to evaluate the floor’s performance. There are four fundamental ways laminate flooring achieves this performance: through its top surface, a tight locking system, treatment of the bevels and edges, and with an enhanced core board technology. As consumers look for flooring solutions that can withstand normal everyday household spills and water challenges, the Laminate flooring industry has responded with high performance engineered innovations.


NALFA water resistance logo1. “Waterproof” and “Water-Resistant”

Waterproof and water-resistant are terms often used interchangeably when it comes to laminate flooring. Both terms refer to the ability of laminate flooring to resist surface water exposure. The degree of protection may vary from product to product, and it’s important to follow the manufacturers’ installation, maintenance, and warranty guidelines.


2. The NALFA Surface Swell - Assembled Joint Test Method:

Thankfully, NALFA offers a standardized approach to assess laminate flooring's water protection performance. This test simulates common spills and surface water exposure.


3. How a Laminate Floor Gets NALFA Certified: 

NALFA requires independent third-party product testing for certification. Manufacturers use several innovative design methods to ensure water resistance that meets the testing criteria.  

  • Top Surface
    The top of each laminate plank is already protected as part of the design and production.
  •  Tight Locking System
    Many laminate floors use a tight lock system to prevent or reduce surface water from passing through the joints or getting under the floor.
  •  Treated Bevels and Edges
    Manufacturers may treat the edge of each plank using different methods to further repel water.
  •  Enhanced Core Board
    The enhanced core board is crafted to achieve an optimal water resistance, creating a substrate that is more resistant to water penetration.


Conclusion  

NALFA certified laminate floors provide assurance that the challenges posed by common everyday spills and water exposure are met. Look for the NALFA Certification seal below for guaranteed performance.

 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Access to, and use of, NALFA’s “White Paper: Laminate Flooring Water Performance” (hereinafter “White Paper”) constitutes acceptance of the following general terms and conditions.  

Neither NALFA nor any other party/member involved in creating, producing or delivering the white paper shall be liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information described and/or contained herein and assumes no responsibility for anyone's use of the information as well as any resulting direct, incidental, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages arising out of any party’s access to, or use of the White Paper. NALFA does not guarantee the accuracy of information provided by external sources contained herein and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such data. Although the data/information contained herein has been produced and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of any information. Any Party that elects to use, reference, or rely on the information contained herein represents they do so according to their own individual business judgment exercising all appropriate care and individual analysis. Though NALFA uses the best technical standards/testing/analysis in the production of the White Paper, material therein may inadvertently include technical inaccuracies or other errors. NALFA welcomes comments on the document. NALFA may change material on the site without prior notice.