Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring

At Refloor, we firmly believe flooring is often the foundation of any room’s vibe or aesthetic. Regarding flooring options, luxury vinyl plank (LVP / LVT) and laminate flooring continually emerge as top contenders, offering durable solutions, aesthetic appeal, cost-effectiveness, and an added bonus of smooth installation. While vinyl plank and laminate flooring seem similar, they actually have unique features. We’ll look at the features and benefits of each so you can make an informed flooring decision for your home.

Best Flooring for Homes

Both vinyl and laminate flooring are made with different methods. Vinyl planks often have five layers, with the bottom layer serving as both backing and cushion, delivering comfort and sound insulation.

On the other hand, laminate flooring, a synthetic material, is constructed with four layers pressed together, offering a blend of durability and affordability.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Laminate Flooring

Appearance and Comfort of Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring

When it comes to giving your space that personal touch, the appearance of your flooring will play a big role. The amount of designs available today allows homeowners to have unlimited options.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring, known for its softer feel, offers a gentle feel for your feet and better insulation properties that give a warmer and quieter feature. Plus, thanks to advanced printing technology, it can mimic the textures and hues of stone and even ceramic tiles.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring uses a high-definition photographic layer (yes, it’s an actual printed photograph!) that replicates the authentic look of natural wood or stone, offering diverse design options. The high-tech advancements in digital photography allow for a hyper-realistic look of wood or stone.

Laminate flooring, while slightly harder, stands out for its durability, making it a practical choice for high-traffic areas or busy homes with kids. However, it may lack the same level of warmth and soundproofing as its vinyl counterpart.

Care & Maintenance of Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring

Both luxury vinyl and laminate flooring excel with initial dry-cleaning methods such as vacuuming or dust mopping. For deeper cleaning, damp mopping with a neutral detergent is recommended. The biggest difference lies in wet mopping; luxury vinyl flooring allows for it, making it ideal for busy households with pets, kids, and occasional spills. It’s hassle-free maintenance is often an enormous plus for homeowners, from new parents to empty nesters.

Laminate flooring also promises an easy maintenance routine, although its susceptibility to moisture requires more vigilance to prevent warping or damage.

What’s the Lifespan of Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring?

Of course, we want our flooring to last a good long time. Fortunately, durability and longevity are where both flooring types shine.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

With proper care, luxury vinyl flooring can serve your home beautifully for decades. Its longevity is due to the quality of the material and the amount of foot traffic. Thicker, high-quality luxury vinyl with a 20-millimeter core can last many years, with thinner versions still offering a lifespan of less than ten years. At Refloor, our Smart-Choice Package® guarantees our luxury vinyl plank and tile for a lifetime.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring, when well-maintained, can rival vinyl in durability and offer an inexpensive choice over hardwood without the hefty price tag. With proper maintenance, it can last between 1 and 10 years but may not withstand moisture, spills, or heavy foot (or paw) traffic, as well as luxury vinyl.

Cost Considerations

Homeowners should think of the price for the flooring, and which goes easier on their budget.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Pricing for luxury vinyl flooring ranges from $6.00 to $25.00 per square foot, depending on factors like thickness, wear layer grades, and overall quality. Understanding these details is crucial, especially with many inferior flooring products in the market.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is priced between $5.00 and $20.00 per square foot, offering a more budget-friendly option for homeowners.

Which is Easier to Install?

The prospect of installing new flooring can be daunting. However, both luxury vinyl and laminate flooring boast user-friendly installation processes. When done by a team of professionals, you’ll have new flooring in time for your next family get-together.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Installation options include gluing or laying it as a floating floor, depending on the condition of the structure and the homeowner’s lifestyle.

Laminate Flooring

Most laminate floors are installed using the floating floor method. Floating floors may be slightly slippery and have less flexibility for specific usage, such as accommodating wheelchairs.

Water, Heat & Environment for Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring

Another crucial consideration is how the flooring will work within specific environments. Vinyl and laminate flooring each have their place where they will shine.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Luxury vinyl flooring is entirely waterproof, showcasing high resistance to both water and heat.

Laminate Flooring

While vulnerable to water damage, laminate flooring requires a vapor barrier over concrete. However, it remains generally unaffected by heat.

Resale Value

In the real estate market, the impact of flooring on home resale value shouldn’t be overlooked.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

High-quality luxury vinyl flooring with suitable thickness, a heavy wear layer, and quality backing offers high resale value.

Laminate Flooring

Due to its susceptibility to damage, laminate flooring typically holds a lower resale value than high-quality luxury vinyl options.

How to Find the Top Brands

Navigating the market’s vast options can be overwhelming, but certain brands stand out for their quality and innovation in luxury vinyl and laminate flooring. Refloor only works with the highest quality and reputable brands.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

For the best in durability, beauty, and advanced features choose the highest quality luxury vinyl flooring from dependable brands such as Shaw, COREtec, Timeless Designs, and Mohawk.

Laminate Flooring

For the leading brands in laminate flooring you can’t go wrong with Mohawk Laminates.

Still Can’t Decide? Contact Refloor Today!

Choosing between luxury vinyl and laminate flooring ultimately boils down to your lifestyle, budget, and specific needs. Both options offer outstanding benefits. By weighing the pros and cons detailed above, you’re well-equipped to select flooring that will not only tie a room together but the entire home beautifully. Our team can help you simplify your decision, ensuring you invest in flooring that looks stunning and withstands the test of time. Contact us today for a free consultation!