Wood Laminate or Luxury Vinyl Tile: Which Is Right for You?

How laminate flooring and LVT are similar:

• Both have cost and durability advantages over such other solid-surface flooring choices as hardwood, ceramic or stone.
• Both laminate flooring and LVT have become master imitators of natural surfaces like wood, stone and other flooring types.
• Both are easier to maintain than wood or tile. Hardwood or engineered-wood floors may need refinishing, and some tile types may need resealing or regrouting.
• Both can be installed either professionally or by a reasonably skilled do-it-yourselfer who has the right tools and instructions.
• Both can allow for repair by replacement of a damaged plank or tile.
• Both have wear layers. 
   

How Laminate Flooring and LVT are different:

• They’re made from different materials. Laminate flooring is made of layers. The primary layer (the core) is made of high-density fiberboard that gives laminate flooring its rigidity and strength. LVT is made in layers as well; its primary component is PVC vinyl, which makes LVT dimensionally stable and flexible.
• They install differently. Laminate flooring is a floating-floor system that should never be nailed or glued to the subfloor. Some LVT products now offer a floating-floor approach to installation, but generally LVT installs as a glue-down system by the application of a separate adhesive or the use of peel-and-stick tiles or planks.
• They feel different. Because laminate flooring is made primarily from wood, it feels like wood. LVT is made out of vinyl and feels like plastic.
• They handle stains and flame differently. Laminate flooring is highly stain-resistant and won’t be damaged by limited flame exposure, like a hot ember tossed through a fireplace screen. Some LVT is susceptible to staining and will be damaged by limited flame exposure.

So is laminate wood flooring or LVT right for you?

Let’s explore four issues or questions that come up when considering laminate wood planks and LVT as flooring choices.
 

Which is the “greener” flooring choice?

Laminate flooring is greener by far because the materials that go into them make the difference. Laminate flooring is primarily made from wood byproducts — a natural, renewable resource.

Which is better in a wet environment, laminate flooring or LVT?

Both are equally good. All flooring can and will be damaged by water to some extent. Laminate flooring can be used in areas that may, from time to time, receive topical moisture when you follow our advice. 

Which stands up to everyday accidents, scratches and dropped objects better?

LVT flooring because it’s made harder and tougher. While LVT flooring and laminate flooring are both good flooring solutions, we believe that LVT flooring has many more advantages than laminate flooring for today’s home.