Can’t decide between vinyl click flooring or laminate? Both can add beauty to your home! With this overview of the features and advantages, you will hopefully quickly discover which floor you have a perfect 'click' with.
Firstly, vinyl click flooring and laminate differ in terms of material composition. Vinyl flooring is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and additional materials to create a more bouncy, natural-feeling floor. Laminate flooring, by contrast, consists of multiple wood-based layers. It usually contains a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core with a top layer made of a mix of paper and resins.
Do you plan on renovating? Your floor thickness may be a deciding factor. For laminate flooring, thickness usually ranges from 8 to 12 mm. The planks can be installed on top of an existing floor. Vinyl click flooring is thinner: 4 to 6 mm. And glue down vinyl tiles are only 2 to 3 mm thick. If you want to lay new flooring over old flooring, it is best to opt for vinyl.
If thickness doesn’t matter, laminate flooring can easily be laid on top of old floors as well. Do pay attention to your subfloor when renovating. Its softness, evenness and imperfections will determine which type of flooring you can lay on top of it.
Do you have underfloor heating at home? We’ve got good news for you: both flooring options will keep your feet warm. Though it’s worth bearing in mind that a thinner floor allows for a quicker heat transfer, like vinyl planks & tiles.
Are you keen to roll up your sleeves to lay your own flooring? Both vinyl planks & tiles and laminate are a good choice for you, thanks to the easy click system.
Laminate is usually installed as a so-called ‘floating floor’. This means the individual boards or planks are not attached, glued or nailed to the subfloor. Laminate largely consists of wood fibres that naturally expand and contract with changes in temperature. This is why an expansion gap of 8 to 10 mm is needed between the floor and the wall. The gap can be easily camouflaged by a skirting board. And what if you get bored of your floor? A floating floor can easily be removed when you decide to move or replace the current flooring.
Vinyl flooring is available in tiles or planks. This means you can design your own pattern. These days, you can also opt for an easy click system that helps you install vinyl sheets in no time, regardless of your position in the room.
Which of these flooring options is the nicest to walk on? Vinyl. Because of its polymer structure, the material feels comfortably warm. It adds to your acoustic comfort as well. Laminate feels harder to the touch. It’s a bit colder and absorbs fewer sounds, such as footsteps. However, this sturdiness makes it more scratch resistant than vinyl.
Want to avoid scratches? We recommend putting a rug on the floor and attaching felt patches to the legs of your furniture.
Does the entire bathroom turn into a swimming pool when the kids take a bath or shower? No need to think twice. With vinyl click flooring, you're opting for peace of mind. PVC is unable to absorb any water. If it's just a few drops on the floor, laminate flooring will be fine as well. However, if you opt for a 100% water-resistant laminate floor, then it’s perfect to lay in the bathroom as well.
In terms of ease of maintenance, water-resistant laminate flooring is on a par with waterproof vinyl flooring. In other words, you don’t have to worry. Both floors can easily be cleaned with a damp mop and, if needed, a mild detergent. If you opt for laminate flooring, avoid making the floor too wet.
Vinyl flooring allows you to opt for an extra thin floor that can be glued down. This is why it is often used in large spaces where acoustic comfort is key. Examples include offices and commercial spaces. It is an equally good fit for residential properties, especially for the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. This is largely thanks to its excellent water-resistance and comfort.
Additionally, vinyl comes in a wider array of looks and dimensions than laminate, which makes it an excellent choice for a kitchen or bathroom. Vinyl flooring in your garage or bicycle shed? This isn't a good idea. The material is sensitive to the rubber in the tires of your car or bicycle. Tip: avoid putting a mat or rug with rubber backing on your vinyl floor too. After a while, this will cause a discolouration in the form of yellow staining.
Laminate is a bit less expensive than vinyl planks & tiles. This is why some people opt for laying laminate in the bedroom and/or upstairs. But feel free to use it in every room of your home. Do keep in mind that laminate flooring is only available as planks, not as tiles.
Are you concerned about your ecological footprint, including when choosing your flooring? Rightfully so. That being said, the degree of sustainability varies for all types of flooring, and depends largely on your final choice of material. Since wood is a natural resource, it is also sustainable. But ... only if you opt for certified wood with a PEFC or FSC label. Next, check its origins. Flooring made in Europe requires less transport and results in fewer transport emissions than flooring made on the other side of the world.
Vinyl flooring is made of PVC, which isn’t exactly known for its durability. And yet it can also be an ecologically responsible choice, albeit for different reasons than wood. Because vinyl can be recycled multiple times without any quality loss. You could even opt for a vinyl floor that's already made of recycled PVC. Wood-based or recyclable? You decide!
How long do vinyl and laminate last? The answer depends less on the material, and more on the quality and finish you choose for your floor.
|
Laminate |
Vinyl |
| Planks are thicker: 8 to 12 mm | Planks and tiles are thinner: 4 to 6 mm |
| Colder feel | Softer feel, nice walking sound |
| Scratch-resistant | Less scratch-resistant because of softer materials |
| Water-resistant options available | Does not absorb water, waterproof |
| Only comes in planks | Planks and tiles |
| Wood-based: opt for certified wood (PEFC or FSC label) | PVC, recycled and recyclable PVC available |
