Vinyl flooring clearly is a better choice in high-moisture environments than laminate flooring, making it an excellent choice in bathrooms. But for whole-house installations, laminate flooring often makes sense because it offers a wide range of choices.
Laminate flooring is much cheaper than vinyl, even though it has a higher ROI when it comes to home value. Laminate flooring costs about $0.70 to $2 per square foot, with installation costing about the same as vinyl flooring.
Carpeting per square foot can range from $2 to $10, but the average price is around $5. Laminate flooring costs anywhere from $3 to $12 per square foot, but the average price is around $7.
Less density with laminate flooring means less durability. In addition, if the wear layer on the laminate isn't treated for UV light protection, laminate flooring will fade in the sunlight. LVP is clearly superior when it comes to durability.
Con: LVP May Dent
Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects.
The Provenza LVP is a little more expensive than Pergo (about $2/SF more), but if you have the budget for it, I'd definitely recommend it over Pergo. If your budget is not as limited, some other options are Belair, Republic Floor, or head to your local flooring showroom and ask them what they'd recommend!
For instance, it would cost an average of $600 to $1,400 to add laminate floors to a 100-square-foot room, $3,000 to $7,000 for a 500-square-foot room, and $6,000 to $14,000 for a 1,000-square-foot room.
Buyers tend to prefer hard surface floors over carpet. If you choose a quality laminate, you'll likely get a decent return on your investment. Laminate is also relatively affordable, which means you won't have to shell out a lot of your budget upfront.
Many homeowners prefer the look of laminate to that of vinyl. Although both flooring types come in a range of styles, colors, and patterns, laminate typically features better imagery or embossing that gives the floors a more realistic look.
Durability. Laminate and LVT/LVP flooring are both extremely durable, but they have their weaknesses. Laminate is prone to scratches and chipped corners over time, so vinyl is probably a better choice for your home if you have pets. LVT/LVP is scratch-resistant, but it's more vulnerable to denting and tearing.
Unfortunately, laminate flooring does not stand up against moisture as well as vinyl. While some laminate flooring options are water-resistant, they can still become damaged over long periods of water exposure.
Cannot be refinished: Due to its composite construction and wear layer, a laminate floor can never be refinished. Once it has been damaged or worn out, laminate flooring must be replaced.
Vinyl flooring, especially when installed with an underlayment, can minimize impact noise and provide a softer and more muted sound when walking or dropping items. Laminate flooring, without an underlayment, may produce a louder and hollower sound due to the nature of its construction.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
Lowes Laminate Flooring Installation Cost
On average, Lowe's charges between $1 and $3 per square foot to install the flooring. Hence, the total costs of laminate flooring range between $1.99 and $9. If you have a 500-square-foot area that needs new laminate floors, you'll pay $995-$4,500.
$3 – $8 per square foot
The average cost to install laminate flooring is $3 to $8 per square foot including labor and materials. Laminate flooring costs between $1,411 and $3,395 with most homeowners paying around $2,352 for professional installation.
How many square feet is a 12x12 room? The square footage of a room 12 feet wide by 12 feet long is 144 square feet. Find the square footage by multiplying the width (12 ft) by the length (12 ft).
The best flooring for uneven floors due to its attractiveness and durability is epoxy, which can also be designed to mimic a wide variety of appearances. Not only will epoxy finish out the floor, but it'll also even it out.
Disadvantages of Pergo Outlast Plus laminate flooring are:
cannot be refinished, if it gets very damaged you'll have to replace the entire floor. laminate flooring is never as durable or shock proof as solid wood. not the best option if you have pets, as it not scratch proof.
LifeProof has better water-resistant properties than real wood, but otherwise, it's pretty standard. If you want the best in waterproof flooring, check out some Pergo Extreme reviews—it's super-popular for a reason.
You should sweep and mop them regularly. Use a specialty mop to clean them without excess liquid. Though laminate floors are water resistant, if they are soaked in water, they can be damaged. The best way to clean laminate floors is to use products especially made for them.