Laminate vs Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring | Everything you need to know!

Laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are two of the most popular flooring options in residential construction. In this video, we’re going to look at how they are made, their main differences as well as their pros and cons.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:16 Laminate flooring
2:40 Luxury vinyl flooring
5:08 Sponsored
5:50 Differences
7:03 Installation
9:26 Conclusion

Laminate flooring consists of several layers fused together under high heat and pressure.
- The underlayment can be cork or foam. It acts as a vapor barrier, absorbs impact, evens out any surface irregularities, and distributes moisture away from the bottom layer of the flooring.
- The bottom layer is a melamine or paper backer that provides foundation and water resistance.
- The core layer is the most important and largest part of the flooring. It is made of MDF or medium density fiberboard or HDF which is high density fiberboard.
- The pattern layer. It is created using a high resolution 3D photograph of real, natural wood grain.
- The topcoat or wear layer which is a mixture of aluminum oxide powder, melamine and urethane.

Now let’s look at how luxury vinyl planks are made. Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride or PVC was developed in Akron, Ohio in 1926 by blending it with various additives. It soon became the world’s third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic. The basic raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil. Electrolysis of salt water produces chlorine. Chlorine is then combined with ethylene that has been obtained from oil. The resulting element is ethylene dichloride, which is converted at very high temperatures to vinyl chloride monomer. These monomer molecules are polymerized forming polyvinyl chloride resin.

The layers of luxury vinyl flooring are similar to those of laminate flooring.
- The underlayment can be cork or foam. It evens out any subsurface irregularities.
- The bottom layer or backing can be made of rigid fiberglass.
- The core layer provides structure. It can either be SPC or stone plastic composite which is made of calcium carbonate, PVC and plasticizers or WPC or wood plastic composite which is made of a PVC mixture and wood flour.
- The pattern layer is a high resolution digital image of wood, stone or tile.
- The topcoat or wear layer is a clear, urethane based coating that makes the floor scratch and stain resistant.

Ease of use - They are both DIY friendly and affordable with an easy click and lock assembly. The tongue of one plank is fitted into the groove of another at an angle and folded down. This draws the boards together.
Acclimate - Laminate flooring needs to acclimate to the inside of a home for at least 48 hours before installation. It has to get used to the new temperature and humidity levels to avoid expansion or contraction. Vinyl flooring doesn’t need to acclimate at all.
Tools - Laminate flooring is cut with a circular saw or table saw. Luxury vinyl can be scored with a utility knife, bent back and snapped into two. It can also be cut with a circular saw or table saw.
Scratch resistance - The scratch resistance of laminate flooring depends on the thickness of the top layer and ac rating, which we discussed earlier. Luxury vinyl shows better scratch resistance.
Water resistance - Water puddled on the surface of this laminate flooring and did not penetrate the top coat. Luxury vinyl showed the same water resistance.

Uses - New, water resistant laminate flooring can be installed anywhere in a building, but flooring that isn’t water resistant shouldn’t be used in bathrooms, mudrooms or kitchens. Luxury vinyl is waterproof and can be installed anywhere.
Fire resistance - The foam underlayment on laminate caught on fire easily and melted away. The MDF core charred but didn’t burn. Vinyl flooring melted and gave off very strong fumes.
Health concerns - They also use phenol formaldehyde resins and glues that off-gas. In high concentrations, this can be a serious health concern.
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#laminate #vinyl #flooring #diy #luxuryvinyl

[amylee]

I installed Mohawk water resistant laminate flooring in 4 bedrooms and a hallway. Got it cheap feom Costco . Before I installed it, I placed half of plank in a bucket of water and let it sit there for half a day. I removed it and let it sit for a day. It was absolutely untouched. I could not tell where it has been immersed in the water. I also put 2 planks together and put water on them overnight. Checked them in the morning and all looked perfect . Zero damage. I also took the scratchiest chair and sat on it and tried for scratch the heck out of it on purpose and could not make 1 scratch on that floor. So, Mohawk laminate is super strong and it’s way more than water resistant .

[vijayvjn]

I was humbled by this video as someone who was prepared to go down the rabbit hole doing research, this video was stunningly cohesive and informative, thanks for your time and have a good day

[jasoncarter]

This is the most thorough comparison between between vinyl and laminate flooring I have seen. I'm looking to remove the carpet from my house and this has been very informative.

[lluther]

The most comprehensive and non biased reviews I have found about construction projects. Thank you!

[TheRealBrook]

I run a kennel with hundreds of dogs every year. I also have a rental. I installed TrafficMaster textured vinyl floating plank with tongue and groove glue strip. (Whew! That is a mouthful.) I have been using it for 6 years and it seems nearly indestructible. It is swept and mopped multiple times everyday and is still in excellent condition.

