Vinyl or Laminate Flooring, Which is the Best?

Vinyl or Laminate Flooring, Which is the Best?

Most people usually get confused when it comes to vinyl or laminate flooring types. The terms and different types of manufacturing and selling points might all sound like jibber-jabber when you’re deciding on what to fit in your house or office. But which is better, Vinyl or Laminate? Here, we have tried our best to help you determine what you want and whether it is any good for you.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is made from 100 percent plastic. This composition gives it superior resistance to moisture. Water can sit on vinyl floors, even for extended periods of time without damaging the surface. Vinyl’s water resistance makes it an excellent choice for rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements where there is a greater chance that the floors will get wet. Many people are choosing to put vinyl throughout their entire home. 

Vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof because of its composition. WPC Vinyl, Wood Plastic and Polymer Composite, is waterproof thanks to its combination of thermoplastics, wood flour, and calcium carbonate. You can install it in areas where high moisture levels are present. Then there’s the newer SPC vinyl, Stone Plastic Composite, made from natural limestone powder, polyvinyl chloride, and stabilizer, also known as rigid core vinyl.

Vinyl Flooring

When considering moisture exposure, vinyl flooring is a clear winner. It also has a longer lifespan and overall durability. The making of vinyl flooring generally makes it more expensive than Laminate flooring, especially if you choose luxury vinyl flooring.

In the past, vinyl was considered aesthetically inferior to laminate. Vinyl has come a long way, so you can find vinyl flooring that mimics the look and feel of stone, tile, and wood floors with realistic accuracy when it comes to style choices.

Vinyl or Laminate Flooring

Laminate

Laminate is a wood synthetic product that simulates the look of real hardwood. It has a natural wood floor appearance that makes it popular with homeowners who like the look and style of hardwood but are looking for a more affordable option. Laminate does not perform well when it comes to water. Some types of laminate do have water-resistant properties such as waxed edges, making them water-resistant. However, they are still not as waterproof as vinyl is, and can become damaged if water was ever going to get to them for an extended amount of time.

The installation of laminate tends to be easier and faster than vinyl as it is a thicker and denser product, making it easier to work with and lock together. Subfloor prep is essential with both products but more so with the thinner vinyl flooring.

Despite their differences, laminate and vinyl are also similar in several ways.

Ease of Installation: Both types of flooring need an underlayment of some kind. Laminate and vinyl come as locking planks that click together as a floating floor on almost any subfloor type. You can also buy vinyl as glue down sheets and loose lay planks. If you have some tools and know-how, you can DIY the installation with either floor types.

Maintenance: Vinyl and laminate are both easy to keep clean. You can simply mop, vacuum, or sweep as needed. You don’t need special cleaning products or machinery to keep these floors in good shape.

Eco-Friendliness: Both types of flooring have environmentally friendly options available for purchase.

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