Waterproof Vinyl Flooring VS. Laminate FlooringIn Suffolk County, East Setauket, Miller Place, Mt. Sinai, Seldon, NY, and Surrounding Areas
The Quick Comparison Guide
Most Popular Choices in Waterproof Flooring
When it comes time to replace a floor covering in your home with waterproof flooring in Suffolk County, East Setauket, Miller Place, Mt Sinai, Selden, NY, and surrounding areas, two choices that you will probably look at are waterproof laminate flooring and waterproof vinyl flooring. Waterproof laminate flooring is mostly made of wood and comes in planks that interlock with each other to form the flooring. Waterproof vinyl flooring comes in either sheets or in waterproof vinyl plank flooring that is similar to the laminate flooring.
You might be initially gravitating towards one or the other, but don’t just go with your gut on this. To make a really good decision, you will want to compare them to see where each of them works the best. Once you’ve compared them, you might find that you prefer one over the other, and it might not be the one you thought.
Waterproof Vinyl Flooring Compared to Laminate Flooring
Top 3 Differences
When comparing waterproof laminate flooring to waterproof vinyl flooring, there are several categories to look at: water and heat resistance, durability and maintenance, and a cost comparison. Let’s go through them one by one.
1. Water and Heat Resistance
Waterproof vinyl flooring, either in sheets or in planks, is a clear winner here. Laminate flooring has at its core wood. If you know anything about wood, when it gets wet it tends to expand and swell. If that happens, you can try to dry it out, but it never goes back to the original shape. Vinyl plank flooring does not have this issue and doesn’t expand if it gets wet.
2. Durability and Maintenance
Both laminate flooring and vinyl flooring are good on durability, but they have their limits. Laminate flooring, if it gets scratched, can not be repaired, so you will have that scratch for the life of the floor. Also, if you get deep scratches, it can lead to delamination, and the only cure for this is to replace the flooring. Vinyl flooring is better at resisting scratches, but even lower quality vinyl flooring can delaminate. The higher quality vinyl flooring, however, holds up very well and is often used in commercial settings in high traffic areas.
3. Waterproof Vinyl VS. Laminate Cost Comparison
Perhaps at this point, with the previous comparisons, you might be thinking that waterproof vinyl flooring would be more expensive than waterproof laminate flooring. Surprisingly, they have about the same cost per square foot. It only changes if you go with a very high-end brand name where the vinyl flooring is a bit more expensive, but for the most part, they cost the same.
Which Flooring Type Works Best For My Room?
Bathroom (Full/Half): Vinyl Floor Preferred
Mudroom/Entryway: Vinyl Floor Preferred
Laundry Room: Vinyl Floor Preferred
Kitchen: Vinyl Floor Preferred
Dining Room: Laminate Or Vinyl Floor
Living Room: Laminate Or Vinyl Floor
Bedroom/Office: Laminate Or Vinyl Floor
Staircase: Laminate Or Vinyl Floor
Comparison Results
Both waterproof vinyl flooring and laminate flooring have their own unique benefits and drawbacks. Each is well suited for most homes. But the best way to determine which is the right waterproof flooring option is to base it on which type of room you need the flooring for. We recommend waterproof vinyl flooring or vinyl plank flooring for all areas with the greatest risk of exposure to water, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc. Because laminate flooring uses a fiberboard core, if the core is exposed to water, the board will soften and swell, and may not resume its original shape after it has dried. While older forms of vinyl flooring may have once had a fabric backing, modern versions are made of 100% polymer materials, meaning they can be fully immersed in water, dried, and reused without risk of warping.
The only question you need to ask yourself now is, “Who can install my waterproof flooring?”
Look no further than First Class Wood Flooring. Boasting selections from top-of-the-line brands, and unparalleled service, First Class Wood Flooring is available to install waterproof vinyl flooring in Suffolk County, East Setauket, Miller Place, Mt. Sinai, Seldon, NY, and the surrounding areas. Give us a call today!
