What do you do if you’re looking for cost-effective flooring that’s easy to care for? Wood can be high-maintenance, tiles are a big job to lay and repair, and both are expensive—so they’re out of the question. As an alternative, vinyl and laminate flooring are well worth considering.
If you’ve done some preliminary exploring, you might know that the pros of vinyl and laminate can make it difficult to choose between them. But if you take a closer look, you’ll find that one may be more suitable for your home than the other. It also helps to know about the cons of these flooring options.
Let’s unpack the pros and cons of vinyl and laminate flooring so you can make the best decision for your home.
Made from one of the most versatile plastics in the world, vinyl flooring is available in a variety of colours and designs. Some types are completely waterproof, which makes them a popular choice for bathrooms, kitchens, sculleries and basements. It’s also a good choice for sheds and summer houses. Rigid Core or stone plastic composite (SPC) vinyl, Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) vinyl, and Vinyl Plank are the three most common options.
Waldo Semon created Vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), in the 1920s. It’s often used to manufacture items such as shoe heels, golf balls, cling film, toys, and car body parts.
A Swedish company called Perstorp used waste wood products, chemicals, pressure and heat to invent laminate flooring in 1977. Once regarded as one of the cheapest of cheap and cheerful options, laminate flooring has risen in many homeowners’ estimation in recent years. It’s still one of the best budget-friendly buys, although these days you’re getting a better product for your money.
Laminate flooring is made by covering a particle board wood base with an image layer and a clear wear layer. The product is suitable for rooms where it won’t be exposed to moisture regularly or for long periods, such as hallways, dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.
If exposure to moisture isn’t a problem, it can be incredibly difficult to choose between vinyl and laminate flooring. The following points may help:
If the style or look of the floor is more important than its ability to resist moisture, or if you’re more concerned about comfort than lifespan, consider choosing laminate. If you want a floor that’s waterproof and long-lasting, choose vinyl, which usually lasts twice as long as laminate.
Now that you know the pros and cons of the two options, you’re better able to make the right decision for your home.
Guest Published by Mara Sampson