Style and color are usually at the top of the list when homeowners are thinking about a new floor. But there’s often another big decision to be made, one that has less to do with how the floor looks:
What type of floor will work best in the home?
The decision often comes down to a choice between luxury vinyl and laminate flooring. Both offer the look of natural wood-plank and stone-tile flooring at a much more affordable cost, in addition to other benefits.
How are luxury vinyl and laminate different?
Luxury vinyl – also known as LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and LVT (luxury vinyl tile) – and laminate are constructed similarly, with a wear layer, design layer (replicating wood or stone) and backing layer. The key difference is luxury vinyl is 100% nonporous, primarily made of PVC, while laminate is made with a wood fiber-based core.
As for installation, laminate is a tongue-and-groove floor, with planks/tiles that click and lock together. Karndean luxury vinyl is available in three installation formats, providing options based on your project:
- Gluedown – full-spread adhesive
- Loose lay – perimeter adhesive only
- Rigid core – click-lock
Here's how laminate compares to loose lay and rigid core luxury vinyl:
Are luxury vinyl and laminate both waterproof?
Luxury vinyl is 100% waterproof. It won’t swell, crack or warp when exposed to moisture, so it can be installed anywhere in the home, including bathrooms, kitchens and basements. All Karndean LVP/LVT is backed by a lifetime residential warranty.
Like LVP/LVT, the surface of laminate is impervious to water – but the wood fiber-based core can be compromised by exposure to moisture that makes its way between planks or tiles, be it from spills, splashes or pet accidents. If the core absorbs moisture, the flooring can swell or buckle. Trapped moisture also can promote mold and mildew.
Which one is quieter – LVP/LVT or laminate?
The construction and flexibility of LVP/LVT make it quieter, not to mention more comfortable underfoot. Loose lay and rigid core luxury vinyl also have a backing that offers extra comfort while reducing noise between floors in multi-level homes – perfect for upstairs and homes with children.
Laminate is inflexible with a solid core, amplifying sound from hard shoes or the “clicking” of pet claws.
Is luxury vinyl or laminate better if you have pets?
Both types of flooring are made with wear layers that protect against cat and dog claws. Karndean LVP/LVT is available with 20 mil and 30 mil wear layers – durable enough even for high-traffic commercial spaces.
LVP/LVT is superior to laminate, however, for being waterproof and easy to clean. Water-bowl spills or wet, muddy paws – all can be easily cleaned up without having to worry about moisture damaging the floor.
With laminate flooring, spills should be cleaned up immediately, and wet-mopping should be avoided.
Which one looks better – LVP/LVT or laminate?
Luxury vinyl and laminate both bring the natural beauty of wood and stone into your home. Karndean has been in the luxury vinyl business since the product was first developed in the 1970s, leading the way in design innovation ever since.
Karndean hand-selects the wood and stone that inspire the floors from around the world, capturing the distinctive natural characteristics with unmatched artistry and attention to detail. Every wood- and stone-inspired floor is an original available exclusively from Karndean retailers.
Unlike laminate, Karndean LVP/LVT also allows you to go beyond a standard straight-lay and create an installation unique to your home. Specifically, Karndean gluedown and loose lay flooring does not need to be clicked and locked at specially manufactured edges like laminate (or click-lock luxury vinyl). That means gluedown and loose lay planks/tiles can be cut in custom sizes and shapes, giving you the ability to create borders, eye-catching lay patterns or zoned spaces.
There’s a lot to consider if you’re choosing between luxury vinyl and laminate. Where will the floor be in the home? Are there children or pets at home? Do you want the ability to add some customization to your flooring layout?
For a combination of style, durability and performance, Karndean luxury vinyl is flooring you can buy with confidence.
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