So what in the world is Co-extrusion wall panel and why should you care? WPC stands for wood – plastic – composite. It is a combination of wood fiber or wood filler and a plastic of some sort whether it be polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
The Anatomy of WPC Decking Flooring
Extruded Rigid Core – this provides WPC flooring with its dimensional stability. Now to completely confuse you, some manufacturers have eliminated any wood fibers in their core to increase its resistance to moisture and environmental factors, but we still refer to it as WPC.
Vinyl Top Layer – this layer consists of virgin vinyl as opposed to recycled plastic that may contain petroleum and other volatile chemicals.
Decorative Print Film – this layer provides the wood or tile look that makes waterproof flooring a compelling choice for any home.
Wear Layer – this is the actual surface that is walked on. It can range from a 6 mil layer to a 22-25 mil wear layer. Most are coated with a ceramic bead finish that provides an extremely durable surface.
Attached acoustic pad – more and more manufacturers are attaching a closed-cell foam pad to the bottom of the rigid core. This eliminates the need for a separate underlayment. Unlike a cork backing, the closed-cell foam has no air pockets to transmit sound therefore increasing the acoustic properties of the flooring.
So why should you care about Co-extrusion wpc decking flooring? Well for those active households waterproof flooring is a great cost effective solution that can stand up to the daily abuse you can dish out. And for those less active homes, just the piece of mind that your flooring can withstand an ice maker failure or a dishwasher mishap is priceless. Now I don’t want to be one of those that completely over-sells a product. With that said, there are some considerations to keep in mind. First, WPC flooring will scratch. As with any surface finish it is not impervious to the rock in the shoe or exposed nail in the chair leg.
WPC decking flooring can also be affected by extreme temperatures. While the core is dimensionally stable under normal conditions, the extreme heat coming through a glass sliding door can cause extreme expansion. This could potentially compromise the locking system. For those whom this is a consideration, we have a solution for you. It is called SPC flooring. But that is a story for another day.
WPC flooring is also very easy to care for. A dust mop and hardwood floor cleaner is all you need. Avoid products like Mop-N-Glow that apply a wax or polish. Never ever use a steam mop. Remember those issues with heat I mentioned? Well steam mops force extreme heat into every little cranny of your new WPC floor and will most definitely damage it over time.
Post time: Apr-12-2023