When choosing flooring, most would say hardwood is the best way to go. However, it doesn’t work in every room or suit every budget. To help you choose the best flooring for your needs, here are the differences between laminate, vinyl, and wood.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors provide the look of wood flooring at a fraction of the cost. Planks consist of a top layer resembling wood with a particleboard wood base. The planks use a tongue and groove design that snaps the planks in place. They are installed above an underlayment that provides a softer feel underfoot, creating a “floating floor.”

Best rooms: Living areas, kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways, but can’t be used in rooms with high moisture.

Pros

• Easy maintenance
• Scratch-resistant
• Great for pets and children
• Inexpensive
• Tons of styles, planks sizes, tones, textures, etc.
• Reasonable ROI when selling
• Easier for the DIYer

Cons

• Chips easily so entire plank must be replaced when damaged
• Not suitable for bathrooms or laundry rooms as moisture causes the base to swell
• Requires underlayment, which adds to the cost per square foot and makes it harder to install then vinyl
• Many laminates cannot be used below grade

What is Vinyl Flooring?

Vinyl flooring is 100% synthetic with a base usually made of fiberglass. The top layer is printed or embossed to mimic wood and coated in PVC vinyl and a plasticizer. Vinyl plank floors are the latest in faux wood flooring installed in planks. This “luxury” vinyl flooring is also a floating floor, and higher-end products often include a felt bottom. This helps provide cushioning, not only ideal for walking and standing but also to help reduce impact when something is dropped.

Best rooms: Vinyl also comes in 100% waterproof options, making it an excellent choice for just about any room.

Pros

• Felt backed products offer more give, which is ideal for kitchens to avoid broken dishes
• Water-resistant or completely waterproof suitable for any room, including basements
• Can be applied directly to the subfloor making it even more cost-effective
• Long-lasting, durable
• Works with radiant heat
• Easier for the DIYer

Cons

• Can warp over inconsistencies in the floor below causing unsightly bumps
• Easier to scuff than laminate or hardwood
• Does not offer a good ROI when selling your home

What is Wood Flooring?

Solid wood flooring is considered the most luxurious choice. It’s made of solid wood planks that are installed over a plywood subfloor. They also must be nailed or glued, making it necessary to hire a professional installer.

Best rooms: Living areas, kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways, but can’t be used in rooms with high moisture.

Pros

• Easier to repair as it can be sanded, and the stain and finish matched to other planks
• Easier to match if you knock out walls or wish to expand wood flooring into the hall or connecting rooms
• Completely natural look which is higher end
• Comes in unfinished form to be custom stained to suit your taste, or to match an existing floor in the home
• Can be purchased pre-finished for easier installation
• Best ROI of all flooring choices, offering more resell value and appeal to homebuyers
• Installation method means less dust and debris is caught between planks

Cons

• Expands and contracts more, so wider widths must be nailed and glued to prevent movement
• Cannot be installed over radiant heat unless you choose rifted and quarter sawn wood which is expensive
• Requires 3/4″ plywood sub-floors not ideal if you live in a condo or townhouse with concrete floors as it adds cost and height
• Not approved for below-grade applications
• Prone to scuffs and scratches so not always ideal for pets or kids
• Difficult installation not suited for DIYer

So there you have it – three flooring options each with their pros and cons. If you’re ready to install new flooring, speak to the experts at Empire Construction today.