When you want a durable, economical and attractive flooring for your home that you can install by yourself, vinyl plank flooring and laminate flooring both stand out. They are equally easy to install for the DIYer. They cost about the same. From a distance, they look about the same. Is there any difference?
Major Differences
Vinyl flooring is all synthetic, so it can go anywhere. Limited moisture resistance dictates selective areas where laminate flooring may or may not be installed; however that is quickly changing as more and more laminates have properties to make it more waterproof, some even having a full waterproof warranty.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring similar to luxury vinyl planks in its look and method of installation. The critical difference is that its core is made from wood byproducts bonded with resins. The top surface is a hard, transparent aluminum oxide wear layer that covers the printed design layer and makes is exceptionally well with scratch resistance. The overall thickness for laminate flooring planks ranges from 6mm to 12mm.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
With vinyl plank flooring the core layer is a thicker, multi-layer PVC vinyl usually consisting of wood or limestone. Luxury vinyl flooring comes in planks or tiles that interlock side-to-side to form a floating floor. The overall thickness for vinyl plank flooring ranges from 4mm to 12mm.
APPEARANCE
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring allows for deep, realistic three-dimensional embossing on its surfaces, with accurate images of the material being portrayed—wood, ceramic, or stone.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Many types of vinyl flooring can look realistic, especially luxury vinyl plank flooring. Thicker solid core vinyl flooring will look more like wood since deeper embossing is possible.
WATER RESISTANCE
Laminate Flooring
Virtually all laminate flooring uses a fiberboard core. Because this core is a wood product, it will soften and swell if it is exposed to water. The fiberboard core will not resume its original dimensions after it has dried. Severely water-damaged laminate flooring usually needs to be replaced; it cannot be fixed.
However, with as technology improves, more and more manufactures are building laminate flooring that can withstand longer and longer periods of pooled water. Properly installed laminate flooring, with tight seams and good baseboards or moldings, can tolerate pooled water. If you can reasonably dedicate yourself to cleaning up occasional spills and puddles immediately, then laminate flooring may be used in areas of low moisture.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl plank flooring is made of 100-percent polymer materials. Luxury vinyl flooring can be fully immersed in water for long periods, dried out, then reused, completely unaffected.
CARE AND CLEANING
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is best cleaned first with dry methods, such as with a dry mop or broom. If you need to wet-clean laminate flooring, you should use only a damp mop that feels almost dry to the touch.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl flooring's strongest feature is that it is so easy to care for and clean. Vinyl flooring in good condition can be wet-mopped and, if necessary, it can be vigorously scrubbed with safe cleaning products.
DURABILITY AND MAINTENANCE
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is durable and low-maintenance. However, laminate flooring's many layers may eventually delaminate if it is exposed to water for too long. With its aluminum oxide wear layer though, laminate offers superior scratch resistance.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Lower quality vinyl flooring may delaminate. Also, self-stick vinyl flooring tiles can loosen over time. On the whole, though, vinyl flooring is a tough flooring material that will stand up to high traffic demands.
STAIN RESISTANCE
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is pressure-laminated with several layers, the top being a clear aluminum oxide layer that is superior for stain resistance.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Quality vinyl flooring is coated with a transparent urethane layer that provides excellent stain-resistance.
COMFORT AND SOUND
Laminate Flooring
Though laminate flooring does not feel like wood, it does have a warm feeling, especially when coupled with premium-quality underlayment.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl floors of all types can feel cold or hard on the feet, especially when they are installed over concrete or existing ceramic tile floors.
WHICH FLOORING SHOULD YOU BUY?
No flooring is universally better or worse than the other flooring. Vinyl flooring is best for laundry rooms, wet bathrooms, and mudrooms. If you are installing flooring in those rooms, you'll probably want to choose vinyl flooring simply on the basis of moisture-resistance. For dry areas, laminate flooring works well. Buyers usually will find more style options with laminate flooring over vinyl flooring.
TOP BRANDS
Laminate Flooring
Mannington Restorations, Mohawk Revwood, Quick-Step
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Coretec, ToughLock, Cali, MSI, Shaw