It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into when you decide to put a vinyl floor on your home. The vinyl floor will change the look and feel of your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room. However, most people are troubled when deciding between vinyl floors and a laminate surface for their house floors.
There are only a few differences between vinyl and laminate floors based on their shape, structure, quality, and lifetime. Vinyl laminate can be installed where there is moisture due to its resistance against mold/mildew and cracking/warping from moisture absorption. However, to make a smart decision, you must understand some basic differences between vinyl and laminate flooring.
A Preface to Key Differences
Laminate flooring is much easier to install when preparing the floor for installation, but it will eventually cost you more. The modern choice of every household is vinyl floors due to their shining surface and long-lasting material. Take a look at some basics about both vinyl and laminate flooring.
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Vinyl Floors
Vinyl floors are easy to install and maintain but they can be damaged easily by spillage, chemicals, or sharp objects. They are also very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity that can cause curling, cracking, or buckling of the vinyl surface.
You cannot install vinyl flooring directly over concrete; you need a layer of plywood or another kind of board for Waterproof Vinyl Flooring. Next, this layer can be nailed down before you lay your vinyl floors because they are not flexible enough to be installed independently.
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Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are easy to install and maintain, they are also resistant to accidental spills, chemicals, or sharp objects. Laminate is a kind of plastic you can find in various shapes and sizes on the market. As mentioned above, you can lay laminate flooring directly over concrete without plywood.
Vinyl Floors Vs. Laminate Surface
The main difference between vinyl flooring and laminate flooring comes from the shape of these products. Vinyl Plank Flooring is a versatile work that can be installed in different forms like standard construction floor tiles, round tiles for kitchen backsplash, square tiles for bathroom backsplash, and much more.
Laminate flooring is only available in rectangular form and is not as versatile as vinyl. You cannot use laminate flooring for the kitchen backsplash or bathroom backsplash. There are no round tiles that you can use on your laminate flooring to put on your bathroom backsplash like you can with vinyl floors.
Various shapes, colors, and styles available with vinyl floors make choosing the right look easy for people with small budgets. Laminate is a good choice if you have a big budget and need something better quality than vinyl. It can be installed directly over concrete without using plywood or other materials under it, but you must check with the material first.
Benefits of Getting Vinyl Flooring
The primary benefit of vinyl flooring is that it is affordable and affordable for most people. You can easily decorate your home with multiple different designs and textures on the market. Vinyl flooring is easy to install, maintain, clean, and repair if damaged by accident. It’s flexible, which means you will not crack or warp when there are changes in humidity, temperature, or moisture. Here are some major benefits you can look for with vinyl flooring:
1. Easy to Install
It’s important to know that vinyl flooring is softer and easier to install than laminating the surface. It’s a bit more expensive, but you require less material for the same size of floor. Also, the money spent on vinyl is worth every penny as vinyl is known to have a solid life. It’s also easier to maintain because it won’t be damaged from spills or accidents in the home.
2. Low Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, vinyl flooring is much easier to take care of because it’s more durable. Spills or accidents won’t damage them. You can expect minimum maintenance with vinyl flooring, and you will have it installed for many years. Regular dusting will keep your floor shiny and looking good for a long time.
3. Cleaning is Easier
Vinyl floors are also easy to clean with a damp rag because removing dirt and grime is easier than the laminate surface. If you like the look of high gloss floors but don’t want to pay for frequent polishing, vinyl floors are just a perfect fit.
4. Variety of Shapes
Vinyl floors come in different shapes, like octagonal, hexagonal, and many more. You can get an ideal shape for your bathroom, kitchen, or living room that can fit easily with your décor. You will be able to find different textures and designs for vinyl floors that you like to create a unique look for your home.
Furthermore, you can install vinyl floors anywhere in your home, including the bathroom, kitchen, and living room, where there is moisture because of their resistance to mold/mildew and cracking/warping when dealing with moisture absorption.