Are the differences between luxury vinyl flooring vs. laminate flooring becoming blurry and difficult to understand? 

We’re constantly interacting with clients who just aren’t sure which type of flooring is right for their space. For flooring professionals, there’s nothing worse than entering a home only to discover the homeowner wasn’t well-informed when they made their flooring decision — and now they’re paying the consequences. 

That’s why we’ve created this in-depth explanation of the differences between vinyl flooring vs. laminate and elaborated on the major attributes you need to know, from pricing and installation to water-resistance and durability.

Let’s dive into a look at the real-world applications of these differences and why they matter.

 

vinyl vs laminate

Table of Contents

What Is Vinyl Flooring?

Standard vinyl flooring is composed of four layers of materials: 

  1. The first or bottom layer is the backing and is usually made of cork or foam. It acts as the underlayment and eliminates the need for a layer between the flooring and the floor. It also provides a sound barrier and acts as a cushion to make walking on the floor more comfortable.
  2. Second is typically a waterproof layer. It’s specially designed to absorb any moisture without swelling or compromising the integrity of the floor.
  3. Next is the design layer. This third layer holds the decorative pattern and may resemble wood, marble, stone, or other high-end materials.
  4. Finally, there is the top layer. This one is built to resist wear and protects the layers beneath it from being harmed. Less-used areas can handle a thin wear layer, while high-traffic areas will need a thick wear layer to retain a long lifespan

Some types of luxury vinyl flooring may have up to 6–8 layers and may include a clear top coat layer, a cushioning layer composed of foam or felt, and a fiberglass layer that provides support and helps the flooring lie evenly.

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is created from a multiple-layer composite of organic and synthetic materials. Most types of laminate are made of 3–4 layers:

  1. The first layer is the underlayment that helps keep moisture out while providing cushioning underfoot.
  2. The second layer is the base layer. This is made from a high-density wood composite or fiberboard and gives the floor structure.
  3. Next is the design layer that gives the floor its color and look.
  4. Lastly, the wear layer is transparent and designed to protect the floor from wear and tear.

If you’re in the market for new flooring, the experienced, professional team at Interior Motives Flooring is here for you. We’ve been helping Auburn residents find their ideal flooring solutions since 1989. 

Whether you’re trying to decide between laminate vs. LVP (luxury vinyl plank) or another flooring altogether, we can provide the details needed to make the right decision for your space. Contact us today for a free estimate!

choose vinyl flooring vs laminate

5 Key Differences Between Vinyl Flooring vs. Laminate

#1: Pricing

Even if one style of flooring is much better than the other, a large difference in price can be the final deciding factor. But, when it comes to price, both luxury vinyl flooring and laminate can be relatively similar. 

Laminate is typically less expensive in most cases. However, some budget-friendly LVP styles can compete on price, especially with glue-down and thinner tongue-and-groove options. 

Higher-end luxury vinyl planks are usually far more expensive than higher-end laminate. This is mainly due to the cost of the materials and manufacturing of LVP. 

#2: Thickness

If you’re considering a remodel, an important factor in connection with cost is the height of the flooring. We recommend trying to keep different types of flooring on each level of your home at the same height. By doing so, you will avoid any tripping hazards and odd height transitions where the two floors meet.

Luxury vinyl plank flooring is typically very thin — sometimes only 2 mm. If you try to install it in a room next to an existing hardwood or laminate flooring, you may need to add additional underlayment to match the height of the existing floor. 

Purchasing and installing additional underlayment for vinyl flooring can increase your cost per square foot by over $1.

Laminate flooring, on the other hand, is typically around ½ inch thick and usually transitions well with existing carpet and hardwood. 

A Real-World Application

You want to tear out the carpet in your living room and replace it with new, inexpensive, wood-look hard surface flooring. The problem is that your hallway leading into the living room has ½ inch of existing hardwood flooring. 

You have two options to prevent any differences in flooring height:

  1. Buy laminate flooring that is ½” thick.
  2. Buy a thin LVP and install an underlayment to account for the difference in height. (e.g., 6 mm vinyl plank and ¼” underlayment).

The winner: Both are cheaper than most natural hardwood flooring, but laminate flooring will be your most cost-effective option. There are some situations where the difference in cost does NOT outweigh the benefit, though. Read on to find out more.

 

vinyl laminate

#3: Water Resistance

In kitchens, bathrooms, entries, and laundry rooms, your flooring’s resistance to water is a huge factor. 

Choosing flooring without considering the water resistance of each style can lead to some unfortunate consequences.

Luxury vinyl plank flooring is 100% waterproof. This is due to the polymer core of the flooring. When it is exposed to water, the core is unaffected. 

We feel it is important to be fully transparent, though. If you have a wood subfloor under the vinyl plank and enough water sits on the surface for hours, it can seep through the cracks, and swelling can still occur. This is the case for most types of flooring, however. So, unless flooding or leaks are involved, it does not happen often.

Laminate flooring, on the other hand, is usually not waterproof. These days, nearly all mid-high quality laminates come with some type of water resistance, such as waxed edges to repel water, but most are not 100% waterproof. 

This is due to the wood particle core of the laminate plank. When water seeps through the top layer, the laminate begins to swell up and may even delaminate. 

A Real-World Application

You just installed a brand-new laminate floor in your kitchen, unaware of its susceptibility to water. Over the first week, water from your fridge’s dispenser drips and sits on the flooring below, and you begin to notice swelling on the surface of the floor. Which flooring will hold up?

