Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring: How to Pick the Best Option for Your Home
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ธ.ค. 2020
- Buying the wrong flooring material is annoying, frustrating and can lead to costly repair and replacements down the road. In this video we are going to help you understand the differences between vinyl vs laminate flooring so you can pick the best option for your home.
Chapters
0:42 Is vinyl flooring more durable than laminate flooring?
1:59 Is vinyl flooring more water resistant than laminate flooring?
4:45 Does vinyl flooring or laminate flooring look more realistic?
7:19 What is the cost difference between vinyl and laminate flooring?
8:35 Which flooring style is more eco friendly, vinyl or laminate?
This comparison video is the most informative of all that I’ve viewed. It has thoroughly addressed all levels of concerns. After viewing this video 2 times I feel confident in my decision making for multiple room replacement flooring.
What you choose i choose laminate wins
Great info! Very well explained and I'm making a decision on a floor type within the next two weeks. Doing my homework! :)
Very informative and great video. Thank you!
Thanks!
Excellent video. I learned so much. I have to make a decision soon for two rooms and this is giving me a lot of answers to the questions I had. Thank you!
Hi mate just noticed you didn’t go over potential VOC release as this is an important factor for me and my family, great video thank you for the info. Sounds like water proof laminate is the way to go
Thank you for laying out a clear comparison between laminate and vinyl flooring. I was quite lost before, but now its so much clearer.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you you're very informative and it just makes me feel
Super like this video! Great detail information i need to know was discussed in clear manner👍! Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very helpful.
Excellent video. I agree with all his points.
Thanks!
Great job with the video. Very informative.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Excellent Video! Thank you so much!!!!!!
You are welcome!
Coverage was strong and detailed. As someone with minimum experience thinking of some floor remodeling this was grand.
Glad you liked it!
Very helpful thank you
This was exactly what I was looking for! Salesperson showed me the Mohawk product. It looks better than the LVP but I’m not crazy about the wood core. Evoke looks like the best of both worlds. Thanks again.
Thanks! Glad it was helpful. See our flooring scratch test video for another reason to go laminate.
Awesome video. Thanks so much!!
Glad you liked it!
@@DesignBuildRemodeling i purchased Evoke laminate for my floors. Your video helped with my decision. Thanks!!!
Thanks for good details
Always welcome
This was a very informative and helpful video. It really helped me decide which flooring to use. Very honest and objective.
Glad it was helpful!
Damn those hands are big. Very informative video too
Environmently friendly is definitely something I want to consider...
Wow very informative ✌🏼
Thanks!
Any health concerns with either product on breathing in whatever fumes the product may release after installation?
We just bought Mohawk laminate from Costco to do our entire house. I like that the laminate is made in the USA, while the LVP is usually from China. Thank you for the video.
Hello, so what if 100% waterproofed laminate? I can’t decide if I want waterproof vinyl or waterproof laminate. I like the laminate because it thicker. What’s your thought ?
Laminate
"Waterproof" is a loaded term. While that LVP can be dropped in a pool for a week and taken out and dried to be installed (heck, you can do the same with many modern laminates, but just 2-3 days), it doesn't do anything to protect your subfloor.
Water won't typically hurt the surface layer of a laminate, and if the water is enough to actually damage a good water resistant laminate, you are usually at the point of catastrophic failure anyway.
Restoration is basically my bread and butter now... to many people look into "Waterproof" without thinking which floor will perform better. In most heavy traffic areas, a good laminate will outperform a LVP when it comes to durability.
This is changing, as you see more and more hybrid floors... but those are basically more stable LVP cores that can actually support the more scratch resistant laminate wear layer.
I also sell floors for a living.
This is a trend right now, more and more companies are working on doing Laminates and not expanding their LVP lines as much.
This is a few fold.
By and large, most LVPs are made overseas. This has made their cost balloon with shipping. Most of your quality laminates are made here in the United States... cuts down on tarrifs.
Laminates are more scratch resistant.
