Many people often get confused between laminate and luxury vinyl flooring. Truth be told, unless you observe closely, it is rather challenging to spot the difference from a distance. Both are comparable in cost and last almost the same number of years. Most people would flip a coin, choose their favorite shade and go ahead with the installation.
However, making the appropriate choice of material not only helps you nail the perfect aesthetics but saves you plenty of money in the coming years. If you ever Googled the term ‘what is the difference between laminate and vinyl flooring,’ then this is the guide for you! You’ll learn how to make the correct choice for the flooring material and the professional service you can trust.
What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
When it comes to the difference between laminate and vinyl flooring, it all comes down to the material at the core. Luxury vinyl flooring, made of synthetic materials, has a fiberglass core that remains contained with several insulating PVC layers, all bound together. The outermost layer is an acrylic coating that seals the tile or plank off and contains the color pattern that you observe around your house.
Since luxury vinyl flooring is 100% synthetic, you can have it just the way you want. You can choose the correct thickness, the color shade of your dreams, and additional properties (like more UV protection). As technology continues to advance you may even be able to get, cutting-edge variants such as floors that generate electricity from sunlight and switch their appearance at will (kind of like mood lighting but with flooring). Yet, they are still in the developmental phase, so better save your cash for the coming years.