Vinyl Vs Laminate Vs Wood Flooring

Hardwoods are solid planks of wood harvested from trees.

Vinyl vs laminate vs wood flooring.

It will probably look the least natural but that is not necessarily a bad thing depending on what look you are going for. Laminate is a great mid priced flooring option but there are times when a more expensive hardwood floor or a cheaper vinyl floor could be a better match for your home. This means it can be installed in bathrooms kitchens or other areas where there s moisture without the worry of warping or buckling. In standard sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles the base layer is usually fiberglass which is then coated in pvc vinyl and a plasticizer.

Hardwood is likely to remain the most popular flooring choice. Vinyl flooring is made primarily from polyvinyl chloride pvc resin which is a synthetic material produced by the petroleum industry. Vinyl plank flooring and laminate both offer the look of hardwood but how do they compare when exposed to water. The boards usually 3 4 inch thick are generally milled with a smooth top surface and tongue and groove edges that interlock to hold the boards together.

If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl. Hardwood engineered wood. Vinyl tiles and sheet goods cost 1 to 5 per square foot. Vinyl flooring is a softer floor that allows for more falls and spills than hardwood or laminate.

Professional installation adds 1 to 2 per square foot depending on the complexity of the project. Vinyl 1 and laminate flooring are two popular man made flooring products that come in a variety of colors and styles. Laminate can resemble wood and stone like linoleum but it comes in solid interlocking planks and is made almost entirely of wood products. Vinyl flooring is a 100 percent synthetic material.

Both are relatively inexpensive budget friendly options. Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages. It s typically texturized and dyed laid in a single layer over rubberized plastic. Vinyl 1 comes in both plank and tile form can be glued.

Higher quality products come with an hdf core so if you re getting a smokin deal check out that layer. Major differences solid hardwood flooring as the name suggests is comprised of flooring boards that are solid hardwood material through and through. Vinyl is a great cheap option that will hold up over time. It s also not as water resistant as linoleum or vinyl.

This is the backbone of your laminate plank. Laminate flooring is typically comprised of 4 layers can vary between manufacturers. Hdf or mdf core hdf stands for high density fiberboard and unsurprisingly mdf stands for medium density fiberboard.