Modern Laminates are functionally waterproof. If they start to peel and bubble you are usually beyond what the floor should be taking anyway... or as I say, "its not that I don't trust the floor... its the home owner." Most of your Mohawk Revwoods and Shaw Repel Laminates can take about 72 hours of moisture exposure... if your floor is staying that wet that waterproof vinyl is just hiding damage under your floor.
And the LVPs that are keeping up when it comes to scratch resistant?
Well, I often tell my clients:
"There has been a war for about twenty years now between LVPs and laminates. A war between scratch resistance, durability and waterproofing. The war has been going on for so long they are starting to have babies."
While the tech is still pretty new, and not super cost effective yet.... you do have your hybrid LVPs which have the stone/solid polymer cores but have gotten rid of the plastic wear layers of LVP and started slapping laminate wear layers on them. They are designed to the point where the cores are stable enough to take the wear layer and make them work.
By and large ... for more applications. I recommend Laminate.
As I like to say, "I have three adults, three dogs, three cats and four kids in my home... I need something that can take all that traffic. LVPs failed me, the Laminate is still holding up. Let me show you some Revwood. What Shaw? Lets just say this... my Shaw Rep has Revwood on his floor."
Haha… I love it!
You’re 100% correct. Laminate is more durable (thinker planks and locking mechanism) and also more forgiving on any sub floor imperfections. Laminate is also cheaper than most LVP. And very true, if you get a flood or serious water damage even LVP will need to come up.
I had LVP installed around 3 months ago (6.5mm Lifeproof with Stone core, so not the cheaper stuff) and even paid for my floors to be leveled and I feel spots of imperfection that I never felt with my previous Laminate floors. Some of it may be a poor leveling job, but there are also planks here in there that I will hear a snap when I walk on them. And these are spots that seem to be level.
I do like the look and the feel of them (they feel softer to walk on than the Laminate), but I can’t see these floors holding up. I wouldn’t recommend LVP over Laminate ever.
@@joelf5565 The vast majority of my current flooring claims are all install related. They are almost always with LVP, and they are due to leveling issues. The downside to SPC is that it doesn't want to move, it will break. The thinner floors have locking mechanisms you can break with your thumb. And since getting them down to 5mm or less is one of the cost cutting measures they are doing, you are seeing it more and more.
@daleludtke7803 I don’t doubt it. Maybe you can answer me this, is leveling a concrete slab floor a really difficult art or should I be furious with the Home Depot (Crew 2) contractors that I paid to do a piss poor leveling job? If I knew that LVP needed such a perfect concrete slab and that leveling was so expensive and difficult to do, then the choice for Laminate would’ve been a no brainer.
@@joelf5565 It is not a difficult art, so you should be frustrated with the installers if it failed quickly.
I never recommend the big box stores for install. They pay like crap, and the guys they are hiring usually are subbing out their work to people who work for basically nothing compared to pros. Means they are hiring people who can't cut it with better teams.
You would still need to prep the floor with a laminate, but it would handle imperfections far far better.
I don't understand why others have gap like this 0:04? What is the purpose of this wide gap?
Hi, would you recommend Evoke laminate? I am looking at the Evoke Victor laminate for my cabin but not sure if Evoke is good quality? Thanks
We've used Evoke for a couple of our projects and have samples in our showroom! It is good quality, but like the video said, can scratch or dent easily compared to laminate as it's LVP. Depending on the factors of your cabin, it stands up to water well and can look beautiful.
Which one is better for a commercial office high traffic area ?
I'd vote for laminate, but check the specific warranty info from the manufacturer. I've seen LVP have significant damage from high heels since you have a point load concentrated into a very small surface area.
What about sound quality? I am replacing carpet in a 2 story with either laminate or vinyl and wondering which is quieter? I have 2 dogs and don't want to listen to constant paw steps around the house.
Hey Susan! They are going to be both loud. I haven’t tested them, but I expect the vinyl to be slightly quieter.
Which type is more UV resistant? Laminate or LVP? I had hardwood floors under south facing windows and glass door and it sun faded badly.
Great question! Anecdotally we've had better results with a laminate. The LVP tends to expand or get wavy in the sun.
@@DesignBuildRemodeling thank you
@@DesignBuildRemodeling have had the same issue in the homes I have done flooring in.
