So what in the world is WPC flooring and why should you do precautions? WPC is a combination of wood fiber or wood filler and plastic of some sort whether it be polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). WPC was introduced in the 1990s in the form of external decking. It quickly gained fame because of its resistance to weather, decay, and rot. It took the parquet manufacturing over a decade to jump on board. From stamped-in register textures to a closed-cell foam attached pad, the selection is mind-blowing.
The Anatomy of WPC Flooring
Extruded Rigid Core – this provides WPC parquet with dimensional stability. Now to completely puzzle you, some manufacturers have eliminated any wood fibers in their core to increase its resistance to dampness and environmental factors, but we still mention it as WPC.
Vinyl Top Layer – this layer contains virgin vinyl as opposed to recycled plastic that may contain petroleum and other explosive chemicals.
Decorative Print Film – this layer provides the wood or tile look that makes water-resistant parquet a compelling choice for any home.
Wear Layer – this is the actual surface that is marched on. It can vary from a 6 mil layer to a 22-25 mil wear layer. Most are covered with a ceramic bead surface that provides an extremely hard surface.
Attached acoustic pad – more and more builders are attaching a closed-cell foam pad to the bottom of the rigid core. This removes the need for a separate underlayment. Unlike cork support, the closed-cell foam has no air pouches to transmit sound, therefore, increasing the audio properties of the parquet.
So why should you care about the WPC parquet?
Well for those active households, water-resistant terrazzo is a great cost-effective solution that can stand up to the everyday abuse you can dish out. And for those less active homes, just the peace of mind that your parquet can withstand an ice maker failure or a dishwasher mishap is invaluable. Now I don’t want to be one of those that completely oversell produce. With that said, there are some deliberations to keep in mind. First, WPC parquet will scrape. As with any surface texture, it is not impervious to the rock in the shoe or uncovered nail in the chair leg. WPC parquet can be affected by extreme heat. While the core is dimensionally steady under normal conditions, the extreme heat coming through a glass descending door can cause extreme expansion. This could potentially negotiate the locking system. For those for whom this is a thought, we have a solution for you.
WPC parquet is very easy to care for. A dust wash and hardwood floor cleaner are all you need. Evade products like Mop-N-Glow that apply wax or elegance. Never use a condensation mop. Well, steam mops force dangerous heat into every little nook and cranny of your new WPC floor and will most absolutely damage it over time.
One of the biggest concerns customers tell that it is the chemical off-gassing of vinyl parquet. Early in the development of vinyl flooring, phthalates were used in the plastic compounds to give it flexibility. Phthalates were used in everything from PVC pipes to medical tubes used for IV bags. The health effects have become apparent mainly in young children. The results create phthalates, but at very low levels. Their reference is to clean the floor often especially if you have a crawling child.