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Vinyl planks Vs Laminate flooring
Useful tips to compare laminate flooring vs luxury vinyl planks. what is a better or more reliable flooring option?
Vinyl Vs. Laminate
If you want to understand the differences between vinyl flooring vs. laminate, you need to make a step-by-step comparison between respective features, pros, and cons. Vinyl flooring is 100% synthetic flooring with a fiberglass base coated in PVC. However, laminate tiles might resemble vinyl tiles, but its core is made from wood byproducts and resin.
What is Laminate Flooring?
This option comes with a hard surface that is transparent but feels plastic to the touch. This top layer covers the printed layer design, and the base layer of this kind of floor is made from a combination of byproducts of wood and resin. This type of floor offers an average thickness of 6 mm to 12 mm to the users.
What is Vinyl Flooring?
This type of option is 100% synthetic. The base layer for this kind of floor is made from fiberglass coated with PVC. As far as the top surface is concerned, this kind of floor comes with multiple wear layers on the top along with the addition of a no-wax layer of polyurethane.
The Major Differences Between the Two Options
If you are trying to determine the major differences between vinyl flooring vs. laminate, you need to understand the respective perks and cons. Let’s take a look at some of the major differences.
- Appearance
- Resistance
- Durability
- Installation
Appearance
Laminate option will allow you to have super realistic patterns, designs, and embossing on the top surface. Since this comes with a transparent top layer, the underlying design will be clearer.
On the other hand, luxury vinyl plank flooring will also allow you to have realistic designs, but it will cost you more. Cheap tiles may look blurry at times.
Resistance
Laminate tiles may swell up if exposed to water. While there is some degree of resistance, it doesn't hold up well against water and heat exposure.
Vinyl floor does quite well when exposed to water, and is considered to offer more resistance. The 100-percent polymer materials used for this kind of floor refrain the water from damaging the floor.
Durability
Cheap laminate flooring is durable, but over time, the surface may degrade due to water or daily traffic. Once the top surface is scratched, you cannot repair the tiles.
Vinyl tiles, however, are considered tougher than its counterpart and can easily withstand the heavy wear and tear. It takes time to degrade the overall quality of these tiles.
Installation
Both of these options relies on the use of a click-and-lock mechanism for installation. This is why the installation practices for both options are virtually the same.
Recommended Installation Areas Installation
All the expert laminate flooring installers will tell you that the best fitting options vs vinyl planks installation depend on the installation area. Here is a list of installation areas perfect for these options:
|
Area
|
Laminate
|
Vinyl
|
|
Bathroom
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Kitchen
|
Possible
|
Yes
|
|
Dining Room
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Living Room
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Bedroom
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Office
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Care and Cleaning
When it comes to the care and cleaning of laminate tiles, it is recommended that you use dry methods first. Use a dry rag or mop to clean the surface of this floor. If need be, only use a damp and wet broom or mop. Never use excessive water since these tiles can easily corrode when exposed to water.
For vinyl sheets and tiles, you can easily use cleaning products and water. Since these can withstand water exposure, there is no need to be afraid of using a wet mop, cleaning products, and water to clean such tiles.
If you want to learn more about these two products, we recommend you to visit Flooring Domain and read the full article about the difference of vinyl luxury planks and laminate flooring
Author: Flooring Domain
+1 215-671-1692
cutpricecarpets@hotmail.co.uk