One of the most critical decisions when we reform our house or establishment, is the type of floor we will place; the options are many and varied, and sometimes the selection process can be confusing. Laminate or vinyl flooring? The choice is not easy since each one has its advantages and peculiarities.
Choose between laminate or vinyl flooring
Increasingly, people choose the most profitable options for the floors of their home, options that stand out for their durability and easy maintenance; This is the case of laminate or vinyl floors. Therefore, selecting one of the two entails a process of research and analysis about not only which one you like the most but also which is better for your space.
The rush is never good! You must dedicate enough time to this selection process: discovering what your needs and tastes are is the first step since, without this, we cannot guide ourselves when reading its advantages, but the investigation into the characteristics of each one will make us have a much more open mind.
What is laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring is a type of synthetic flooring with a wood-like appearance that is made up of a lower layer of dm board, an intermediate layer with a photographic film that will give it the design we like, and a final use layer of resin, the Most of the time, it is made of polyurethane, which will be responsible for resisting the passage of time, and that is resistant to wear and tear, to humidity, that balances itself, and that adopts the established design.
There is a wide variety of laminate flooring designs to choose from, as they adapt to the style and needs of our home. In addition, they are easy to clean and maintain due to their compounds, which allow the use of chemical products on them and can withstand high pressure and temperature conditions.
What is vinyl flooring?
Vinyl floors, also called PVC, are a type of flooring made up of between one and five different layers, depending on whether they are homogeneous or heterogeneous, including the polyurethane use layer, which offers excellent resistance to humidity, stains, and dirt that we can cause in the day to day of our house.
For later use, it is essential to avoid sand, dirt or debris on our shoes, as they can damage them, and use the appropriate cleaners; Nor is it necessary to wax it since it comes ready for use. All this makes it an effortless floor to maintain, one of the easiest on the market.
Its quality of design makes it available in a diverse variety of patterns, such as floral or geometric; In addition, it also with a wide variety of finishes that imitate marble and stone, wood, ceramics, bricks, and with different formats such as rolls, tiles or slats, they are last in turn in click, glued or self-supporting format.
Characteristics and differences between laminate or vinyl flooring
Although both types of flooring have excellent resistance on a day-to-day basis and a wide variety of designs and models to match the style of our home, they also have some differences.
For this reason, we are going to explain what these inequalities are between the specimens and the aspects in which they stand out when defining and installing them.
Durability over time
One of the main factors to consider when hiring a floor is its durability, how long our pavement will have a useful life, and its resistance over the months and years.
Both floors we are talking about are durable and among the most stable in the industry, but that does not mean that over time they can suffer damage, dents, cracks, and bumps.
Laminate flooring is less resistant to sunlight and excessive hot and cold temperatures. On the other hand, vinyl floors have an innovative polyurethane layer, which allows for a more durable coating.
Moisture resistance
Whether we are talking about laminate or vinyl flooring, both have properties to be installed in environments with high humidity, such as the bathroom or kitchen, where there may even be leaks, and a typical wooden floor, could not be established.
However, laminate floors present more problems than vinyl in these places. Over time, it can become unstuck from the floor if it’s not installed correctly or moisture gets into any cracks or gaps between its boards.
Daily maintenance
Both types of flooring require specific maintenance and cleaning, but without difficulty. Keeping them free of dust and water, washing them with suitable products, and using cleaning elements that do not seriously damage the material are some factors we must follow in their maintenance.
Use in commercial premises
This point has a more significant difference between the pavements since. However, both can be installed without difficulty in public places; only the vinyl one, with its high resistance and durability, could last for a long time in this type of establishment.
On the other hand, laminate floors, which do not have that degree of hardness, could break due to the constant use of walking over them and would end up full of cracks, breaks or damage.
Budget for your installation
Generally, although the price of the materials varies depending on the quality and characteristics you choose, vinyl flooring is usually more expensive than laminate flooring, as is its installation. Still, in return, they offer durability and performance to those found in vinyl flooring. Laminate can not vacuum.
However, if we compare them based on quality/price, both meet the expectations expected of them.
What type should i choose: laminate or vinyl flooring?
The characteristics you are looking for, together with where you want to install any of these floorings, will determine which of the two you should choose: laminate or vinyl flooring. Here we will give you some primary keys:
If you are looking for a floor for your home…
If you are looking for flooring in your home, the most suitable would be laminate flooring. Why? This is perfect for a home where you want a wooden floor without the care that goes with it.
In addition, the fact that it is very resistant to bumps, scratches, and all kinds of damage, is also an advantage so that its durability allows you not to change it again for a long time.
If you are looking for a floor for your establishment…
On the other hand, if you want to find the option to dress the floor of your business premises, you have found your ideal product. In this case, vinyl flooring would be perfect for this type of establishment, as it is highly resistant to moisture and any material.
