Durability. Both vinyl and laminate flooring are extremely durable. Laminate usually lasts for up to 20 years, while vinyl flooring typically comes with a 15+ year warranty.
While costs are similar, the value of premium vinyl far exceeds that of laminate based on quality and value. Unlike laminate, premium vinyl is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, and is easy to install and maintain. Laminate is restricted to light traffic and low moisture applications.
Vinyl has a longer lifespan and better overall durability than laminate. Don't forget to factor in your budget, however. Vinyl flooring may be more expensive than laminate flooring, especially if you choose luxury vinyl flooring.
Concrete is the most durable floor you can have in your home. Concrete floors are typically stained to order and can look quite lovely.
Vinyl floors can last anywhere from 5 to 25 years, depending on their quality and how they're installed and maintained.
1. Hardwood Continues to Dominate. Hardwood has remained at the top of the podium for decades now and continues to dominate the home flooring industry.
If you purchase high quality, thick luxury vinyl flooring--whether plank or tile and have it installed correctly and maintain it well, you can expect a lifespan of 25 or 30 years.
Depending on the quality of the flooring, laminate flooring can last between 15 to 25 years on average, or longer. Choosing the right flooring for your home is about more than just aesthetics, it's also about durability and strength.
Vinyl plank flooring is versatile and all, but it will never be real wood. Despite vinyl's popularity, hardwood is still the most popular and desirable flooring type. If you're looking to change the floors to increase your home's resale value, investing in vinyl might not be worth it.
Laminate flooring is slightly more expensive than vinyl. It sells for anywhere from $1 to $6 per square foot, although most varieties fall closer to the $2 to $4 price range. Occasionally, you'll see high-quality laminates priced up to $7 per square foot. Installation costs an extra $1 to $5 per square foot.
What is more waterproof: Vinyl or laminate? While both vinyl and laminate can wick away moisture easily, vinyl is completely waterproof, which means you should go with vinyl for rooms that get a lot of moisture and high traffic.
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.
Laminate and vinyl planks feature plastic design and wear layers. But vinyl planks also have plastic cores, while laminate cores are made from wood composites. This is one of the most important differences between the products. Vinyl planks and tiles are waterproof, especially the more recent WPC and SPC products.
Both flooring types are compatible with underfloor heating, although vinyl is slightly more efficient. Vinyl floors have the lowest thermal resistance of all Pergo flooring solutions and act as excellent thermal conductors.
When it comes down to finding the best flooring to increase home value, it all boils down to your market. Hardwood will likely give you the highest return, but laminate and luxury vinyl plank flooring also offer plenty of perks to buyers.
Do (carefully) mop your laminate floor every two months.
To keep your laminate floors fresh, mop them every two months. Damp mops (a.k.a. microfiber mops) are gentle enough to use on laminate floors. If you're going to use a regular mop, just wring it out until it's almost completely dry.
Laminate Flooring Lifespan: 10-15 years for low quality tile and installation; 20-30 years for high quality with proper installation.
Installation of tile will cost an average of $5.75 per square foot, and installation of laminate will cost an average of $2 per square foot. This means installed tile flooring will be approximately $5 to $13 per square foot, while installed laminate flooring will be about $2 to $8 per square foot.
Durability. Vinyl flooring is highly durable. If installed and maintained correctly, it can last upwards of 10-20 years. That said, vinyl is a great choice for the rooms in your house that get the most foot traffic.
A single vinyl plank can hold up to 500 pounds. Since most furniture will not go under just one plank, it is perfectly safe for bulky furniture and refrigerators to go on vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl plank flooring will not be damaged or cracked by home appliances' weight due to its strong durability.
While luxury vinyl flooring is incredibly durable, it's not completely impervious to damage. It can scratch or scuff, especially with heavy objects such as appliances. On the positive side, luxury vinyl flooring is more scratch-resistant than hardwood, and, with LVP, you can replace pieces if they get scratched.
Vinyl Flooring in 2022
As technology advances, vinyl flooring gets closer and closer to natural wood and stone looks. Decorative patterns are gaining in popularity as well. Here are some of the top vinyl flooring trends in 2022: Waterproof SPC rigid core vinyl.
You should also keep in mind that vinyl plank and tile flooring might not increase the value of your home as much as laminate flooring. However, vinyl flooring can still make all the difference in how long your floors will last, which could be vital as we head into a more competitive real estate market.