Difference Between Laminate and Vinyl Flooring

If you need to complete your flooring on a budget, you can opt for laminate or vinyl. Both vinyl and laminate flooring would still give you that new hardwood look at a fraction of the price. These floorings are made of High-Density Fibre (HDF). The HDF is backed by a layer of melamine underneath. There is a uniquely designed décor on top which is protected from wear and tear, by a transparent layer.

Vinyl flooring is installed via floating, glue or loose lay. Laminate flooring, however, can only be installed using floating. Floating is to lock the planks together, but they do not attach to the subfloor. Both laminate and vinyl are suitable for wood and concrete subfloors, on any building level (including basements). Both are easy to clean by sweeping or dry mopping.

Laminate is not ideal for areas with high levels of moisture such as bathrooms, while Vinyl is water resistant. Additionally, vinyl is resistant mould and mildew, which makes it an especially great choice for basements and bathrooms. There are also waterproof vinyl planks available for more wet areas. Notably, laminate is more affordable than vinyl. But both laminate and vinyl cost a fraction of hardwood flooring. If you decide to choose vinyl or laminate, you will have a variety of stunning styles to select.