That LVP can take an internal temp of about 100f, once it crosses over that it will start to swell. I have gone into homes we sold flooring to and saw the floor literally lifting off the floor as it has expanded more than the expansion gap allowed and pressed together to peak.
What kind of cabinets are behind you? The dark ones. They look like they’re a hydraulic open?
That's the Blum Servo-Drive Aventos opening mechanism. They are really cool! www.blum.com/us/en/products/motion-technologies/servo-drive/servo-drive-aventos/programme/
I was sold on LVP until I compared it with laminate in person. I just did not like the fake overdone texture on most of the LVP's. They also tended to look a little fake because of the wear layer I think. They're also very flimsy and think compared to laminate. I decided to go with laminate because it's less expensive and looks better IMO. Now this is for a bedroom that won't see much if any moisture. If I was shopping for a kitchen or bathroom I'd definitely choose LVP simply because it's pretty much entirely waterproof. If the joints aren't good water can still get underneath and cause mildew and mold though. But unlike laminate it will not expand at the joints with too much water exposure.
What millimeter do you recommend for each? i have partical board upstairs for my base and cement slab downstairs. i see 5 mm and 8 mm on the vinyl and 10 mm and over on the laminate.
In general, if it's a low traffic area like a bedroom or something like that, anything above 5mm will be fine. High traffic should be at least 8mm. If it's a high moisture area or an area where liquids might spill often, go with Vinyl over laminate. Laminate tends to be better for high traffic areas as it's usually thicker with a more rigid core. This also helps with sound absorbing, so laminate where you need better sound control.
Also another thing to be aware of is the wear layer. Each product has a layer with the print and texture that is of a certain thickness, usually referenced in Mils, which is 1/1000 inch. The thinnest you will see is around 6Mils with higher quality products having 20-28Mils. The thicker the wear layer, the more abuse the plank can take.
Great response! Thank you! Vinyl is great for areas with a lot of liquid, but the higher end laminate can also handle areas with high moisture as well. Check out our water test video on laminate flooring:
th-cam.com/video/X6_3DVSNCDY/w-d-xo.html
If doing a floating installation, I’d stay away from LVP. Too thin. Stick with Laminate. I got sold on LVP and paid extra for leveling and I still feel high and low spots.
What product to buy if I want smooth and plain finish? Thanks 🙏
th-cam.com/video/X6_3DVSNCDY/w-d-xo.html Here is a water test we did on Laminate. The link to the products are in the description.
What is the best way to clean laminated flooring, my look absolutely terrible. In the sunlight, I see marks and streaks everywhere.
Swiffers work great!
I bet this guy could sell ice to a polar bear
I bet you're right! I mean he is an owner of a successful company!
This guy has a very similar vocal nuances as Ed Bolian from Vinwiki.
Can’t unhear it
Bruh good ear!!!
Hi, which is ‘softer’ to walk on ?
LVPs usually. But when you start getting into your softer WPC LVPs or the ones with Fiberglass cores your compression resistance starts to lesson and they become more prone to denting.
Great response Dale! Thank you!
@@DesignBuildRemodeling Its been an interesting road once I started selling flooring for a living.
Unfortunately, alot of sales people basically tell people what they want to hear, rather than informing them on the best choices for the application they need.
More interested in the sale, than taking care of their clients.
Have you heard anything good on the Mohawk product exclusive to Costco?
No, I haven't. What's the color name and series? Typically a manufacture will just rename a flooring that we can sell to sell through a place like that--but I suspect it to be one of their cheaper lines.
I think Costco Sells RevWood... but its their base brand. It has the same AC4 wearlayer that REvwood product comes in, but has less prints/scans and is usually not built in with any additional waterproofing. Which makes a solid install even more important.
