Vinyl Flooring versus Laminate Flooring: Which one you should buy?

So, it’s the middle of the summer, the sun is beating down on your brand new home, but you still have no flooring! What’s that all about? Why have you not got any flooring yet? Well, this is because you haven’t been able to decide what you want to fill your house with, is it vinyl flooring or laminate flooring? If this is still part of your discussion and it is beginning to stress you out, we can definitely help you.

What flooring are you looking for?

Well, you are most likely looking for a durable, attractive and affordable type of flooring. This would most likely lead you in the right direction of laminate or vinyl flooring, but which one do you choose? You are also probably wanting to install this flooring by yourself, leaving you with vinyl flooring or laminate flooring. This is because both of these types of flooring really hit the spot when you are looking at what flooring you need. But which is the best choice of flooring for you?

It can be such a confusing choice, with many flooring companies often pointing you in the direction of both types of flooring, and not really helping you with your decision. However, laminate flooring and vinyl do look similar and both are usually affordable when ordered from an online flooring company.

Reputation and history

Throughout the years, people will often of heard of laminate flooring over vinyl. This is because of the laminated floor tiles which bigger families tended to opt for thanks to its durability, rigidness and ability to be manipulated and styled into any form of appearance. It is also easy to install and technology has meant that new types of flooring have evolved from laminate flooring techniques. Luxury Vinyl tiles have since entered the market and are proving incredibly popular at Flooring Direct. They also possess realistic graphics and embossing, and could often be found to be thicker, meaning it was even more resilient and insulated. Both require underlay, both are affordable and both can be adapted to make sure they really fit your home… so what do you need to know about laminate flooring and vinyl flooring before purchasing?

What rooms can they go in?

With flooring types like carpet and wood flooring, it is not always easy to put them in all rooms. For example, we do not recommend that you put carpet in bathrooms, because of its ability to attract mould spores. The good news, however, is that vinyl flooring can pretty much go in any room. This includes wet rooms and rooms likely to attract moisture, whereas you would have to be careful with laminate floors. If you do your research into each type of flooring, like this article is doing, then you would be able to learn whether or not you can install laminate flooring in a bathroom.

Can vinyl flooring really go in every room?

Almost all types of vinyl flooring are considered to be waterproof, but they are not always resistant to water. The increasingly popular luxury vinyl tiles are 100% waterproof, and so are vinyl tiles and also sheet vinyl. Around the house, both bathrooms and damp locations like basements, these would be where we would install vinyl instead of laminated flooring.

Remember though, these are the newer types of flooring, as the underlay on the older types of vinyl may not be waterproof. This could present an issue, but you can always check with the customer service team at Flooring Direct to make sure that the vinyl you are getting is waterproof and can be installed in any room of your house. Of course, we would never suggest that you douse your flooring in water, but if a bath spills over or a toilet overflows, your vinyl flooring if purchased recently should be unaffected, it would just need a bit of a clean.

From personal experience, ceramic tiles are certainly recommended for a room potentially full of moisture, but we do realise they do not always fall in line with everybody’s budget. This is why vinyl floor tiles are certainly recommended as a waterproof floor, along with sheet vinyl.

Why can’t laminate flooring go in every room?

The perception is that laminate flooring would be able to withstand damp and moisture. This is not true, however, due to the way laminate flooring is made. As a fibreboard core is at the heart of most laminated flooring. This could lead to the type of flooring to expand and become bigger if exposed to water, and this is obviously not good news. Once it has increased in size, the chances of it decreasing are minimal and so your flooring is likely to be ruined. Laminate flooring can also wear and design layers sometimes peel away if water has expanded.

Is any type of flooring waterproof?

When taking into consideration the choice of either vinyl flooring or laminate flooring for your bathroom, then a lot of people will decide on which product is more waterproof. Well, no flooring product is likely to be completely waterproof, although it may be possible to withstand the polled water that occurs when someone gets out of the shower or the bath. If you are thinking of putting either laminate flooring or vinyl flooring in your bathroom, you must ensure it is correctly installed and that the moisture procedures you have in place are correct, otherwise, you could face a range of issues.

Always check the small print on the flooring manufacturers terms and conditions, as well as their product descriptions as this, should give you a clearer idea of whether or not the flooring you choose will be able to withstand any substantial amount of water.

How much time do you have on your hands?

When it comes to fitting out a room with the flooring, you do have to think about upkeep and maintenance. If you know that you will be able to get into the bathroom after you have had a shower or a bath then laminate or vinyl flooring may be acceptable because you will be able to act quickly enough to get rid of the water. One thing we do not recommend at Flooring Direct is carpet in a room full of moisture. If you do have laminate flooring or vinyl flooring then there is a possible danger that if you leave standing water, it can drop down and damage your flooring. You can look through our flooring aftercare guides if you wish as this will help you to choose the right flooring for your home.

What is flooring made of?

Laminate Flooring

With all the new fuss about luxury vinyl tiles, laminate flooring and how to look after it is also becoming increasingly popular in terms of search and queries at Flooring Direct. Laminate flooring definitely brings style to your home, but does it bring substance? Will it last? All these are questions asked by our customers and it is a topic widely discussed in the flooring industry. Want the good news? The top surface of laminate flooring is a hard and transparent plastic wear layer, which covers the printed design layer of the flooring, meaning you do not lose any fo the style, but can also relax about the substance of the flooring. Depending on the manufacturers and where you order from, you can also choose from a range of thickness.

Vinyl Flooring

Why do most people choose vinyl flooring over other types of flooring? When people think of floors in a house, they think of carpet. Carpet, carpet, and carpet. BUT, other types of flooring are beginning to take precedence around the house, mainly in bathrooms and shower rooms etc. Why is this? Well, carpet is a no-go in the bathroom due to its ability to trap bacteria and form mould spores, meaning it can cause more issues than just being untidy. Due to the moisture that is formed in bathrooms. this leaves the easy-to-install and 100% synthetic flooring types like vinyl flooring.

If you are thinking of installing vinyl tiles into your house, then they are printed and embossed with state-of-the-art technology. With standard sheet vinyl, fibreglass is often involved as a base layer and then coated in PVC vinyl and plasticiser. The result is usually stylish and impressive art, making it the go-to option for many customers.

Luxury vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) arrives in planks or tiles that fit side-to-side, making them easy to install. They are one of the more popular choices for those who are either building their new home or looking to reinvent their style.

Longevity and Environmentally friendly

Unlike wooden flooring, neither laminate flooring or vinyl flooring is considered to be environmentally friendly flooring. Wood flooring is also an idea to improve the value of your home as it can last a lifetime. Laminate and vinyl floors are unlikely to add the same amount of value to your home as they will not last as long in your home, especially if they are in a bathroom.

For more info on finding the right flooring types for your home, you can chat to our Facebook Social Media bot who will be able to point you in the right direction. We also have a website full of guides and advice which you may want to have a look at before making a decision. Remember, when ordering from flooringdirect.co.uk, you get your flooring, direct, to you.