Spend some time reviewing room designs, curate some favorites, and emulate the look you love in your own home.Bathroom 101 - Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring Pros and Cons With the affordable and durable vinyl and laminate options in the marketplace today, you'll be certain to find one that meets your needs and style. Some homeowners choose one flooring option for a cohesive look throughout their home, while others prefer a more eclectic look with different flooring choices for different rooms or floors. vinyl flooring, you can create an aesthetic you'll love for every room in your house. No matter whether you choose laminate vs. Keep in mind, however, that waterproof laminate options are available from select brands.

The chief benefit of vinyl is that it is more waterproof, which means you can use it in rooms like bathrooms or laundry rooms. While many interior design aficionados assert that laminate is higher quality, you'll find that premium vinyl options offer similar appeal. vinyl flooring, you'll find that you can achieve the look you want and save money at the same time.Īlthough laminate and vinyl flooring are similar, you'll need to consider some tradeoffs when choosing flooring for your home. Don't assume you are stuck with outdated floors. You may find yourself longing for high-end stone or hardwood flooring, but not have the budget for an expensive upgrade. Thanks to the laminate manufacturing process, you can enjoy the look of engineered wood without a major home improvement expense. But another benefit of laminate is that it's far more affordable than other flooring alternatives, such as solid hardwood. You can rest assured that your laminate flooring will last for the long haul. The highest grades of laminate flooring, AC 4 and AC 5, are ideal for high-traffic or heavy-use commercial settings. For low-traffic rooms, you can choose floors with an AC 1, while AC 2 or AC 3 are perfect for most other home applications. The good news is that you can choose from various grades of laminate to meet the needs and use of your rooms. Do you have a pet whose claws can damage the floor? Are you installing flooring in a high-traffic room, like a family room or kitchen? Before you buy flooring, consider your lifestyle needs. When you purchase flooring, you want materials that will endure and stand up to the rigors of everyday life. Laminate Flooring Pros Durability and Affordability

Although you can find a wide array of vinyl designs-including ones that mimic stone and ceramic tile-wood-look laminate tends to offer a more realistic, higher-quality appearance. Also made of layers with a printed layer and a protective wear layer, vinyl flooring is a durable choice for any floor. Plus, a vinyl floor may come in one large vinyl sheet without seams where water can seep through. If you truly desire waterproof laminate, a few brands do offer this style of flooring at a higher cost than traditional laminate.īy contrast, vinyl floors consist of polymer materials that can withstand water. As a result, long periods of exposure to water can damage some types of laminate floors.

Made from synthetic material, laminate flooring consists of an inner core with a decorative image on top, covered by a protective overlay.Īlthough laminate flooring is water-resistant, not all variants are 100 percent waterproof. Since then, laminate has been a top choice for homeowners who love the look of hardwood floors but don't want to spend significant money on flooring. As the first manufactured alternative to a wood floor, laminate flooring first gained popularity during the 1970s.

Waterproof vinyl flooring vs laminate