Laminate vs. Vinyl Flooring: Boca Raton

Let Kuhn Flooring help you to choose between new laminate floors and Vinyl flooring today!

Both laminate and vinyl can look like wood or stone even though they are not these natural materials, and knowing the difference is the key to understanding which is right for you and your Boca Raton home. In this article, we will go over the differences between vinyl and laminate and some pros and cons of both flooring types. We will also discuss how to make the right flooring choice for your home and the importance of having a new flooring contractor who can help you with these decisions too.

Laminate Flooring: What is It?

Laminate flooring is a manufactured flooring that originally hit the market in the 1970s. It was one of the first alternatives to hardwood flooring. Though at first this flooring option was seen as cheap and unrealistic, technology has brought laminate far from the undesirable solution that it was. As time progressed, the manufacturing process has improved, making this flooring more realistic and now it is often undetectable from hardwood. With the advancements to its look and feel, new laminate floors are becoming one of the most popular solutions.

Laminate Flooring: The Layers

Laminate flooring is made up of multiple layers of material that are pressed together and fused at high heat. These layers each have a crucial job to make up the individual planks.

• Overlay: the protective layer that prevents scratches, dents, and wear.
• Decorative layer: the part that has the photographic image printed on it, or stamped into it for realistic look and texture
• Core board: this section of the laminate is the layer that gives the piece its thickness. It is often made up of particle board or pressed fiber materials.
• Backing: this section is essential. It is placed on the back side of the layers to help hold everything together and give the planks their stability.

“…the manufacturing process has improved, making this flooring more realistic and now it is often undetectable from hardwood. With the advancements to its look and feel, new laminate floors are becoming one of the most popular solutions.”

The Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring

As with all flooring options, there are both good and bad characteristics. With laminate, it is no different. Here are a few of the pros and cons.

Pros

• Durable
• Scratch and dent resistant
• Looks realistic
• Partially water resistant
• Easy to maintain
• Padded for ease of standing
• Affordable

Cons 

• Not waterproof
• Cannot be used in bathrooms or basements
• Can cause a hollow, empty sound

Vinyl Flooring: What is it?

Vinyl flooring is also a fabricated flooring with looks that are similar to natural materials such as wood or stone; however, vinyl has an entirely different type of content. Just like laminate, vinyl had a bad reputation for looking fake and cheap for the longest time.

However, with new luxury vinyl models being released every day, the vinyl market is looking more realistic than ever. With its increasingly authentic look, vinyl is also quickly becoming one of the most popular new flooring choices in the United States.

Vinyl Flooring: The Layers

Kuhn Flooring carries a large variety of laminate flooring options Laminate and Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring.

Similar to laminate flooring, luxury vinyl plank is also made up of multiple layers. Each layer has a purpose that helps the vinyl do its job appropriately.

• The wear layer: this layer protects the flooring from wear, tear, and stains. It is also what makes this flooring easy to clean.
• Printed Vinyl Layer: This layer is what holds the high-resolution printed graphics as well as the stamped texture that helps this flooring look realistic.
• Solid Vinyl Core: This section of the flooring is what makes vinyl nearly waterproof and helps stabilize its high density. This is also the section that the manufacturer uses to make the interlocking parts of the flooring planks.

The Pros and Cons of Vinyl Flooring

Pros 

• Realistic look
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Resilient
• Can be waterproof

Cons 

• Does not feel like real stone or wood
• Can be more costly
• If the quality is not luxury grade, the flooring can dent or scratch more easily

“Vinyl flooring is also a fabricated flooring with looks that are similar to natural materials such as wood or stone… with new luxury vinyl models being released every day, the vinyl market is looking more realistic than ever.”

Laminate vs. Vinyl: Which Do You Choose?

In the debate over which is better, laminate or vinyl, the truth is that no one flooring type will work for every room in your home or even for one room for every person’s home. It ultimately comes down to a personal choice.

As a professional flooring installation company in Boca Raton, we can break down what each material is made of and the good and the bad of each flooring type, but in the end, you must decide which will work best for you in your Boca Raton home.

Comparing the Two

When looking at the two side by side, there are a few areas where each flooring type is clearly superior. Here is a list with a few of the absolute winners.

• Cost: Hands down, laminate flooring is more affordable.
• Appearance: This is a tie! So much technology has gone into the looks of both flooring types. They both genuinely look realistic!
• Use: Vinyl flooring is more versatile. Though it may not feel as realistic, you can place it in any room. It withstands spills and some water as well.
• Durability: This is also a tie! Both types of flooring are very durable and an excellent investment for longevity.
• Environmentally friendly: Tie again! Both vinyl and laminate are typically made using recycled materials, and you can recycle much of the material after it reaches the end of its life.
• Sound: Vinyl wins this battle hands down as laminate tends to sound hollow and fake.
• The Feel: Laminate has a better texture and feels more real than vinyl.

Again, the winner of the debate is up to you. They are both excellent and beautiful flooring options, and each has merits that make them better and more affordable than hardwood. Before making any final decisions, you should consider which of the pros and cons are most important to you.

After you have determined what matters most to you in a flooring type, you will know which kind of floor is right for you.

Kuhn Flooring Can Help Settle the Debate

Contact Kuhn Flooring regarding your new flooring project for your home.

If you are still unsure which type of flooring is right for you, contact our team of experts here at Kuhn Flooring. Our design team can go over the details of each flooring as well as what the installation process entails.

We can discuss what each flooring variety offers as far as décor or looks. Our team can compare vinyl and laminate wood finishes or if you are looking for a natural stone design, we can show you what that would look and feel like in both laminate as well as luxury vinyl plank.

With our team of flooring specialists helping you make these final decisions; we are able to ensure that you get the perfect flooring solutions for your home.

Here at Kuhn Flooring, we also offer tile, hardwood flooring, and carpet installations, making us one of the leading flooring experts in the Boca Raton area.

This means that we can often help renovate all of the flooring in your home at one time. Contact us today to discuss your home flooring project or ideas. Let us help you decide which types of flooring you need in the various rooms of your home today!

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/laminated-structure

https://www.bestlaminate.com/help/what-is-rigid-core-vinyl-flooring/