EXPERT ADVICE
Can’t decide between laminate or vinyl for the flooring in your project? We break down the differences between the two to help you pick the right option for your home
When it comes to budget-friendly durable floor coverings, laminate and vinyl are the two most obvious options. As well as being widely available they share many characteristics and perform a similar job — so it isn’t always clear which is the most suitable choice.
In this guide, we’ll break down the pros and cons of laminate and vinyl flooring and how they compare to each other in certain areas, alongside where they sit in the wider world of flooring.
THE BASIC DIFFERENCES
Laminate and vinyl are often considered in the same context due to the materials they’re constructed from. They’re both made from synthetic materials, and are also designed with printed patterns that are often used to mimic natural materials. While laminate flooring is usually used to recreate a wood flooring effect, but sometimes stone, vinyl is used for a much larger variety of designs including timber, natural stone, marble, concrete and even patterned tile effects.
Laminate flooring is made up of several layers, including a high-density fibreboard core, the high-quality photographic layer that creates the effect and a durable protective layer on top. With good quality laminates, these layers will also be textured to give a better sense of authenticity to these, again usually timber, alternatives.
Vinyl flooring can be broken down into two categories: Sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) or planks.
● Sheet vinyl is far less commonly used in this day and age, but because of its low price and durability, it’s still used in low-cost housing and rental properties. There are also modern, highquality vinyl sheeting options available, sometimes referred to as LVS, which is a premium take on the sheet vinyl idea.
● Luxury vinyl tiles and planks are largely composed of PVC, and again feature a high-quality photograph to create a printed effect. LVT flooring can, again, feature a textured surface, and this is often employed on timber-effect designs to recreate the natural grain of hardwood flooring.
BEST LOOKS
It’s a tough call on which type of flooring looks better, as it will largely depend on the individual brands and the designs within their collections. When it comes to replicating timber flooring, which is largely where the two materials would compete, it’s a relatively level playing field, especially when looking at textured finishes.
However, you’ll find that LVT at the higher end of the pr
