Which Is Better For Your Home?

Vinyl and laminate are both manufactured types of flooring that are more affordable than traditional hardwood alternatives. Vinyl is generally considered a superior choice with great durability and visual appeal, but the quality of each product can vary greatly.

Understanding the difference between vinyl flooring vs. Laminate is a great place to start if you’re not sure which flooring is right for your home.

What is Vinyl Flooring?

Vinyl flooring is made primarily of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), but it also contains plasticizers to add flexibility, stabilizers to help it resist UV light, and printed layers, similar to other flooring materials, such as wood or stone. It has a coating layer on top, a decorative layer below that, a main layer made of PVC, and a supporting layer.

There are three main types of vinyl flooring:

• Sheet vinyl: Sheet vinyl is usually the most affordable to install, but it has the least aesthetic appeal of the three options. It has no seams, so it may offer better water resistance. Sheet vinyl is less durable than other options, so it’s more common in rooms that don’t get a lot of people, like laundry rooms and utility rooms.
• Luxury vinyl planks (LVP): LVP flooring better matches traditional hardwood flooring, and can provide better durability and water resistance than engineered wood flooring. It is most common in living areas and bedrooms.
• Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT): LVT flooring offers the same durability and water resistance as LVP flooring, but is durable and has the look of stone or tile flooring. It is most common in bathrooms and kitchens.

What is Laminate Flooring?

“Laminate flooring has a core made of high-density fiberboard and a top laminate made of melamine-coated paper,” explains Thomas Borcherding, owner and lead designer at Homestar Design Remodel, a home remodeling company in Missouri.

Laminate flooring also has a layer of physical protection and a design layer that helps it match other materials. Similar to vinyl flooring, laminate flooring can come in sheets or tiles, but the material looks synthetic and doesn’t resemble real wood or stone like LVP or LVT flooring.

The core layer of laminate flooring will easily absorb water and moisture, so it is resistant to spills and damp areas.

Although laminate flooring is very affordable, it is rare and usually reserved for low-traffic rooms such as utility rooms and laundry rooms, especially given its low appearance, durability, and moisture resistance.

Important Differences at a Glance

No flooring material is perfect for every situation, so you should understand vinyl vs. laminate pros and cons before deciding which one to install in your home.

• Upfront costs (per sq. ft., included): Vinyl $4-$12; Laminate $4–$10
• Life expectancy: Vinyl 25 years; Laminate for 15-25 years
• Wear resistance: Medium Vinyl; Laminate is low to medium
• Water resistance: High quality vinyl; Laminate is low to medium
• Comfort: Both are in between
• Visual appeal: Medium to high vinyl; Laminate is low to medium
• Maintenance: Both are low

Durability and Water Resistance

Vinyl flooring is durable because it is durable and has a hard top layer that resists scratches, scuffs, and wear from foot traffic. It is also very water resistant because PVC is impermeable, while the base layer of HDF or MDF laminate will absorb water easily.

For these reasons, vinyl flooring is the best option in high-traffic and humid areas, including kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways. It’s also a long-lasting option, especially if you have children or pets that can increase wear and tear.

However, laminate is very affordable, so if you want to prepare an affordable installation, laminate is the best option. Just remember that you will have to pay to replace more often, so the long-term value is lower. Some homeowners choose vinyl for high-traffic rooms, such as kitchens, and save laminate for unusual rooms, such as laundry rooms.

Appearance and Comfort

“Laminate flooring, for some people, carries an older and inferior reputation than vinyl flooring,” says Borcherding. “Vinyl flooring is seen as a modern flooring solution, and therefore attracts potential buyers. For this reason, vinyl flooring often improves the resale value of a home more than laminate.”

Not only does it match more expensive materials, such as wood and stone, but it also wears less and will not show physical damage as quickly.

Both flooring materials can provide cushioning and comfort underfoot, but the core of laminate is softer and can be easier on your joints. You can choose a thicker underlayment under either for enhanced comfort. An underlayment can reduce the noise that both types of flooring can make as you walk on it.

Installation and Maintenance

Installing flooring requires some tools, patience, and skill, no matter which material you choose, but compared to options like hardwood, natural stone, and tile, both vinyl and laminate flooring are easy to DIY. You can cut both with a regular blade on a table saw or miter saw, and the materials are both lightweight and easy to move around.

However, it is best to leave installation to a professional unless you have experience with flooring installation. A pro can probably handle problems with subfloor repairs, as well as installing flooring without visible defects.

