Best flooring contractors near Milford, IL

Porcelain tile, ceramic tile, and polished concrete come closest to fully waterproof, since water cannot pass through the material itself. Floors with a fiberboard core, like some waterproof laminate, resist water but absorb standing spills over time. Wipe up spills quickly to protect any floor.

Plywood is the best type of subfloor for a mobile home, though if you’re installing flooring in a bathroom, you may want to install a vapor barrier or use a moisture-proof subfloor material like Amdry. OBS is similar, but it can swell when moisture is present. 

Either way, old mobile home subflooring made from particleboard can cause issues with your joints. If you’re replacing your subfloor, it’s best to upgrade to plywood.

In most cases, you do not need to put padding or underlayment under carpet tiles. Unlike traditional carpet, which requires a separate pad, carpet tiles are designed to be installed directly onto a firm subfloor like plywood, concrete, or tile. Many carpet tiles come with a built-in underlay and attach with peel-and-stick adhesive, double-sided carpet tape, or glue. For a more comfortable, cushioned feel, especially in residential settings, you can opt for padded carpet tiles that have a thicker underlay attached. While it's generally not recommended to install a separate pad, a compact underlayment might be used in some situations, though this typically requires professional installation. An acoustic underlay may also be considered in commercial spaces or multi-level homes where noise reduction is a priority.

New flooring costs quite a bit, so longevity is important to think about. Concrete generally has the longest life span, but it’s not always a good solution for homes with wooden subfloors. That said, hardwood floors and stone floors can last up to 100 years, and you can refinish or restore them to remove imperfections from daily wear.