When it comes to finding the right flooring for your home, both luxury vinyl flooring and laminate flooring are brilliant options. Both will suit a hard-working floor that still looks good and come in a range of cuts and styles to suit your home. But what is the difference between the two? Our guide takes you through a few of the fantastic benefits of these types of flooring and how they perform.
Waterproof Flooring
Whilst laminate flooring will stand up to slight splashes, its wood-like nature makes it unsuitable for wet environments such as bathrooms and spill-prone kitchens. Luxury vinyl flooring, however, is ideal for these sorts of environment. Luxury vinyl flooring is completely waterproof making it the perfect flooring for bathrooms, wet rooms or any other environment with a high moisture level. It also has a high non-slip level meaning it is safe for family life.
Durability
Luxury vinyl flooring and laminate flooring are both quite durable flooring options. Laminate flooring is more durable than hardwood and can resist scratches and common wear and tear easily. However, it may chip at the corners over time with extensive wear, it can also warp and buckle if exposed to water. On the other hand, luxury vinyl flooring is highly durable in a wide range of environments and can withstand scratches from pet paws as well as exposure to water without being damaged. Here at JA Seals Wall and Ceiling Panels, we give all of our luxury vinyl floors a 20-year residential guarantee that ensures your floor stands the test of time.
Incredible Choice
Both laminate flooring and luxury vinyl flooring are available in a wide variety of designs. Laminate flooring specialises in wood-effect designs with tile effect laminate flooring also available. As such an adaptable material, you can find luxury vinyl flooring in a massive variety of styles and colours. From Venetian stone to smoked oak wood, you’ll find everything you need to add the finishing touch to your room, without compromising on the benefits of vinyl flooring.
Low Maintenance
Compared to traditional wood floors, laminate flooring is much easier to maintain. Traditional wooden floors tend to absorb spills and scuff, laminate floors and luxury vinyl floors, however, can be cleaned with ease, without any permanent damage. It is worth bearing in mind that laminate floors can only be cleaned using a dry mop, not wet. Wet mops can damage laminate floors so should not be used. Luxury vinyl flooring, on the other hand, can be cleaned with a wet mop with ease and requires very little upkeep or cleaning to keep it looking like new.
How Are They Made?
Laminate floors are formed in a bonded process by pressing numerous layers together and using heat and high pressure to fuse the layers together and create a wood-effect floor. Luxury vinyl flooring is created through layering multiple sections of vinyl together and compressing them through a rolling process suspended in a liquid formula. Both are created through a process that adds protection and treatment through layers for a hard-wearing product that lasts. Whilst the main component of laminate flooring is high-density wood fibre, the materials used to create luxury vinyl flooring consist of PVC vinyl which makes the luxury vinyl floor waterproof.
Are you looking for the perfect luxury vinyl flooring for your home? Take a look at our collection of high-quality styles and finishes here. Alternatively, get in touch with our team now to find the perfect flooring option for you and answer any questions you may have.