Laminate and vinyl flooring are both durable, affordable, and customizable. However, there are a lot of important contrasts, too. When you’re deciding to choose between the two, it’s best to compare their differences and similarities to make the right decision.
Let’s learn about which flooring choice is good for your home.
Comparing Vinyl Flooring vs. Laminate Flooring
Appearance and Design
When it comes to style and appearance, laminate flooring comes out as the winner here. Its realistic embossing has a closer look at hand-scraped hardwood. Vinyl flooring, on the other hand, can also look like wood with different embossing techniques, but looks great on thicker core vinyl flooring.
As compared to vinyl flooring, laminate tends to be a little thicker. That’s the reason why laminate flooring is soft underfoot.
Water Resistance
Water resistance is a major difference between laminate and vinyl flooring, with the Katter type being a winner here. Vinyl flooring is made of 100% polymer materials, which allows it to withstand heavy amounts of water. Laminate flooring, on the other hand, has limited moisture resistance. The fiberboard in these floors can soften or swell when exposed to water for a prolonged period of time. So, we can say laminate floors are not ideal for areas prone to moisture, like laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Installation
Both laminate and vinyl flooring are easy to install, depending on the flooring products you choose. Both these options are good for those looking for DIY projects. Laminate flooring only uses one method of installation: click-and-lock, whereas vinyl flooring uses both click-and-lock planks, glue down, peel-and-stick, and more.
Cleaning and Maintenance
This is another area where vinyl flooring shines. Yes, these floors are very easy to clean and maintain. You can clean them using a wet mop, or scrub them using safe cleaning agents.
Caring for laminate floors, on the contrary, can be a more delicate process because it has very limited resistance to moisture. This is why you can only use dry methods to clean these floors like a dry mop or broom.
Cost
When it comes to cost, there is no difference between laminate and vinyl flooring. Both are cost-effective flooring solutions than other flooring types like porcelain tile or hardwood.
Durability and Longevity
Even though laminate floors are durable and strong, they can damage by water. Also, if these floors get scratched, they often can’t be repaired easily. Laminate flooring can last more than 15 to 20 years with proper care and maintenance.
Vinyl flooring is known for its durability and resilience. Also, these floors can withstand higher traffic areas and can last for more than 25 years.
Conclusion: Which Floor Should You Consider?
Both vinyl flooring and laminate flooring are great for those looking for a DIY project and looking for durable and affordable floor coverings. Vinyl flooring is better than laminate because of its resistance to spills and moisture. This means you can easily install vinyl floors in every room of the house.
