Not sure whether you should pick luxury vinyl plank or laminate flooring for your home? You’re not alone. As a vinyl flooring store, we get a lot of questions from our customers about what flooring is best for different areas of the home. We understand that either luxury vinyl planks or laminate flooring would be an investment in your home, which is why we want to make sure you have all the facts you need to make an informed decision.
Continue reading to learn about the differences between luxury vinyl plank and laminate flooring. For more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to our laminate flooring store in Zeeland, Michigan.
Luxury vinyl plank vs. laminate flooring
Luxury Vinyl Plank
-100% synthetic material
-Waterproof
-Best for bathrooms and other damp areas
Laminate Flooring
-99% wood product
-Water-resistant
-Not recommended for bathrooms
Composition
Luxury vinyl flooring is made of 100% synthetic material with PVC vinyl at the core. Laminate flooring, on the other hand, has a rigid fiberboard core, which is made from wood by-products bonded together with melamine resins. Laminate flooring also has a printed design layer covered by hard plastic laminate so it’ll look like wood, stone, or other natural materials.
Appearance
It wasn’t that long ago that you could easily tell the difference between laminate and vinyl flooring. However, advances in the flooring industry have made it possible to offer products that more closely mimic the appearance of stone, wood, and other natural materials. As a result, it can be difficult to determine whether you’re looking at laminate or vinyl flooring. Both types of flooring can look much like the real thing.
Water resistance
If you need waterproof flooring, we highly recommend you go with luxury vinyl plank. Unlike laminate, luxury vinyl plank is waterproof enough to use in bathrooms and other damp areas of the home.
Laminate flooring isn’t waterproof because it’s made of 99% wood product. When exposed to standing water, the wood in laminate flooring will soften and swell. While laminate flooring can be described as “water resistant”, you’ll need to clean spills immediately to prevent water from seeping into the seams and reaching the core.
You’ll need to use your best judgement on whether you want to choose luxury vinyl plank or laminate flooring for kitchens, laundry rooms, mudrooms, entryways, and other parts of the house where moisture is common. As long as you’re able to clean spills as soon as possible, you shouldn’t have to worry about installing laminate flooring. However, we highly recommend luxury vinyl flooring over laminate for bathrooms.
Still aren’t sure what flooring is best for your home? Check out our other blog posts to learn the 5 reasons to install luxury vinyl flooring and what to consider before buying new floors.
Our vinyl flooring store in Zeeland, MI has everything you need to change the look of a room. To learn more about our options for laminate and vinyl plank flooring, call Carpet Bonanza at (616) 396-2765.
Continue reading to learn about the differences between luxury vinyl plank and laminate flooring. For more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to our laminate flooring store in Zeeland, Michigan.
Luxury vinyl plank vs. laminate flooring
Luxury Vinyl Plank
-100% synthetic material
-Waterproof
-Best for bathrooms and other damp areas
Laminate Flooring
-99% wood product
-Water-resistant
-Not recommended for bathrooms
Composition
Luxury vinyl flooring is made of 100% synthetic material with PVC vinyl at the core. Laminate flooring, on the other hand, has a rigid fiberboard core, which is made from wood by-products bonded together with melamine resins. Laminate flooring also has a printed design layer covered by hard plastic laminate so it’ll look like wood, stone, or other natural materials.
Appearance
It wasn’t that long ago that you could easily tell the difference between laminate and vinyl flooring. However, advances in the flooring industry have made it possible to offer products that more closely mimic the appearance of stone, wood, and other natural materials. As a result, it can be difficult to determine whether you’re looking at laminate or vinyl flooring. Both types of flooring can look much like the real thing.
Water resistance
If you need waterproof flooring, we highly recommend you go with luxury vinyl plank. Unlike laminate, luxury vinyl plank is waterproof enough to use in bathrooms and other damp areas of the home.
Laminate flooring isn’t waterproof because it’s made of 99% wood product. When exposed to standing water, the wood in laminate flooring will soften and swell. While laminate flooring can be described as “water resistant”, you’ll need to clean spills immediately to prevent water from seeping into the seams and reaching the core.
You’ll need to use your best judgement on whether you want to choose luxury vinyl plank or laminate flooring for kitchens, laundry rooms, mudrooms, entryways, and other parts of the house where moisture is common. As long as you’re able to clean spills as soon as possible, you shouldn’t have to worry about installing laminate flooring. However, we highly recommend luxury vinyl flooring over laminate for bathrooms.
Still aren’t sure what flooring is best for your home? Check out our other blog posts to learn the 5 reasons to install luxury vinyl flooring and what to consider before buying new floors.
Our vinyl flooring store in Zeeland, MI has everything you need to change the look of a room. To learn more about our options for laminate and vinyl plank flooring, call Carpet Bonanza at (616) 396-2765.