There are many decisions to make when shopping for new flooring. One of the first is what type of flooring is best for your home, business or facility. If you’re not in the market for hardwood or carpet, you might be considering vinyl or laminate. At S&G Carpet and More, we love seeing our clients choose floors that truly meet their needs. If you’re debating between vinyl and laminate, here’s what you need to know.
Breaking Down the Differences Between Vinyl and laminate
Homeowners today enjoy an incredible array of choices when it comes to flooring. While variety is great, it can be hard to narrow down flooring selections unless you have a solid idea of what you want. You likely know the color or pattern that you’re interested in, and you may have seen both vinyl and laminate styles that fit the bill.
Vinyl flooring is available in both sheets and tiles that install easily and provide excellent durability. Vinyl planks, which offer the look of hardwood without the high maintenance demands, are also available. One of vinyl’s biggest selling points is its suitability for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Products such as CORETec both repel water and resist water damage, which makes them durable, practical and cost effective in areas that can be hard to floor. Such planks are also a viable alternative to traditional hardwood, which looks beautiful but is susceptible to water damage. As you shop, be sure to differentiate between vinyl and laminate too. These types of flooring can look similar, but vinyl tends to be more water resistant.
laminate is generally offered in sheet form and also has a reputation for being easy to install. It’s made primarily from natural materials, which means that it’s a good option if you want green flooring. However, laminate is more sensitive to cleaners than other types of flooring, and you may need to buy special cleaning products. It also tends to have something called a bloom, or a yellowish cast that occurs during manufacturing. This cast disappears over time as new flooring is exposed to light. laminate is generally considered to be durable, but you might find that available styles look a little dated.
Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Space
At first glance, vinyl and laminate may seem like relatively comparable options. However, vinyl offers some benefits that laminate just can’t match. These include:
- Superior water resistance. Vinyl planks and tiles crafted with water-extruding cores are particularly water resistant.
- Quick, easy and economical replacement of individual tiles that are chipped, cut, broken or have been badly stained. This is especially beneficial in commercial environments, where heavy foot traffic results in rapid wear and tear of flooring.
- Superior resistance to staining, fading and discoloration caused by sunlight.
- Excellent cushioning and noise insulation.
Of course, the pro flooring consultants at S&G Carpet and More are here to help you choose the right flooring for your home, business or facility too. Contact us or drop by one of our Northern California showrooms to talk about your options.
