As they are more scratch-resistant and cheaper alternatives to traditional hardwood, both laminate and vinyl wood are worthy choices. But is one better than the other?

Read on to learn about how these two options stack up against each other on some key consideration points.

Laminate Flooring vs Vinyl Wood: What Are They Made of?

Laminate, which is a composite of high-density fiberboards pressed together, consists of 99% wood byproducts. Just above those fiberboards sits the part you actually see: a high-resolution image of the material being simulated (eg. wood, marble) printed on paper. A clear, UV-resistant layer covers everything as a sealant.

While laminate is almost all derived from wood, vinyl is 100% synthetic. Layers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers, and other additives come together to form vinyl. Vinyl is available in sheet form or as sturdier luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP) or tile (LVT).

The difference in composition gives laminate and vinyl different strengths and weaknesses that you’ll want to weigh. Reflooring an entryway and bathroom? You might need to choose a different option for each space.

Laminate Holds a Slight Edge In Durability

Laminate wins in the durability category, but not by much. With vinyl, you just need to pay for a better plank instead of vinyl sheet flooring to get higher quality.

Laminate will stand up to scratches better than vinyl, and its typical life expectancy is anywhere from 15 to 25 years. It can stand up to foot traffic, pets, and spills. As with any floor, though, you’ll need to mop it regularly to ensure that it lasts, but no floor wax is required!

Vinyl wood is a very durable choice, too. It is better to upgrade to the LVP or LVT luxury options from standard sheet vinyl flooring if you’re looking for added durability. Vinyl can stand up to pets and kids, just be sure to avoid dragging anything heavy across it since vinyl is softer than laminate and hardwood.

With a lifespan of 10 to 20 years, vinyl may need to be replaced sooner. This is especially true if it’s installed in areas exposed to a lot of light, which will cause colors to fade. You might want to avoid choosing vinyl for a sun-drenched entryway.

Both Options Are Affordable

While laminate might be slightly cheaper overall, both will save you money over hardwood. A baseline price for vinyl is $2 per square foot, but laminate clocks in at just $1. Opting for the better luxury vinyl will notch up the price difference even more.

This price difference between vinyl and laminate seems pretty minor, and both are a lot cheaper than wood, which is $5 per square foot on the low end. Consider that the average size of a kitchen in a mid-sized home is 275 square feet. If you go with either vinyl or laminate over hardwood, you could cut your costs in half!

For Water-Prone Areas, One Choice Emerges

For basements, bathrooms, or other areas exposed to water, vinyl is the more water-resistance choice. Because laminate has a wood-based core, the wood will expand if it comes into contact with water, and it won’t simply go back to its original shape.

Laminate can be a reliable option if it is sealed properly and you have a base layer installed underneath it. It’s also important to clean up any spills or leaks immediately if you go this route.

Installation Is Inexpensive for Either One

It’s one thing to choose a flooring, but can you install it yourself? The answer is yes, and many homeowners choose to install vinyl or laminate because it is relatively easy and saves money.

Both vinyl and laminate come in planks that can be interlocked easily (tongue and groove) to create a floating floor. Be sure that you know what you are doing, though. With laminate, a poor DIY installation may also create a hollow noise as you walk from gaps between the interlocking points.

The great thing about vinyl is that you only need to score and snap it to create smaller pieces for installation. With laminate, you’ll need to do some sawing.

Some vinyl planks also come in a peel-and-stick form. Installation really is as easy as it sounds, just pull off the adhesive backing, and stick the plank to the sub-flooring.

It may be tempting to take on the installation yourself, but if you have any doubts, it may be better to hire a professional for the best results. After all, the last thing you want is to walk across floors that look close to hardwoods but feel really spongy because you didn’t install them properly.

Who Wins on Looks?

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but there is a winner in this category. If you want to simulate the colors and textures of real hardwood floors, laminate has the slight edge. Thanks to advances in technology, vinyl is catching up, though.

With laminate, a high-res image of wood or marble sits beneath the clear coat. The 3D printing process also allows for including striations, scrapes, and other textures to mimic the physical qualities of traditional hardwood flooring.

Laminate wins in two more areas: fading and feeling. The beautiful woodgrains printed on laminate won’t fade as quickly as those printed on vinyl. Laminate is also harder, making it feel a little closer to stepping on hardwoods, provided it was installed well.

Which Flooring Should You Choose?