In addition to ease of installation and cost, you have to think about maintenance. Both types of flooring are easy to clean, but many homeowners find vinyl easier because you can use a wet mop without worrying about water seeping in and falling off. Remember, vinyl flooring is also durable, so you’ll have fewer replacements in the future if you go with vinyl.

Cost Considerations

Laminate is one of the most affordable types of flooring available, so it’s the best option if you have a small maintenance budget. However, vinyl is strong and waterproof, so you will need to replace and maintain it less often, which means more value in the long term.

You can expect to pay between $4 and $12 per square foot to install vinyl flooring and between $4 and $10 per square foot to install laminate flooring. Be sure to think about long-term value, though. Since vinyl flooring is durable and long-lasting, you will likely get more value out of it in the long run.

Additionally, since vinyl also looks better than laminate, it’s often a better option unless budget is your deciding factor.

Which Is Better For Each Room?

“There is no ‘best’ laminate or vinyl in the world,” says Mike Solomich, owner of Quality Hardwoods of Michigan, a flooring supplier in Michigan. “It depends on the space and how the home is used. Vinyl tends to do better in areas where moisture is a concern, while laminate shines in dry living areas where homeowners want the look of traditional wood at a lower cost.”

Laundry rooms, utility rooms, and guest bathrooms are good choices for laminate because of the reduced foot traffic and lower risk of spills and leaks. These rooms are also less expensive, so visual appeal is not always a primary concern.

Many homeowners consider vinyl to be the best option in living areas that will see visitors, in areas that see a lot of traffic, or in areas where moisture and water are a constant concern. Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms are often the best subjects for vinyl flooring.

For basements and low-grade spaces, laminate may be best if you’re on a tight budget, while vinyl may be a better long-term investment if you and your family use the space regularly for entertaining.

The Bottom Line

Vinyl flooring is a more durable, attractive, and waterproof option than laminate, and adds more value to your home. “In most cases, LVP and LVT tend to add more value to a home than laminate,” says Brian Meussner, President of Mr. Handyman, a full-service manager and home improvement company. “Vinyl is durable, water-resistant, and low-maintenance, which supports long-term performance.”

However, laminate flooring can provide more than enough time in low-traffic areas of your home. Also, laminate is very affordable, so it’s a better choice if you’re on a tight budget.

If you’re not sure which option best suits your lifestyle and needs, talk to a local professional about your project. Discuss how you plan to use the space you are renovating and the costs you expect, and ask what is best for your particular situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is vinyl flooring better than laminate?

Vinyl flooring generally looks good and resists physical wear, water, and moisture better than laminate, but it’s not better in every situation. Laminate is very affordable, so it is a better choice if you have a small maintenance budget. Laminate can be a good option for rooms that don’t see a lot of work, so the choice depends on your specific needs.

Can laminate flooring get wet?

Laminate flooring can get wet, as the top layer provides good water resistance, but prolonged exposure to water or moisture will cause irreparable damage. The base layer of laminate flooring is HDF or MDF, which is very absorbent and will warp and crack when wet. You should be careful not to use a dripping mop when cleaning laminate, and clean up spills as soon as possible.

Does vinyl flooring look fake?

Vinyl flooring may look fake, but luxury vinyl tile (LVT) vinyl plank (LVP) can look very similar to more expensive materials, such as hardwood, stone, and even ceramic tile. You’ll pay more for vinyl flooring that looks natural, but it can enhance your home without the drawbacks of real wood or stone, such as poor water resistance and high installation costs.

Which is more durable, vinyl or laminate?

Vinyl flooring will probably last longer than laminate. Vinyl flooring has a PVC core, which will not be damaged if it gets wet. Laminate flooring has a wood fiber core, which will expand and warp in the presence of moisture. Even in rooms where spills and leaks are not a problem, vinyl will last longer because it is more resistant to physical wear and tear.

Is it easier to install vinyl or laminate?

Both vinyl and laminate flooring are easy to install, especially because both are available in locking systems that make DIY installation straightforward. However, laminate flooring is sometimes easier to install because it is more flexible, which means you need less work to level or level the subfloor. This works especially well if you are installing in a basement or directly on top of a concrete slab foundation.

This article first appeared in USA TODAY: Vinyl vs. Laminate flooring: Which is best for your home?

Reporting by Dan Simms, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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