What is the difference between laminate and vinyl flooring?

Answer 1

Laminate is fiber based product that is built up in layers when manufactured. It is durable, but does not like water. If water is left on a laminate floor it will eventually get into the fibers and swell them causing an imperfection. Laminate floors are usually snap together types. Some need professional installation and some are do-it-yourself. They come in a variety of finishes but most are wood grain.

Vinyl is a whole lot more durable than laminate. Most vinyl floors are continuous products, meaning they come in rolls and are cut to size. There are tiles, like self stick or VCT. Self stick tiles are not very durable and don't look very professional. VCT is the other extreme. It is extremely durable, but is used mainly in commercial settings since it needs almost constant maintenance. You find VCT in grocery stores or anywhere that gets alot of traffic. It should be waxed on a regular basis. Vinyl for the home is a good product. It is impervious to water and is not difficult to put down.

The biggest downside to both of these products is damage. If either of them get damaged, you will most likely have to replace the entire floor to get rid of it since it is impossible to just pop out the damaged area and replace it like a ceramic tile.

Edit - tile is very difficult to replace as well without cracking the rest of the floor.

Vinyl is flexible, so it can still work if you're floor isn't even whereas laminate is a floating floor and does not work very well if your floor is uneven.

You can read more about the differences here:

http://theflooringgirl.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-laminate-flooring-and-vinyl-flooring.html

Answer 2

LAMINATE: is a relatively new creation, introduced about 30 years ago by Perstorp in Sweden. It is basically a Formica type Melamine surface laminated (Glued) to a very dimensionally stable and harder than hardwood; fiberboard substrate.

Usually shipped in + or- 25 sq ft boxes of planks about 8"X49" depending on the vendor.

Today the edges are finely micro milled to fit/click together without glue or nails. The floor is pieced together at the jobsite much like Tongue & groove hardwood has been for centuries. But the laminate needs no nails & just lays in place held down by Gravity & the edge trim like quarter round.

The surface is actually a photograph of whatever you want the floor to look like. Walnut, tile, oak or butterflies if it would sell.

The surface is covered with an extremely hard gel coat, which usually includes minerals such as Aluminum oxide to make it very hard.

The term Floating floor is often used to explain the way Laminate is installed.

VINYL: is a next generation product that replaced Linoleum back in the 60s

the Vinyl process is very simple by today's tech standards. It starts as a high-density paper and it then goes through a 4 color printing process just like a magazine. any pattern & any number of colors.

Most of today's US production is 12' wide rolls by whatever length they want to inventory. In Europe they produce mostly 4 meters wide (13'2 or about). (some very limited production up to 15' is available.

After the print process a PVC coating is applied to the printed-paper to protect and make the product tough & easy to care for.

Laminate is much harder than vinyl or even real hardwood, easier to install, easier to maintain, tougher to take abuse and easier to repair. Vinyl is seamless up to 12', comes in more patterns and is price competitive with Laminate.