Laminate Flooring VS Vinyl Plank Flooring

In this video we will look at 10 points of comparison between laminate flooring and luxury vinyl plank flooring. These are two of the most popular categories of flooring today, and both have some wonderful offerings. I will discuss how they compare on some of the most commonly asked questions that my own clients present me with, and give my honest opinions based on my experiences and those of my clients. Although I do mention a few brands by name throughout this video, I will not be making direct comparisons between brands but an overview of the product categories as a whole. I am not sponsored nor am I being paid for mentioning any brands. If you have any additional questions I do try to answer them in the comments every chance I get.

Below are some links to products I recommend, related to laminate and vinyl maintenance. I do earn a small commission on qualified purchases when using these links so it is a great way to support my channel if you could benefit from any of these products.

Amazon Affiliate Links:

[InABoxBen]

This is an excellent video. People in the comments getting caught up in the terminology you can just Google it it's really hard to cover all that in a brief video but he did an excellent job of explaining. With the new laminates coming out this year it's going to be even higher for laminate.

[sbee]

I thought you did an excellent job on this video. Good comparisons and to the point. I really appreciate your time in sharing your expertise with those of us who are researching before our projects. Thank you!

[fortezzasolutions]

Confirmed the facts. I looked at several sites and they kept pushing Vinyl. Saying it was more resilient to scratches and other things but there was nothing backing it. They are pushing vinyl and not stating the facts. You also pointed out what happens when water gets underneath which is very common. Water doesn’t always stay on top of your flooring, baseboards bad caulking and that water gets trapped with vinyl. High humidity areas might want to avoid vinyl.

[donpreisler]

Informative and honest. Thank you for making this video. I’d gladly hire you to do my floors.

[kowgyrl]

Wow this was incredibly informative and helpful!!!! I've watched so many videos and read loads of articles and this was by far the best!💫 Thank you so much for taking the time to make and share this video 🙏

[joshuamclawhorn]

Thank you for making this video. You did an excellent and fair job of breaking everything down.

[zakkvanish]

This was super helpful. Thanks a million Robert. There are several rooms we still have to remodell and this gave a quick and very good overview!

[andreyv]

I put down some laminate in my basement and have watched a lot of install videos of both laminate and LVP... and I have to say, the fact that you can cut LVP with a box cutter instead of having to use a saw is a huge plus.

[michelleg]

This video was incredibly helpful. I would love to see a video that goes into the detail of how the two types of floors are constructed including what types of materials are incorporated into the floor and which floors are more environmentally friendly.

[seanorourke]

Great job. Iv'e been in flooring business 34 years and Laminate has gotten a bad wrap over the years. Laminate wins every day in my opinion.

[uwwnspe]

Great video Robert! You cut to the chase and discussed all the key elements of choosing between flooring choices.

[henrypretorius]

Thank you for the video, this really helps me to understand both products better. In my personal opinion I do agree with the Laminate and will definitely go with this option. Can you please do a video where you have to remove a complete shower and install a new shower that has a foldable door

[stevepartridge]

Being in the wholesale side of the industry, I think you did a great job! European laminate with the superior pattern repeat and environmental story. Laminate for the win!

[andreahill]

Exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks!

[kelvinl.]

If you mop a lot, you will definitely want LVP instead. I had water resistance laminate floor before, after couple years, you will eventually notice some bubbling around some edges. It is very ugly to look at once you noticed them. Also for LVP, you can install same flooring through out entire house for a consistent look (it actually make your house look bigger too). You can install it in bathrooms without issues. Even though it is waterproof, make sure don't flood the floor with water...

[laurensmith]

He used the word 'undulations'. I'm in love.

[teamkman]

This is a great video - but you really mixed me up and had me confused at times when you used the word LVT ( or something like that) why not call them Vinyl and Laminate.

[jhlfsc]

Excellent info, thanks so much! Now a video needs to be done on how people can psychologically get over the guilty feeling of being cheap or tacky if they don't use real hardwood instead.😆

[BradThePitts]

As far as installation cost, I have found that hard laminate flooring such as Pergo Wet Protect wears out saw blades about 3 times as faster compared to vinyl flooring. This can add an extra $200 in materials for a project depending on its size.

Diablo makes blades specifically for laminate and vinyl flooring and still, I have found the laminate blade starts "smoking" in 1/3 the time.

[robertkowalchuk]

Vinyl will emit VOC gas and can be installed only needing a sharp knife. Vinyl is much easier to install. For condo units, a chop saw is not needed. Some strata will not allow a chop saw inside the unit. So again, Vinyl is a better option for installation. Laminate will pucker in joints if water is left even overnight. One short term renter brought in a ski bag which had some snow embedded in the bag. This leaked onto the Laminate floor which puckered in the spot where the bag was left. Vinyl, this would not be an issue. I lean towards Vinyl for rental units as renters can be harder on floors and not as mindful about water spills or pet accidents. Assess your specific use and choose accordingly. I am upgrading my 20 year laminate floor in a rental condo with Vinyl again due to easy of install and durability.