In short, yes, water performance levels really matter when it comes to buying vinyl flooring. You'll need to pay special attention to how well your vinyl flooring can resist water, especially if you're planning on putting it down in the bathroom or the kitchen.
Water-resistant vinyl flooring can only usually withstand minor spillages for about 24 hours.
This means that this type of flooring is best suited to use in hallways and living rooms, where the chances of regular spills are almost zero.
The price of water-resistant flooring is usually cheaper than that of waterproof flooring, but you will probably have to replace it much more often.
We usually don't recommend just water-resistant flooring to families that have children or individuals living with pets, as both of them can very easily cause spills and subsequent damage without intending to.
Waterproof vinyl flooring ranges from being able to withstand water damage for about 72 hours, to being completely unaffected by spills and water damage.
Obviously, the more expensive the flooring, the longer it will stay in good condition before becoming damaged by water.
This is the best type of flooring for bathrooms since the floors in there are exposed to water and steam almost daily.
Though it is more expensive than just water-resistant vinyl flooring, we believe that the investment is worth it, as the flooring will definitely last you much longer.