What Are the Differences Between Vinyl and Laminate Flooring?
Both laminate and vinyl flooring stand out as attractive options that are sturdy, affordable, and customizable. Both are simple to install, cost approximately the same, and may even share a similar appearance up close.
Although there are some significant distinctions between vinyl and laminate floors, When you see them in person, you might need help to distinguish between them.
Differences Between Vinyl and Laminate Flooring the primary distinction between vinyl flooring and laminate is that, in contrast to laminate, most vinyl floors are waterproof or water-resistant. As a result, vinyl flooring may be installed in almost any place and is a better option for spaces prone to dampness, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
Vinyl and laminate flooring have some key differences. Vinyl is 100% synthetic, while laminate uses a fiberboard core constructed of wood byproducts. This means that vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof, while laminate flooring is not waterproof. Vinyl flooring is best in high-moisture areas and it’s easy to keep clean, while laminate floors are water-resistant but not waterproof.
Video: What is the difference between laminate and vinyl flooring?
Laminate & Vinyl Flooring articles Lay Laminate Wood Flooring and Install Glue Down Vinyl Plank Flooring
Principal distinctions between vinyl and laminate
If you want attractive and durable flooring, laminate and vinyl are fantastic choices. However, before choosing the best flooring material for your home, remember that while they share many characteristics, they also have a few significant differences.
A laminated floor
Laminate is a synthetic material many homeowners prefer to imitate the look of natural hardwood flooring because it was one of the first artificial alternatives to solid wood floors. The high-density core board is the base layer, and a melamine wear layer on top is a scratch-resistant top layer.
Differences Between Vinyl and Laminate Flooring
The melamine wear layer provides a durable finish that can withstand normal wear and tear, but it doesn’t work well when exposed to dampness.
Vinyl Floors
Today’s vinyl varieties, previously only available in glue-down forms installed directly on the subfloor, allow for floating installation; instead of being directly attached to the subfloor beneath it, they use a click-and-lock installation method allows them to “float” on top of the subfloor.
Design and Appearance
Although laminate and vinyl or luxury vinyl flooring look similar, hand-scraped hardwood, ceramic, stone, and other materials can look more like laminate flooring.
Laminate
The finished appearance of laminate tends to more closely resemble the look of high-quality materials like wood, ceramic, or stone,b Although there are many different designs of laminate and vinyl flooring, colors, and patterns. Three-dimensional embossing on laminate surfaces makes creating highly realistic replicas of natural materials possible. Modern imaging technology allows for this to happen at a fraction of the cost.
Vinyl
Vinyl has advanced significantly in terms of stylistic options, and it can now be manufactured to seem like materials like stone, tile, and wood. In addition, more captivating and lifelike visual designs are now available for vinyl flooring due to ongoing advancements in flooring technology.
Resistance to Water
Vinyl flooring outperforms laminate regarding resistance to moisture, which distinguishes the two types of flooring most significantly. Laminate flooring also contains wood byproducts that can’t withstand moisture, unlike luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, and other luxury vinyl floor kinds, typically constructed with 100% waterproof materials.
Guide to contrasting vinyl and laminate flooring
Before beginning your subsequent assignment, learn the important parallels and contrasts.
Laminate and vinyl flooring are typically the top two choices when looking for a long-lasting, affordable, stylish floor covering for your home that you can install yourself. They are both similarly appealing, equally simple to install, and around the same price. . They look similar at first glance and from a distance.
Do they differ in any way?
Unfortunately, yes. Although vinyl and laminate are similar in many ways, the significant variances could impact the flooring choice and installation location. Continue reading to learn the advantages and disadvantages of laminate and vinyl flooring.
Vinyl and laminate flooring comparison
There are numerous similarities between vinyl and laminate flooring, including affordability and ease of installation. In addition, synthetic flooring options are available in a range of hues, textures, and patterns to go with the current decor in your house. However, despite having many similarities, there are some distinct variances between the two types of flooring. See them here:
Design and Appearance
Laminate flooring is slightly higher in appearance and style. This is because it has more realistic embossing closely resembling the hand-scraped hardwood look. With the right embossing processes, vinyl can mimic wood, but thicker core vinyl flooring gives the most excellent and authentic look.
The components that make up vinyl and laminate flooring are different. The fiberglass-based base layer of vinyl sheets is covered in PVC vinyl and a plasticizer. Then, wear protection layers like no-wax polyurethane are applied before it is embossed with a design.
On the other hand, laminate has a core formed of waste wood. Then a resin is used to seal it. Next, a transparent plastic layer is a top layer you walk on, protecting against wear. Finally, your preferred color and pattern are applied over the design layer. Standing or walking on laminate feels warmer and softer since it is typically thicker than vinyl flooring.
Resistance to Water
The main area of distinction between laminate and vinyl flooring is water resistance, with vinyl coming out on top in this regard. Since most contemporary vinyl floors are comprised entirely of polymer materials, they can withstand significant moisture levels. As a result, vinyl sheets allow you to apply a single sheet for a room, preventing water from seeping through seams.