[apok]

In my old house, I had the HVAC on the first floor and didn’t do proper maintenance for a couple years. As a result, the unit started leaking water from the AC. I would hear a drip every now and then, but thought it was in my head. Eventually, I would walk by the closet where the HVAC was and found the floor was saturated. Eventually the LAMINATE floor started to buckle wherever the water spread. Basically all the water was sitting under the laminate for a long time. I had tried out vinyl plank flooring for one of the bedrooms a year before and was really impressed with it. So I bought Lifeproof vinyl plank flooring for the entire first floor. It literally felt nice to walk on, it looked good, and most importantly, it was waterproof. Plus there’s a 5 year warranty on the floor. It was a really good investment. It was one of the things that helped me sell my house for double what I bought it for after 1 day on the market (it was my first house I had for a decade). I did end up upgrading to a newer, nicer place, but I miss my old house. I did a ton of projects upgrading everything. My new place doesn’t need anything. But next time I buy a place, I’m going for a project house. I’m pretty sure a project house will keep you living longer.

[epicuritus]

I've used both wood laminate and vinyl plank in two separate houses. Both have held up really well. The vinyl is harder to cut but has the benefit of being truly waterproof. The only placed I've ever glued anything was vinyl plank onto stairs. Taking the underlay off was a huge pain but the results were nice. Such a nice video, Belinda! Keep up the great work!

[frankpratt]

Thanks for the video.

One important difference, at least to me, is the surface sound. The degree varied by brands, but laminate flooring consistently has a louder, more harsh sound when walked on or when things are slid across it. A lot more high frequencies to the sound profile.

Another is that LV planks will relax to fit the undulations on a floor surface, while laminate will just bridge the hollow spots. This makes for an unpleasant feel when walking across said hollows. It's particularly noticeable on concrete floors, which tend to not be as flat.

[TimBryan]

I can’t wait for your linoleum video! Most people sleep on it due to the design insanity of the 70’s, but it’s an exceptionally sustainable product

[sebastienboisvert]

I have 3 dogs and luxury vinyl was a game-changer for the look, resistance to wear and tear, and the waterproof is a game-changer. It is so easy to install, and the cost was comparable with laminate, so for me, it was a no-brainer. Thanks for the video, always very informative, well done.

[Rickmakes]

Great video! My wife and I have been talking about replacing our carpet with one of the two options. I knew some of things from the video but still learned a lot. One thing I would add is that laminate flooring can dull saw blades due to the aluminum oxide being so hard. If I ever do a laminate install again, I am going to buy a purpose built laminate cutter.

[ritadraille]

I wanted hardwood floors so bad because our new house came with wall to wall carpet but wasn’t able to afford it so we installed vinyl and we love it . We had two options use all of our savings to install hardwood throughout or use half of it to install vinyl, furnish the house and do some remodeling . I didn’t even bother to do engineered hardwood . I wanted to save for the real deal down the line . I don’t spend hours staring at my floor wishing it was hardwood . It cleans us nice and hold up to anything . Our 10yr plan is to convert the main floor to hardwood . I’ll pick vinyl over laminate any day . My parents have laminate in their kitchen and it doesn’t hold up. Another way to save on flooring in a house you’ll live in for a while, is to tile the kitchen and carpet or vinyl the bedrooms . Make sure the match the hardwood you have elsewhere . Vinyl is an amazing option while you save for hardwood

[KateRVN]

Thanks Belinda for explaining the difference and the importance of getting the correct rated product for the area it’s being applied to.

[roadrider]

Only 10-20 yrs? If you feel up for it, a video on different "wood"/"real wood" flooring costs vs. lifespan would be interesting. Great content on your channel.

[Crazson]

Beautiful and smart! I was actually going to buy laminate flooring next week but now I'm changing it to luxury vinyl. Thanks!!!

[MuhammadRiaz-bzwb]

I have just installed vinyl in my house and don't know yet how it will be, but reading comments about vinyl make me happy.

[MihneaStoian]

LVL for basements is a must. We had it installed 2 years ago, then we had a flood. Simply took it off, dried it out and installed it back. No musty odor, no lingering water.

[sleze]

Unless you are very limited in budget, luxury vinyl is just an all around better material for most homes. It looks good, is low maintenance, and resists scratches (such as my dogs' nails). I personally think that hardwood floors can look better but not enough for us to pay the cost delta. It was worth it over laminate.

[scpatlnow]

I have had a Pergo floor in my basement studio for 20 years and it looks every bit as good as it did the day it was installed. Better yet, me a 2 friends installed it ourself and it took better part of a day. It has seen very heavy traffic and numerous types of spills (including dye and paint) that came right up without any discoloration. It was installed on a concrete floor with a plastic layer that went underneath to block moisture. The floor was not even close to level but you cannot tell once installed. I can't speak for other brands but I would definitely recommend Pergo. I don't know where they get 10-20 years.

[williamsacostaalarcon]

It was the most complete video I found on this type of flooring, I really appreciate your time to do it.