Whenever it comes to the flooring of your home renovation or remodeling, you consider everything to be perfect so that your living place could look much appealing. And, the first thing that you might consider is the home flooring. Because it is the floor covering which makes any or every area of your home worth demanding and glorifies its beauty. With so many options available, obviously, it is difficult for you to select the perfect floor covering for your dearest home place. Well, most people look out for affordable, durable, and adorable floor covering.
With that being said, there come two options, laminate, and vinyl flooring. They both entertain you with so many advantages. Like, they both are easy to install, available at a reasonable price, give your home space a while ravishing look, and are highly durable. Yet, some people get confused between both of them, i.e. which flooring is best. Therefore, here in this article, we brought you up with a comparison guide of laminate and vinyl so that you could know everything about them, i.e. pros and cons. So that you could make a standard choice.
Introduction to Laminate And Vinyl Flooring
First thing first, if you dont know anything about vinyl and laminate flooring. Well, there is a little bit of explanation which is important for you to know. And, then we will move towards the frequently asked question, i.e. whats better vinyl or laminate flooring. So, lets start with the introduction, i.e. what laminate and vinyl floorings basically are?
Laminate Flooring
Talking about laminate flooring, it is generally manufactured with synthetic material. This amazing floor covering is manufactured in such a way that it replicates the look of hardwood flooring. Hence, people usually like to install it as their home space gain a classy look at the affordable price exactly like a hardwood flooring gives which is much expensive.
This flooring consists of four main layers, and the thickness of this professionally designed flooring ranges from 6mm to 12mm. The very top layer of this amazing flooring is a transparent plastic layer which usually protects the design imprinted on its lower surface.
Vinyl Flooring
Usually, some people think that what is a vinyl floor. Vinyl flooring is actually 100% synthetic material and comes up in two forms, i.e. vinyl sheet or vinyl planks. Thus, you can install any of them according to your own requirements. The base of this floor covering is manufactured with fiberglass and then it is coated in PVC vinyl. That layer then gets imposed on the printed surface for an attractive look.
If we talk about the thickness of this beautifully designed floor covering, it ranges from 1.5mm for the vinyl sheets to 5mm for vinyl planks. This proves that it is durable and can run longer with you if you invest your money by making a purchase on it.
Appearance Of Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring
After having a brief introduction on both of these amazing floor coverings, now its time to go in some depth and learn about the appearance of laminate and vinyl flooring. Because everyone wants to make their home space look adorable, thus lets have a look at how these floors will glorify your space with their graceful appearance.
Laminate Flooring
Ideally, laminate flooring is well-known to replicate the exact look of hardwood flooring. Thus, it will create a classy and elegant look of the space with its grace. No one could ever know if it is real hardwood flooring or the laminate flooring under their feet. This beautiful flooring comes up in many colors and patterns so that you could get the one accordingly.
Vinyl Flooring
No doubt, vinyl flooring can also replicate the look of hardwood flooring in a very perfect way, but not more than that of laminate flooring. Moreover, vinyl flooring comes up not only in the replicated look of hardwood flooring. You can have it in many other designs or patterns which gonna gleam of your any or every area of the home making it look much more modernized.
Resistance Of Laminate versus Vinyl Flooring
Knowing which flooring is more resistant is the most important thing. Because the durability of the floor covers all demons in its resistant nature. Either it is water-resistant or not, heat resistant or not, etc.
Laminate Flooring
Unfortunately, laminate flooring is not resistant to water, thus it is not recommended to get it installed in moisture-prone areas. Because the core of this floor covering is manufactured with fiberboard which, obviously is wood. And, when it gets exposed to the water, it will get swelled.
The worst thing is it will not come back to its original condition even after getting completely dried. In short, it cannot be fixed after getting exposed to water, thus requiring high maintenance. Moreover, it cannot bear the direct heat for a very long time. Or, it will start discoloring itself, which gonna give your precious place a flat tone.
Vinyl Flooring
If we talk about the old versions of vinyl flooring, which are usually much cheaper, they are poorly resistant to water and heat. Thus, those versions start getting the wear and tear in no time, making a waste of your money. But, with the new innovations, the modern versions, i.e. vinyl sheets or vinyl planks are 100% waterproof.