Laminate is only moderately resistant to moisture. Most items have a fiberboard core, which can swell or soften if exposed to dampness over an extended period. In addition, the top layers may finally start to peel off due to this soggy center.
Installation
Depending on the sort of flooring goods you choose, installing laminate and vinyl floors can be very simple. For those who favor DIY projects, they can all be worthwhile choices.
The installation method for laminate flooring is click-and-lock. In other words, the seam is closed when the boards are fastened into the groove of the following planks. Most laminate projects are completed as “floating” floors, enabling you to put them over your current flooring. To reduce parts to fit your floor, use a standard table saw.
More installation options are available with vinyl. You can choose from click-and-lock planks, peel-and-stick, glue-down, and other options. However, being hefty and requiring precise cutting to fit around the contours and angles in your room, sheet vinyl is a little trickier to work with. It could therefore need to be installed by a professional.
The Upkeep and Cleaning
Cleaning and maintaining vinyl flooring is simple. You can use safe cleaning solutions to scour the floors for spills that won’t come clean with a wet mop. Vinyl may be cleaned using various techniques and only requires occasional cleaning.
Due to its low moisture resistance, maintaining and cleaning laminate flooring can be a more delicate task. Use a broom or dry mop as the ideal dry cleaning tools. If you must mop, use a moist mop that feels nearly dry. Laminate often requires little upkeep aside from that.
Cost
The cost of vinyl and laminate flooring is comparable. Both are less expensive than other types of flooring, like hardwood or porcelain tile. However, vinyl can be more expensive than other luxury flooring options.
The average square foot price for laminate flooring is between $1 and $5. However, the cost will vary according to the design styles you select and the thickness of the flooring materials you use.
Simply glued-down sheet vinyl floors cost about $1 per square foot. For luxury vinyl planks, costs can go as high as $5 per square foot. However, high-end luxury vinyl offers additional advantages for your money, including a unique waterproof core and a thicker wear layer.
Longevity and Resilience
Although laminate flooring is robust and long-lasting, water damage can still cause harm. Additionally, if scratches develop on the top layer, they frequently cannot be fixed. The average laminate floor can last between 10 and 25 years. However, this is greatly influenced by regular cleaning and upkeep.
Setup • Vinyl flooring
It’s simple to install vinyl flooring. Both loose-lay and glue-down installation options are available. Vinyl flooring with a liquid adhesive or a self-stick adhesive backing is available in the shape of tiles or planks. Another name for loose-lay vinyl flooring is floating floor: But not to the subfloor; planks only fasten side to side.
Flooring made of laminate.
Laminate flooring is floating floors in all cases. Planks are attached side to side like vinyl flooring. It is immobile due to the floor’s weight and friction. Like vinyl flooring, laminate flooring may also be readily cut by making a score with a utility knife and breaking it off.
Vinyl flooring; resale value
As lifelike and thicker goods have reached the market in recent years, vinyl flooring, which has historically performed poorly in resale value, has grown in stature. But compared to laminate flooring, vinyl flooring typically has a lower resale value.
Flooring made of laminate.
The resale value of high-quality laminate flooring is lower than that of solid hardwood and engineered wood. However, laminate flooring still has a higher resale value than most vinyl varieties.
Vinyl Flooring from Top Brands
• Armstrong
• CoreTEC
• Cryntel
• Karndean
• Mannington
• Metroflor
A laminated floor
• Armstrong
• AquaGuard
Dream House
• Mohawk
• Pergo
• Shaw
How to Select Flooring Between Laminate and Vinyl
The following information will help you choose between laminate and vinyl flooring for every room in your home.
Resilient vinyl flooring has gained popularity and will hold about 29 percent of the flooring market share in 2020, leaving laminate in the dust with a 12.5 percent share, according to Statista.
It wasn’t always like this. Millions of households continue to prefer laminate over vinyl despite laminate having previously enjoyed more popularity. As low-cost substitutes for hardwood, tile, and other conventional flooring materials, laminate and vinyl plank flooring were introduced to the North American market at about the same time.
FAQ
Describe vinyl flooring.
As sheets, tiles, or planks join to create a floating floor, vinyl flooring is a rugged and water-resistant floor that is simple to install. It is excellent for kitchens, baths, and other house parts.
What distinguishes vinyl flooring from laminate flooring?
Unlike vinyl flooring, laminate flooring is not entirely watertight. Although they are made somewhat differently, both types of flooring are stain-resistant and have the option of underlayment. Vinyl flooring is manufactured from artificial polymers, while laminate uses a fiberboard core of leftover wood.
Which flooring is easier to maintain, vinyl or laminate?
Neither kind of flooring needs to be swept. However, in contrast to laminate flooring, which should only be cleaned with a nearly dry mop, new vinyl floors can be wet mopped.