What you just noted about the aesthetics, I have noted the EXACT OPPOSITE. I compared 5 samples of rigid vinyl and laminate. When you hold rigid vinyl against the light and look at it from the side you notice:
- stays matte and does not become shiny like laminate where you can’t see any wood anymore
- you see the rigid pattern, laminate is just plain flat
- the print is much sharper and not as blurry
- deeper and richer colors
- realistic behavior when exposed to light, you can still detect the matte pattern
You weren't finding good laminates then, good laminates look like real wood, they have a 3d texture, some have bevels, and the patterns look more realistic than lvp. Laminates do have a wide range of quality and price levels vs lvp.
@@ricosrealm yep, and they are only getting better.
Revwood Premium is pretty hard to tell the difference unless it sitting right next to actual wood.
Yes, like the others stated, Laminate has improved a great deal, but honestly in the end, go with what you like in your home and what will fit best for the space it is in.
Run from LVP. Even a thicker SPC plank will have weaker locking mechanisms than a Laminate plank and will not hold up as long. Especially if a floating floor you will need a strong locking mechanism.
Thanks for the great video! Do you know anything about AQUASHIELD (MEGACLICK) Laminate and/or Christina Collection Christina Collection LVP? Newer product apparently. Thanks!
What is the name of the water proof laminate floor? Thanks
This one is made by Evoke. Mohawk also makes one.
I hate my lvp, scratches easy as hell and I’ve had a few planks not stay locked in. Laminate ftw
I have to tell folks this all the time when they start talking about wear layers and mils.
No matter how thick it is, unless its a speciality product (like Empower, or some of the newer hybrid LVPs), its still urethane reinforced plastic. It will all scratch the same... the 20 mil commercial stuff will just wear longer than the 12 mil residential products (20 is becoming the new standard).... they will look exactly the same in five years.
Dale is right, the specialty LVP is your best option when going with LVP. Great information! Thank you for your response!
First time I hear laminate is better than vinyl....wth
I tell people "better is subjective."
Laminate will outperform a LVp in most areas of the house. It has more scratch resistance and can take more weight and often has a more "natural" finish than an LVP... the only thing going for vinyl is that its waterproof... and even laminates (good ones) can be exposed to moisture.
The only room I think a LVP performs better than a Laminate is a in use bathroom used to bathe or shower. Not because a laminate can't do the job... just that it requires a bit more TLC and sealing... and at that point when the Laminate starts to damage.. your subfloor probably is too.. which the LVP would hide.
Great response! Thank you!
@MADKILL4 From my own experience I can tell you LVP is inferior if doing a floating floor. For starters, the locking mechanism in LVP is thinner and more prone to break than with Laminate. Even the most expensive LVP will not be stronger than the cheapest Laminate. And with LVP your subfloor better be near PERFECT or you will feel soft spots and every floor imperfection. And all those soft spots and bumps you feel means the planks are bending and stressing those weaker locking mechanisms. I bought into the noise after a pipe burst and ruined my old Laminate floors. I regret and wish I installed Laminate.
@@joelf5565exactly…agree. We had Pergo Timbercraft in a home for 4 yrs with great results. Then we built new and builder put in LVP. We have nothing but issues. It’s a 12 mil and no kids here…screws from the subfloor working their way up. It makes a crunchy sound sometimes. I feel every dip and subfloor imperfection. Only positive thing is it’s easy to mop clean. Now we are planning to rip out next year and put in a quality laminate.
He said he was going to talk about the off-gassing and VOC's, but he just ended the video after the environmental impact. Is there another video with that info?
I regret my LVP and wish I went with a waterproof Laminate. LVP telegraphs too much and the locking mechanism is thinner, so likely will not hold up under uneven floor stress.
We are starting to see this more and more with LVPs in the industry. Especially value driven products that are 5mm or lower. They just don't have the meat to handle flooring imperfections, or the house shifting.
Alot of them are failing, especially with self installs.
I did at least get a 6.5mm thick SPC, and after 5 months it is still holding up. Hopefully it will continue, but I am just skeptical it’ll last due to the soft spots at some locations. Frankly I shouldn’t feel soft spots; especially since I paid a Hone Depot contractor to install and LEVEL the floor.
It's always great to hear what people have experienced. Thanks for sharing!
I will say this on the aesthetic side of LVP, it is leaps and bounds better aesthetically a year later than when this was filmed.