When comparing laminate flooring vs vinyl wood, they match up pretty evenly, but with a few notable differences. Which floor covering you choose might just depend on your budget, the type of space, and the styles available.

Whether you’re unsure or ready to make the change, contact us, and we are happy to help you choose the best flooring for your space!

The days of the same old hardwood flooring are long gone. These days, you have different designs, colors, and hardwood to choose from.

Because of that, the industry has become quite trendy. Every so often, there is a craze that takes the entire marketplace by storm. If you’re not in the business, it can be quite tricky to keep up with.

Here are some of the hottest hardwood floor trends that you should consider for your flooring.

1. Dark-Colored Hardwood

The hardwood flooring options just keep getting darker and darker (in a good way!). It seems as if the marketplace has become keener on darker tones in the last couple of years.

The dark flooring, which can be turned into a dark grey, strikes a tremendous balance with lighter-colored walls.

It can be a tremendous way to tie high-traffic rooms such as your living room, kitchen, and bathrooms together. The natural lighting hits them perfectly, making the room look more spacious and clean.

Not only does it make the room look a little bit bigger, but it also hides some of the dirt that will naturally get on your floors. Who isn’t looking for a little assistance there?

2. White Oak Flooring

While dark colors might have gained popularity in recent years, they’re certainly not for everybody.

In fact, you might be looking to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing or do a trend that’s a little more up-and-coming.

Whatever your reasoning, you might consider hopping on the white oak bandwagon. It offers a smoother surface than many other hardwood materials and can bring a “cabin-like” vibe to your home.

Better yet, there’s no color scheme that you have to abide by. Dark countertop chairs look just as good with white oak flooring as light-colored ones.

You’ll get just enough variation with the different shadings to break away from the monotony of a hardwood floor that’s all one color.

Looking to bring your new kitchen together with white oak floors? Consider placing white kitchen cabinets to pair nicely with the light shading of your new floors.

3. Gray on Gray Is More Than Okay

Some homeowners want a unified color scheme for every room inside the house. They want the color of each room to set the tone for their living room, bathroom, bedrooms, and so on.

In the spirit of the organization, gray hardwood flooring can be a perfect complement to gray walls of the same shade.

The secret is in the design and shading of the flooring. While the gray walls might be a flat color, the flooring has different detailing to make it “pop”.

It goes great with black, white, or (you guessed it!) gray furniture, giving your room a sense of balance that’s calming to those who step foot in it.

Also, pair your gray hardwood flooring with LED lighting to make people’s jaws drop as they walk into the room. The entire room will look like a showroom with both natural lighting and LED lighting.

4. Whitewashed Hardwood Floors

Maybe you want to flip traditional home decor on its head. Instead of doing white walls with darker hardwood, you want to do dark walls with white hardwood.

If so, then you might consider whitewashing your hardwood floors and painting your walls a very dark gray or even black.

Every black piece of furniture or light fixture that you place in your room will have a contrast that brings out a yin-yang vibe to your room.

Whitewashing your hardwood flooring can bring a modern twist to your home, making it feel brand-new. For those of you afraid that it’s too bold, have no fear! The whitewash will bring out a more subtle look than those that go with all-white flooring.

You can also make the decision to go with gray walls and furniture to give off a lighter and brighter aesthetic that will shine even on the gloomiest of days.

Better yet, these whitewashed floors match perfectly with white baseboards, creating a seamless transition to any color that you have on your wall.

5. Light Brown Floors

Maybe you find yourself in a “Goldilocks” situation with your hardwood flooring that you want to install.

You’ve decided on brown, but you don’t want a shade of brown that’s too light or too dark.

Lucky for you, light brown hardwood is one of the biggest trends in the industry! It’s a perfect complement to any other wood furniture, as well as any shade of wall.

It’s a tremendous option for small homes and condos, giving them an extra comfy feel for your tenants. Better yet, the light brown hardwood can be refinished to keep it looking new for years to come.

The variety of shades of light brown hardwood will help you have a balance of darker and lighter patterns to play with.

Use These Hardwood Floor Trends to Your Advantage

Now that you’ve seen several hardwood floor trends to choose from, it’s time to find the right fit for your home.

Looking to keep the trendiness going with your kitchen cabinets? If so, be sure to check out this article on different cabinet trends to watch out for.

For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our online contact form, and we’ll be happy to assist you further!