Laminate vs. Vinyl: Which Flooring Option Is Right For Me?
While offering more than a fair share of similarities, laminate and vinyl are vastly different flooring options. With each one comes its own set of advantages and disadvantages. To decide which one is right for you, read our blog below!
Care & Maintenance
Both laminate and vinyl flooring offer simple care and maintenance for homeowners.
Laminate requires only basic broom sweeping to continue looking great and functioning well. When it comes to spills and stains, laminate can handle them reasonably well, but if you don’t address them quickly, they can damage your laminate long-term. One thing to note about laminate vs. vinyl is that laminate doesn’t handle moisture nearly as well as vinyl.
Vinyl is tougher and more durable than laminate, and thus, it will require less care. Sweeping your vinyl will ensure it continues to look great and age well. The same is true of stain and spill treatment. Treat your vinyl well consistently, and it won’t require much labor.
Durability
With laminate’s lower price point comes slightly less durability than vinyl flooring. Overall, laminate floors are susceptible to water and moisture damage, but any damage can be avoided by addressing spills and liquid messes as they occur. As a flooring option, laminate handles wear and tear pretty well in that it is tough on scratches, scuffs, nicks, and more.
Vinyl flooring is more durable than laminate because it can better handle moisture. Because of this, vinyl is slightly more versatile and can go in various rooms throughout a home. Like laminate, vinyl is tough on scratches, spills, and nicks.
According to Forbes, laminate flooring can last 15-25 years. Forbes has vinyl lasting closer to 25 years. Of course, all lifespan projections are contingent upon the homeowner taking proper care of their floors.
Cost
According to The Home Depot, laminate and vinyl flooring are available at a similar price. On average, laminate ranges anywhere from $0.79 to $3 per square foot. The cost of vinyl can run you $2 to $3 per square foot.
Installation
Laminate and vinyl flooring are relatively straightforward from an installation perspective. As the years pass and innovations are made in construction and installation methods, laminate and vinyl can be installed quickly and easily.
Laminate floors offer DIY possibilities. They can be installed over your existing flooring in what is called a “floating” floor. Overall, the laminate installation will involve:
- Acclimating the planks to the room’s temperature.
- Installing the underlayment.
- Laying the planks.
- Completing the finishing touches and cleanup.
Vinyl flooring installation can be more complex than that of laminate. With that said, there are a variety of installation methods when it comes to vinyl. Said installation methods include click-and-lock, peel-and-stick, or glue-down. With each method comes its timeline and list of responsibilities.
Laminate & Vinyl At Flooring 101
Whether you’re interested in laminate or vinyl flooring, Flooring 101 has you covered. Visit us at one of our showroom locations to browse our selection of laminate and vinyl flooring.
