Laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are two of the most popular flooring options in residential construction. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore their manufacturing processes, highlight their main differences, and present their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Laminate Flooring
Invented in 1977 by the Swedish company Pergo as an alternative to hardwood floors, laminate flooring is composed of multiple layers fused together under high heat and pressure.
- Underlayment: Can be cork or foam, providing a vapor barrier, absorbing impact, and ensuring evenness on the surface.
- Bottom Layer: A melamine or paper backer that establishes the foundation and offers water resistance.
- Core Layer: The most critical and largest part, typically made of MDF or HDF (Medium or High Density Fiberboard).
- Pattern Layer: Features a high-resolution 3D photograph of genuine wood grain for a realistic appearance.
- Topcoat or Wear Layer: Comprises a blend of aluminum oxide powder, melamine, and urethane, offering scratch resistance, UV protection, and stain resistance.
Every laminate flooring product has a different level of durability and resistance to abrasion, impact, stains and burns. To categorize them, producers developed an Abrasion Rating System with Abrasion Criteria or AC ratings.
- AC 1 is good for light traffic in bedrooms or guest rooms.
- AC 2 is good for moderate traffic in living or dining rooms.
- AC 3 is good for heavy traffic in entryways
- AC 4 is good for light commercial traffic in offices and cafes.
- AC 5 is good for heavy commercial traffic in department stores.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring, also known as LVP, is produced using vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which was developed in 1926. The basic raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil. The manufacturing process of LVP involves various steps, resulting in an impressive layered construction.
- Underlayment: Similar to laminate flooring, cork or foam underlayment is used to even out subsurface irregularities.
- Bottom Layer: Made of rigid fiberglass, providing structural support.
- Core Layer: Can be SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) or WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) made of PVC, plasticizers, and either calcium carbonate or wood flour.
- Pattern Layer: A high-resolution digital image of wood, stone, or tile.
- Topcoat or Wear Layer: A clear, urethane-based coating ensuring scratch and stain resistance.
The thickness of the top layer determines the categories of luxury vinyl flooring.
- Standard residential spaces: 12-mil or thicker
- High-traffic residential spaces: 20-mil or thicker
- Commercial spaces: 28-mil or thicker
Comparison
- Appearance: Laminate flooring offers warmth and softness underfoot, while luxury vinyl can have deeper embossing, providing a more realistic appearance.
- Cost: Generally, laminate flooring is more budget-friendly compared to luxury vinyl plank.
- Ease of Use: Both options are DIY-friendly with easy click and lock assembly.
- Acclimate: Laminate flooring requires acclimation to avoid expansion or contraction, while vinyl flooring doesn’t need acclimation.
- Installation: Laminate is usually installed as a floating floor, while luxury vinyl can be floating, loose lay, or glued down.
- Scratch Resistance: Luxury vinyl typically exhibits better scratch resistance, but neither product is scratch-proof.
- Water Resistance: Luxury vinyl is waterproof and can withstand water exposure, whereas laminate flooring may swell when soaked.
- Uses: Waterproof laminate flooring can be used anywhere in a building, but non-water-resistant flooring is not suitable for bathrooms or kitchens. Luxury vinyl is waterproof and can be installed anywhere.
- Care: Laminate flooring requires dry or slightly damp mopping, while vinyl flooring can be wet-mopped.
- Fire Resistance: Both have different levels of fire resistance, but vinyl flooring can emit strong fumes when burnt.
- Lifespan: Properly maintained, both laminate and luxury vinyl flooring can last 10-20 years.
- Health Concerns: Both use phenol formaldehyde resins and glues that can off-gas, posing health concerns in high concentrations.
- Environment: Laminate flooring can use recycled material for its inner core, making it partially eco-friendly. Vinyl flooring can technically be recycled, but challenges may arise due to glued-down installations.
Conclusion
Both laminate and luxury vinyl flooring offer cost-effective and DIY-friendly flooring solutions with scratch and stain resistance. However, there are notable differences between the two in terms of appearance, water resistance, ease of installation, and environmental impact. For individuals sensitive to VOCs or seeking more eco-friendly options, additional research and consideration may be necessary. Both products continually improve in terms of durability, water resistance, and overall quality, making them compelling choices for many homeowners.