These versions are made to withstand even the heavy exposure of water. Thus, it tends to run much longer with you, saving all the money that you invested in it. Unlike water, it is not good to be heat resistant but wont show any discoloration immediately like laminate flooring.
Areas Of Application Of Vinyl And Laminate Flooring
Now, you know much about vinyl and laminate flooring, now lets discuss in which area you can install vinyl or laminate. So that, while installation or selection, you wont make a poor decision.
| Areas of Application | Laminate Flooring | Vinyl Flooring |
| Bathrooms | Shouldnt be installed | Can get installed |
| Kitchen | Can get installed (but not recommended) | Can get installed |
| Bedroom | Can get installed | Can get installed |
| Living Room | Can get installed | Can get installed |
| Mudroom | Shouldnt be installed | Can be installed |
Maintenance Of Vinyl And Laminate Flooring
Well, it is necessary to keep the home flooring properly maintained so that your home space could always look neat and clean. This thing keeps adding charm to the beauty of your home dcor. Most people look for flooring which requires low maintenance, so you should know either vinyl flooring is low maintenance or laminate.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate floor covering is durable and requires low maintenance in all cases except one. As it is not resistant to water so you have to take care of that thing. Otherwise, once it gets exposed to the water and gets damaged, it wont get repaired. You have to replace the entire flooring which obviously will require a lot of money.
Vinyl Flooring
Although vinyl flooring gets stick to the subfloor with the use of some adhesives during the installation process, which might get loosened over time. Yet, it is much more durable than laminate flooring and requires almost no maintenance if gets compared with laminate. Moreover, it is a tough flooring that is made to withstand heavy foot traffic, water exposure, and direct sunlight.
Cost Of Vinyl And Laminate Flooring
As you know everything about laminating vinyl, it is also important to know what is the cost of both. So that you could make a standard choice while standing on your own budget.
Laminate Flooring
The cost of laminate flooring demons on the thickness, actually. Although it is much reasonable still the price varies with the thickness. The more thick floor covering you choose, the more expensive it will be.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is available usually at a low rate than laminate flooring as its cost demons on its per square feet. You can easily get this amazing floor covering at the best price.
Pros & Cons Of Vinyl And Laminate Flooring
Well, there are some pros and cons of each floor which you should know before you make a purchase on your home flooring.
Laminate Flooring
Firstly, lets discuss all the major pros and cons of laminate flooring
| Some Abounding Pros | Some Major Cons |
| Available at an affordable rate | Not resistant to water |
| Easy to get cleaned | Cannot get fixed |
| Comes up in a huge mesmerizing variety regarding pattern or design | Might need the replacement after 9-10 years |
| Can perfectly replicate the look of hardwood flooring | |
| Comfortable under feet | |
| Gives your home space an aesthetic look |
Vinyl Flooring
Now, here are some pros and cons of vinyl flooring, as well, which are as follows:
| Some Legit Perks | Some Major Drawbacks |
| Easy to Install | Heavy appliances can cause dents if you constantly move the furniture in and out |
| Much Affordable | |
| 100% resistant to water | |
| Highly durable | |
| Give the home space an adorable look |
Some Major Differences Between Laminate And Vinyl Flooring
At the last, here are some major differences between both of them to make you clear up everything. So that, you could select the one according to your own requirements.
| Vinyl Flooring | Laminate Flooring |
| The core of vinyl flooring is made up of plastic | The core of laminate flooring is made up of wood byproduct |
| Vinyl flooring is highly resistant to water exposure | Laminate flooring is bad resistant to water |
| This amazingly designed flooring requires almost no maintenance | You have to take care of it in the case of water exposure |
| You can get it cleaned by using only a mop | Use of mop if not recommended |
| It is manufactured by using 100% polymers and no organic content | It is manufactured by using fiberboard which is made up of wood |
To Curl Up
At the end of this article, I will highly recommend first checking your own requirements and then going out to make a purchase on the flooring you want to install. Thus, after knowing everything about vinyl and laminate now, it is safe to say that you are going to make a standard choice. Both of them have their own significance and play their own unique roles, hence you should select the one accordingly.
