Choosing Between Laminate Vs Vinyl Floors. Laminated flooring has become increasingly popular over the past few years and with good reason. Its ease of installation, looks great and its durability make it a great choice for many homes. So which flooring should I choose, laminate vs vinyl?
Both are excellent choices when it comes to which flooring should I choose. Vinyl has many benefits over laminated flooring in many ways but one area that it really scores big is durability. Laminated flooring will last much longer than a comparable wood or stone surface and can even be used in areas where you cannot have hardwood. This type of flooring can also be installed over almost any surface which means that your home will have a truly custom look. However, installing it over very soft or flimsy materials can cause some problems.
Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring
One of the most common complaints about laminated flooring is that it can become damaged very easily. This is because the design of the boards is such that they are made to snap together very tightly. When you walk across a room with vinyl on your floor, you can often tell just how solid it is by the creaking sound that it makes. It may also become quite cold under your feet when you walk on the surface because the material is so thin. These issues are generally not too big an issue but if you have children in your home it can become uncomfortable for them to walk on. This is not a big deal in homes with small children but if you have older children in the home that can be a problem.
Laminated flooring can also be fairly fragile. Laminated flooring is often put through a hardening process to make it more durable and resistant to scratches and other types of damage. The problem here is that when this process occurs the boards themselves can become quite weak. If you use your floor often or plan on living in your house for a long period of time you may find that the boards start to come apart before your flooring does. In addition to being weak they can also be easily damaged if you use rough tools on them or have extremely high heels on your feet.
Luxury Vinyl Click Flooring VS Laminate Flooring
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing between laminate and vinyl is the type of finish that you’ll get on your new floors. While both types of flooring have beautiful finishes to them, they do have different levels of durability. Laminate has been shown to last longer but it doesn’t have as good of a shine as vinyl does. Vinyl does last nearly as long as laminate but does not have as good of a shine as vinyl does. You need to take these two factors into consideration when choosing which one you’d like to go with.
When you’re choosing which material you want to go with you should also take into consideration the maintenance level of each one. Hardwoods are far more durable than most vinyl materials. You should look for hardwood floors that have seen minimal wear and tear from use. Vinyl is much easier to maintain. If you’re planning on having your hardwood floor repaired because it got worn down a bit you should be able to easily replace the boards with no trouble.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Vs Laminate Flooring
One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is whether you should choose hardwood or vinyl. Laminate tends to be a little cheaper but can crack more easily. If you have children or pets you may not want to choose it. Vinyl can also cost a little more to install but the price of the floors when you pay for them will be far greater than if you bought laminate. If you have pets, you may want to buy laminate since this is much easier to clean and doesn’t absorb as much pet hair.
These are three popular flooring types and they each have their pros and cons. Which one you should choose really depends on your own personal preferences. You should definitely spend some time shopping around though. Even if you end up choosing one of these two, it could take some time before you get exactly what you want. You don’t want to rush into a big purchase like this so it’s a good idea to take your time and get exactly what you want.