The comparison of laminate vs vinyl flooring on the basis of pros and cons is always in the minds of homeowners. Laminate and vinyl come under the list of the most admired flooring materials for residential and commercial projects. Both of these materials come with their special attributes. After watching this video, you will get a comprehensive idea of laminate vs luxury vinyl flooring on the basis of cost, quality, and more.
Laminate flooring
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Laminate flooring is made with multiple layers of various materials fused under high temperatures and pressure. The underlying layer comprises cork or foam which absorbs impact, evens out imperfection, and keeps moisture away from the bottom layer. Also, the base or foundation layer is made up of melamine which makes the flooring water-resistant.
MDF or HDF is used as the core of laminate flooring. Pattern layers of these floorings come with 3D photographs of the real, natural wood grain. However, the wear layer used is a mixture of aluminium oxide powder, melamine, and urethane.
Luxury vinyl flooring
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Traditional sheet vinyl flooring remains the ideal option for areas where moisture and stain resistance are concerns. These rooms include kitchens, basements, and bathrooms. Standard vinyl, however, is created from a very thin layer of vinyl that has been decorated and coated for protection. It can feel fairly hard underfoot, especially if laid on concrete, and it is prone to gouging and tearing.
Due to this, producers developed luxury vinyl flooring, often known as LVF. It is available as either luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) or semi-rigid luxury vinyl planks (LVP). In fact, if they don’t choose more premium (and pricey) hardwood, ceramic, or stone tiles, many people are left discussing luxury vinyl vs. laminate as acceptable options.
Laminate vs luxury vinyl plank flooring
Difference #1 – Appearance and design
Laminate flooring: It resembles hardwood and is available in a wide range of styles, colours as well as patterns.
Vinyl flooring: Most luxury vinyl tiles comprise plastic along with an image layer below the wear layer to give it an appearance similar to wood.
Difference #2 – Cost
Laminate flooring: The cost of laminate flooring ranges from Rs. 80 per sq. ft and can go up to Rs. 400 per sq. ft.
Vinyl flooring: The cost of basic vinyl flooring in India is somewhere around Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per square foot while luxury vinyl flooring might cost you around Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per square foot.
Difference #3 – Maintenance
Laminate flooring: Laminates are not completely water resistant due to this you must make sure that water doesn’t pool along the surface for long. The good thing with laminate floors is that they don’t lose their vibrance when exposed to sunlight.
Vinyl flooring: Luxury vinyl floorings are highly water resistant. They can be easily cleaned with any method possible. Just make sure that these floorings are not under direct contact with sunlight as this will make the loose colour.
Difference #4 – Durability
Laminate flooring: If maintained properly laminate floors can last anywhere between 10 to 15 years. However, if these floorings are in contact with too much moisture for long periods they will swell up.
Vinyl flooring: Vinyl floorings are one of the toughest flooring materials and can last up to 25 years without any major maintenance.
Difference #5 – Heat resistance
Laminate flooring: Laminates contract and expand with changes in temperature which makes them prone to heat damage.
Vinyl flooring: Even vinyl floorings can get damaged with the extremely high-temperature increase but, mild inversion is not going to have an impact on them.
Difference #6 – Installation
Laminate flooring: Anyone who is good at DIY procedures can install laminates easily using the click-and-lock installation method. It requires minimum tools and effort as compared to other flooring types.
Vinyl flooring: Vinyl floorings are also DIY friendly. They can be installed using any standard flooring technique like the click-and-lock method.
Difference #7 – Resale value
Laminate flooring: Since laminate floorings are closer to natural floorings in composition as compared to vinyl, they have a decent resale value.
Vinyl flooring: These floorings have a low resale value as once used, they can barely be recycled.
Difference #8 – Eco-friendliness
Laminate flooring: The only component which adds a bit of natural aspect to laminates is the plywood core. Otherwise, due to their artificial surface layer and adhesives used in manufacturing, they aren’t eco-friendly at all.
Vinyl flooring: As vinyl is a completely artificial material it’s nowhere on the list of nature-friendly floorings. However, in present times some companies manufacture laminates that emit less amount of harmful materials.
Difference #9 – Protection against stains
Laminate flooring: The top layer of laminates is composed of melamine and aluminium oxide which makes it resistant to different kinds of stains.
Vinyl flooring: The thick upper layer of vinyl is generally composed of transparent urethane and offers amazing protection against stains as well.
Laminate vs vinyl flooring – Application area
| Rooms | Vinyl flooring | Laminate flooring |
| Bedrooms | Yes | Yes |
| Bathrooms | Yes | No |
| Living rooms | Yes | Yes |
| Dining rooms | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen | Yes | Yes |
| Halls | Yes | Yes |
Vinyl flooring or Laminate flooring – Which is better?
After this comparison, it’s clear that both of these flooring materials come with some exceptional qualities. If you prefer flooring materials that look more natural and are more comfortable, you can choose laminate flooring. However, if you want to install modern-looking and more highly water-resistant flooring, you can choose vinyl flooring.
Top brands
Laminate flooring
- Greenlam laminates
- Merino laminates
- Century laminate flooring
- Unilin Quickstep
- Pergo laminate flooring
Vinyl flooring
- Pergo
- Kajaria Tiles
Wrapping up
After this comparison of laminate vs luxury vinyl flooring on the basis of pros and cons, you can make a better purchase decision. Moreover, these materials are DIY-friendly flooring options. However, think about your needs before their installation. If you don’t want to compromise water resistance, you can use vinyl. However, if you want a natural texture, you can use laminates.