I just put some down from floors 2000 yesterday in a customers home. All the aesthetics he touched on with the laminate were in this LVP along with the wood texture.
We put down 920sq ft of Floors 2000, Simplistic blonde.
Thanks for the input Justin! I still like the laminate grain patterns better, but there are some super attractive LVP products out there. Sometimes there's an easier time matching grain patterns with certain species. What species was the LVP designed to mimic?
I totally disagree about the water resistance of LVP if my dog pees on the floor and I pick it up within the hour my floor is totally ruined and it’s been ruined for years. If I throw a washrag on the floor, it absorbs right into the floor and bubbles, so no laminate is King.
There are definitely levels of LVP. The mid and higher end do stand up to water a lot better than the lower end. We are using laminate a lot more now. We did a laminate water test if you want to check that out. th-cam.com/video/X6_3DVSNCDY/w-d-xo.html
They make laminate now you can steam mop. Something you cannot do with most LVPs
Environmental impact, that's what I came here for
We're glad! Hope it helped 😊
You would be happy to know that Mohawk (whose Revwood is basically the best laminate you can buy) is one of the few flooring companies who has won awards on their efforts to be more green.
Its something they are pretty proud of.
This is your opinion.I'm sure you sell more laminate than vinyl planking anyway
I haven't made it passed the intro yet but... Are his hands actually bigger than his head or is this and angle/camera magic thing?
Haha, it is the angle. That's funny though.
Laminate wins
Laminate is very noisy to walk on. Don’t like the loud klunky noise. Sounds like walking on cheap plastic!
Saw multiple vs feed on laminate vs vinyl and with actual test. This video is useless without an actual animal running around. Vinyl actually won the durability test between the 2. one guy did furniture moving, knife drops, animal running. Vynil held better than Laminate.
Haha. This one is just talking about the differences--check out our scratch resistant flooring video for a few tests that are more controlled than an animal. th-cam.com/video/s_YeLvik06c/w-d-xo.html
That is not the case there Ninja! Laminate is much stronger but when it comes to water you can forget about it! Equal my A! Never and I mean never put laminate in a kitchen, Bathroom or basement on concrete! You won't like what will happen when water hits it! Its wood just get a sample and let it soak in a bucket of water if you don't believe me!
@@M_Ladd Thanks for bringing that up! It depends entirely on what the laminate core is made out of. If the laminate is a WPC core then it is not wood and just as waterproof as an LVP.
@@DesignBuildRemodeling Apologies, learn something new every day but after my experiences with the wood more likely to pass unless I give it the old bucket test first!
Yep, in every video I seen with testing, vinyl wins everytime. And with the SPC core there is no size change do to weather. This video is just wrong
Who cares about waterproofing, it’s not being installed outside 😂😂 my kitchen has never had more than a cup of water spilled on it! Don’t get why someone would need so much water resistance qualities??
Haha…you wouldn’t believe what we’ve seen happen with little kids, plumbing pipe leaks or roof leaks
Older style Pergo floors were tossed into every room imaginable.
You would run into issues next to showers, or around toilets. In front of your kitchen sink due to wet mats that were put down in front of them... and ice machines. So many ice machines. People just kicking the ice out of the way instead of picking it up.
Oh, and pets.
That 72 hour topical water warranty is a good one. Covers basically any "normal" living.
it totally didn't answer the environmental impact for your home
Laminate is junk, very similar to this channel!
Hahahaha… What would you prefer?
@@DesignBuildRemodeling LVT. Every point you made in this video is not even close to being correct. Seems like your a laminate salesman or what?
@@tyclips7143hey bro, you have a channel with comparing the two? What are your thoughts in why laminate is no good?
@@bettercallsaul8065 I have laminate throughout my entire house. It is all bubbled up in the kitchen due to a small dishwasher leak. Even cleaning them is a pain as you have to be careful how much water you get on them and have to dry immediately. I have LVT flooring on my back sunroom. I had a roof leak all over it and have no issues wipe it right up. Also mop it heavily with no issues. I will never go back.
nobody cares about invironmemtal impact
The environmental impact of products are very important to Oregonians.