Vinyl vs. laminate flooring - how to choose the best one for your home

Most Vinyl and all Laminates are floating floors because they are not directly attached to the floor but locked together without glue or nails.

However, while laminate and vinyl flooring seem similar at face value, this article will show you their significant differences to help you decide on the perfect flooring for your home.

1. What is vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring is made from 100% synthetic material like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other additives. Vinyl flooring has a wear layer that preserves the color and design from the effects of the sun and other wear and tear. The three popular types of vinyl flooring are luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP), luxury vinyl tile flooring (LVT), and sheet vinyl flooring.

2. What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is a type of synthetic floating floor made of several layers of materials laminated together. It consists of a high-density fiberboard base and a realistic photographic layer mimicking the appearance of natural flooring materials like wood, stone, or tile.

Contrary to vinyl flooring, Laminate flooring comes in only plank shape with a tongue and groove system for clicking and locking. The core of a Laminate floor is made from the byproduct of natural wood, making it susceptible to moisture.

3. Laminate vs vinyl flooring

3.1 Durability

Although both flooring options are durable, one is more durable than the other. Vinyl flooring can last up to 25 years, especially thick luxury vinyl flooring. Laminate flooring can last up to 10 to 20 years if correctly maintained.

The maintenance culture contributes significantly to the durability of both vinyl and laminate flooring.

3.2 Aesthetics

Luxury vinyl plank flooring has the realistic appearance of a wooden or tiled floor, but all Laminate floors have high-definition layer prints. With cheap vinyl flooring, you can quickly tell that the flooring is synthetic, but Laminate floors appear more original. You can also get a wide range of colors, textures, and patterns with Laminate floors.

3.3 Comfort

Laminate flooring provides more foot comfort than Vinyl flooring. This is mostly when the vinyl flooring is installed without laying an underlayment. Also, choose thicker vinyl or laminate because they provide excellent foot comfort.

3.4 Water resistance

Vinyl flooring is designed to be water-resistant, so they dont warp or crumble with water exposure. Laminate flooring is made from high-density fiberboard with a wood base core, making it susceptible to excess moisture.

3.5 Installation system

Vinyl floors are installed in different forms; some are floating so they are not glued to the subfloor, while others need to be glued. In all, the installation of vinyl flooring is easy, even for a beginner. Yet, Laminate floors are all floating floors. They use the tongue and groove installation and are equally DiY-friendly.

3.6 Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining vinyl flooring is far easier than Laminate floors. You dont need to do so much to learn how to clean vinyl plank flooring because the process is almost seamless. As long as you avoid harsh chemicals and abrasives, your vinyl flooring will continue to shine bright.

However, when it comes to laminate flooring, the cleaning and maintenance process is more delicate. You dont want to use wet mops carelessly to avoid damaging the flooring. Only slightly damp microfiber cloths and mops are ideal.

4. How to choose between vinyl and Laminate flooring

Its essential to make your choice based on your family’s unique preferences. A few factors to guide your selection include:

4.1 Room/space purpose

Laminate and vinyl floors are excellent flooring materials, but because of their composition, Laminate cannot be used in all the spaces in your home. Vinyl can conveniently serve every space of your home, but laminate floors are not ideal for the bathroom, the laundry, and outdoor areas.

Some people go ahead and use it in the kitchen, but it’s not advisable to use Laminate in the kitchen, especially if you have a large family.

4.2 Maintenance culture

If you have kids, you will need to do a lot of regular floor cleaning. Its easier to clean Vinyl floors than Laminate floors. Vinyl floors can also withstand moisture and more traffic than laminate floors. If you are not able to maintain your floors regularly, choose vinyl flooring.

4.3 Budget

The prices of vinyl and laminate floors are almost similar, but vinyl comes in a range of prices depending on quality. Choose the flooring material that falls within your budget but choose quality.

4.4 Aesthetics

What would you like your space to look like after installation? Determine your preferred aesthetics and choose accordingly. Although both vinyl and laminate floors mimic natural materials, laminate is argued to have better aesthetics. Choose what works for your space.

5. Which is more scratch-resistant, vinyl or laminate flooring?

Laminate and vinyl flooring are both scratch-resistant. However, vinyl flooring is more resistant because the top wear is made of strongly synthetic material that serves as protection from scratches, dents, and stains.

6. Which looks more realistic, Vinyl or Laminate flooring

Vinyl and laminate flooring both try to mimic the appearance of natural flooring materials like wood, natural stones, and tiles.  However, Laminate flooring looks more realistic than Vinyl flooring because it uses high definition to capture the precise resemblance to the natural materials.

7. Is it better to do vinyl or Laminate flooring?

Asking the question of which is better, Laminate or vinyl flooring, may not be the right approach. Both flooring materials have their pros and cons, so your choice should be based on preferences like lifestyle, purpose, taste, and budget.

For instance, vinyl flooring is best for dry rooms like the bedroom, sitting room, dining room, etc., and rooms like the bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry room. Because of the convincing appearance of Laminate floors, you can install them in your living room, bedroom, hallways, etc.  In all, please keep it away from a room exposed to water.

The installation quality of your laminate or vinyl flooring also contributes to its durability and longevity.

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