Water Resistant Laminate Versus Vinyl Floor

Not recommended for full bathrooms or basements.

Water resistant laminate versus vinyl floor.

Hi linda laminate is not waterproof so if you want a 100 waterproof floor you ll want vinyl. Water resistant flooring like laminate or vinyl tile are typically less expensive to purchase than waterproof engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl planks. Since these areas are prone to leaks and flooding you ll want a more water resistant floor. Unlike vinyl laminate s water resistance works from top to bottom rather than bottom to top.

To its credit waterproof laminate has a harder surface layer than luxury vinyl and it is more resistant to scratching. In full bathrooms and damp locations such as basements vinyl flooring materials excel over laminate materials. All types of vinyl flooring are not just water resistant but are waterproof. With flooring like this you can enjoy the look of wood with the performance of a waterproof luxury vinyl.

With both types of flooring shades or blinds should be used in rooms with a lot of sunlight and area rugs can also be used in brighter spots that may be more apt to fade. Waterproof luxury vinyl plank flooring if you like the sound of waterproof laminate but want the added confidence of 100 waterproof flooring then you may want to consider pergo extreme luxury vinyl. These flooring materials are also easy to install so you likely won t need to hire installation experts. If you have moisture issues with your subfloor you ll still need a vapor barrier.

While laminate can fade when exposed to sunlight over long periods of time it is more resistant than vinyl flooring. And traditionally laminate flooring is more realistic at mimicking wood grains. While laminate flooring has come a long way in its water resistant capabilities it still cannot tolerate standing pools of water. It s 100 waterproof engineered vinyl and is very tough.

While luxury vinyl is more expensive than standard laminate flooring it is more affordable than most truly waterproof laminates.