For most people, changing your flooring every year is not economically possible. Thatโs why itโs important to get the right flooring for your home or commercial premises first time. Whilst there are many different types of flooring for you to choose from, laminate and vinyl flooring are often firm favourites among interior design enthusiasts.
At first glance, both flooring types may look pretty similar. However, the reality is that there are a few key differences you will need to consider when choosing which one to install within your property. To help you make the right decision, weโre sharing our handy comparison guide on laminate vs vinyl flooring. Read on to discover which one is the best flooring option for you.ย
Our Guide To Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is designed to be both affordable and resilient. Whilst laminate flooring can have a similar appearance to more expensive flooring types, such as wood, stone, or tile, laminate flooring is a synthetic material composed of multiple layers of compressed fibreboard planks.
Usually, laminate flooring is made up of four layers. At the top is a clear layer that serves to protect the decor layer, also known as the photographic layer, that sits below it. The main body of the flooring is composed of a thick core layer of highly compressed wood fibres, with a built-in underlayment of soft foam. Letโs take a closer look at some of the qualities of laminate flooring.
Appearance
Laminate flooring has been touted for its appearance. With its embossed, high-definition photographic layer, laminate flooring can easily mimic the appearance of natural wood, stone, ceramic and various other materials. This makes it the perfect option for those looking for a more authentic finish.
Comfort
Coupled with a dense foam underlayment, laminate flooring has a warm feeling underfoot. Plus, the foam underlayment functions as a sound barrier. This makes it the perfect flooring solution for areas with lots of foot traffic.
Water Resistance And Maintenance
Itโs fairly easy to clean laminate flooring and pick up embedded dirt using dry cleaning methods, such as vacuuming or brushing, though wet mopping is a big no-no for laminate flooring since it has a fibreboard core. If the water seeps into the seams, the wood will swell or bubble once it has dried. At best, a waterlogged core can be repaired in no time. At worst, the top layer will peel away and will need to be replaced entirely.
Not to mention, pools of water can also lead to staining or fading, no matter how tight the seals in the laminate are. For this reason, itโs wise to avoid installing laminate flooring in areas where standing water is likely, such as bathrooms.
Stain Resistance
Another important factor to consider is the stain resistance of laminate flooring. As the top layer is composed of clear aluminium oxidise, this makes laminate flooring a superior stain-resistant surface that doesnโt necessarily need to be waxed or varnished.
Life Span
With proper maintenance and care, laminate flooring can last for up to 25 years. Though, this life span may be much shorter depending on the quality of the flooring and the environment.ย
Installation
Installing laminate flooring involves using a click and lock method, which is where the planks attach side-to-side. In other words, laminate flooring is a floating floor material, as it is not attached to the subfloor or underlayment.
At an angle, the tongue of one plank snaps into the groove of an adjoining plank and then lies in place. That means no grout, mortar or adhesives are required to install laminate flooring. Although, a circular or table saw with a fine-tooth blade is required to cut the planks.
To close the seam and draw the boards together, the first plank is folded down until it is level with the other.ย
Cost
When it comes to comparing laminate vs vinyl flooring, there is a slight difference between the two in terms of the cost of materials and installation.
Whilst the initial costs associated with laminate flooring tend to be lower, you also need to consider the potential cost of replacement. If laminate flooring gets saturated with water, it may need to be replaced sooner than expected. The cost of replacing laminate flooring can really pinch your pocket, often making it the less economical option of the two.ย
Resale Value
If it is relatively new and in good condition, laminate flooring can usually command a higher resale value than vinyl flooring.
Vinyl Flooring: How Does It Compare?
Similarly, vinyl flooring is a completely synthetic material. Generally, it is made up of four different layers, as opposed to being a homogenous material. The base layer usually consists of foam or fibreglass, which acts as a cushion to make the flooring more comfortable to walk on. Sitting above this is a thick core layer of PVC, which forms the majority of the vinyl flooring and provides stability and support. Similarly to laminate flooring, the decor layer that provides the look of the flooring is protected by a clear wear layer. Here are the features of vinyl flooring.
Appearance
Vinyl flooring also looks pretty realistic as deeper embossing is possible. This is especially true for premium-quality vinyl plank or even thicker solid core vinyl flooring. Having said that, not all vinyl flooring has this realistic look – this is one of the main differences between vinyl and laminate flooring.ย
Take tile and sheet vinyl flooring for example – this is printed using an engraved cylinder to put patterns right onto the flooring substrate. This generally results in lower-quality images. For this reason, vinyl is often considered to be aesthetically inferior to laminate flooring.
Comfort
One of the great things about vinyl flooring is that it can be installed over concrete or other existing floorings. However, this can make the flooring feel cold and hard. To make vinyl flooring more comfortable to walk on, itโs a good idea to pad it with a luxury underlayment.
Water Resistance And Maintenance
Unlike laminate flooring, vinyl flooring is usually unaffected by water. In fact, vinyl flooring completely composed of polymer materials will resume its original dimensions once it has dried. Arguably, this is the key difference between vinyl and laminate flooring that makes vinyl the preferred choice for some.
Plus, vinyl is a tough and durable flooring material. Generally speaking, no matter how many layers the flooring has, it is more durable than laminate flooring. This makes vinyl flooring a good choice for commercial buildings with high traffic demands.
With this in mind, itโs no surprise that vinyl flooring has also been heralded for being easy to clean and maintain. Dissimilar to laminate flooring, vinyl flooring can be treated with a plethora of different cleaning methods – whether that be wet mopping, scrubbing vigorously with mild cleaning products or simply sweeping flooring with a brush. Older iterations of vinyl flooring with fabric or felt backing, on the other hand, are not waterproof. This makes such flooring a poor choice for areas with high levels of moisture.
Stain Resistance
Coated with a transparent urethane layer, premium vinyl flooring is usually resistant to stains. The urethra layer, also known as a wear layer, acts as a surface barrier and protects the flooring against scratches and stains.ย
Life Span
When maintained correctly, vinyl flooring can last anywhere between 10 – 20 years, or even longer in some cases. The life span of your flooring will also vary depending on the environment and quality of the materials.ย
Installation
Like laminate planks, vinyl planks can be installed using a click and lock method. Alternatively, vinyl planks can be glued to the subfloor with self-stick adhesive backing or liquid adhesive. However, installing sheet vinyl usually will require the expertise of a professional. This is because sheet vinyl is large and heavy, which makes it rather difficult to create complicated yet neat cutouts.ย
Cost
Depending on the material used, vinyl flooring can get more expensive than laminate flooring. The higher quality of the vinyl, the more expensive it will be to purchase and install.ย
Resale Value
The resale value for vinyl flooring tends to be lower than that of laminate flooring. This is especially true for lower-quality vinyl.
So, Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring: Which Is Better?
If youโre looking for a more stylish appearance as well as a comfortable feel underfoot, laminate flooring may be the best choice for you as it offers a wide range of choices. Plus, you can find good quality laminate flooring at reasonably low prices. However, if you are looking for water resistance, vinyl flooring will be the safer option, particularly when it comes to installing flooring in bathrooms, wet rooms or even kitchens.ย
Are you looking for the production of flooring shade cards, bespoke swatch samples or display boards for an array of different types of carpet and flooring, including luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), carpet tiles vinyl and accessories? Give our team at ADP Distribution a ring today on 0121 559 6783, or send us an email at enquiries@adp-distribution.co.uk to see how we can help you with your sampling requirements.