The winner: Without a doubt, LVP is the winner in resistance to water.

 

choose vinyl flooring vs laminate

#4: Installation

If you’re a DIYer, ease of installation may be an important consideration when choosing between vinyl flooring vs. laminate. The truth is that both vinyl and laminate flooring have pros and cons in this area. 

No matter what type of flooring you choose, the preparation and flatness of the subfloor are the keys to success. But some flooring options are more forgiving than others. We’ll go through both styles’ installation attributes separately.

Laminate flooring:

  • Is typically a tongue-and-groove floating floor system.
  • Hides imperfections due to the thickness of the planks.
  • Requires a power tool to cut laminate planks.
  • Comes in both built-in underlayment and underlayment-required options.

Vinyl flooring:

  • Is usually a tongue-and-groove floating floor or glue-down system.
  • Is available in thinner LVP models that may be cut without a saw.
  • Telegraphs, or visibly shows imperfections in the subflooring when thinner LVP is used. Choose a thicker, more rigid option if you are dealing with less-than-optimal subflooring.
  • Comes in both built-in underlayment and underlayment-required options. 

A Real-World Application

You just bought an older home with a less-than-optimal subfloor and chose to purchase glue-down LVP because it was the cheaper option. With minimal floor preparation, you installed the glue-down flooring and are less than satisfied with the bumps and ridges that remained visible through the flooring.

The winner: Each type of flooring could be the winner of the flooring installation category, depending on the situation. If you have a new or well-prepared subfloor, we would give vinyl plank the advantage. If you need to hide some minor imperfections, laminate may be the way to go.

 

vinyl flooring vs laminate

#5: Durability

The wear and tear of daily traffic, children, and pets is inevitable. Being proactive in your approach by choosing a flooring option that will hold up to the inevitable wear and tear is crucial. 

The good news is that vinyl and laminate flooring are both great products when it comes to durability. 

Let’s compare each of the different aspects that make a floor durable.

Scratches:

  • Saying either laminate or luxury vinyl plank is more scratch resistant than the other isn’t a fair assessment. It all depends on the protective wear layer on the top of each type of flooring.
  • With vinyl flooring, the protection is based on the thickness of the wear layer. These layers are measured in mils. Usually, vinyl planks come with 4, 6, 8, 12, or 20 mil wear layers. In the flooring industry, 12 mils or higher is considered commercial-grade flooring. If installed in a high-traffic area, 12 mils or higher should protect your flooring from most scratches.
  • Laminate flooring has its own categorization of top-layer protection. The AC rating, or Abrasion Criteria Rating, describes the level of exposure to wear and tear a style of laminate flooring can handle. 

The AC rating scale ranges from 1 to 5. An AC rating of 3 is categorized as suitable for all areas of residential space. If you install laminate in a heavy-traffic area, we recommend an AC rating of 3 or higher.

  • We give LVP with a thick wear layer a slight advantage in the scratch resistance category. If you buy a style with a strong protective layer, either option is very scratch-resistant.

Dents:

  • Laminate flooring is typically less prone to dents than vinyl plank flooring. This is due to the softer core of luxury vinyl plank. Heavy furniture without a floor protector has the potential to leave imprints on LVP over time. There are more rigid vinyl plank options, such as stone polymer composite (SPC), which will hold up better to dents.

Fading: 

  • Some styles of vinyl plank flooring can be more prone to fading over the years than laminate. If you install vinyl plank in rooms that are exposed to high levels of sunlight, we recommend moving the furniture and rugs around every once in a while to prevent floor fading.

A Real-World Application

Your old living room hardwood flooring is beyond repair. You decide to replace it with a high-quality, wide-plank laminate flooring with an AC4 protective layer. Your hope is that it will hold up better against your large dog and two children. Over a 10-year span, you are shocked at how little noticeable damage has been done to the flooring.

The winner: If you choose a high-quality laminate or LVP with a strong protective layer, it is more than likely going to hold up to your durability expectations. If we were to choose which one is more durable, we would give laminate a slight edge.

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, though. Choosing a low-quality option of either type of flooring can provide disappointing results.

Commonly Asked Questions About Vinyl Flooring vs. Laminate

Is Vinyl Flooring Better Than Laminate?

For a number of home applications, vinyl flooring is often considered to be better than laminate flooring, particularly when water resistance and durability are top considerations. However, both types of flooring have their advantages, and, in the end, the “best” choice depends on your needs and preferences.

Which Is More Economical To Install, Vinyl or Laminate?

While the two are generally comparable in price, the specific cost can vary based on the quality, style, and installation costs of the flooring. 

  • Laminate can range from $3 to $13 per square foot, including installation
  • Vinyl options, like luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile, can range from $2 to $15 per square foot, including installation

What Lasts Longer, Vinyl or Laminate Flooring?

Vinyl flooring typically has a more robust lifespan than laminate flooring. Besides longevity, vinyl also offers several additional advantages, including:

  • Cost
  • Ease of installation
  • Maintenance

Interior Motives: Your Full-Service Flooring and Installation Team in Auburn, Washington

After reading through this article, you may have a better understanding of the differences between vinyl flooring vs. laminate, but may still have questions. 

That’s where we can help!

The team at Interior Motives Flooring has over 31 years of flooring experience. We’re more than happy to hop on a phone call and help you decide which type of flooring is right for your situation.

Call us today for a free consultation for vinyl flooring installation in Auburn, WA.

 

choose vinyl flooring vs laminate