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Today, I’d like to do a flooring comparison on Luxury Vinyl, also called LVT or LVT, and Laminate. The thing is, people hear about different types of flooring but never really of their benefits, their features, the extra elements that make them a viable flooring solution. Sure, we speak of tile’s durability and carpet’s coziness, but what about the cost-effective laminate? Or the physics-defying luxury vinyl tile (LVT)? We’ll talk about these two lasts, diving into some similarities but also what makes them different. Let’s get to it.
Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring Comparison
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Luxury Vinyl Tile is a beautifully engineered piece of flooring that combines both aesthetics with high functionality. And this is huge reason why LVT has become such a huge hit within households everywhere.
Do you remember when you used to be limited to where you could put certain parts of flooring i.e. bathrooms, any place where water is present? Well, this flooring type switched the game in that respect. But more on that later…
When doing a flooring comparison, you want to look at several things: Price, durability, style, and maintenance such as is it waterproof, etc. We’ll cover these below.
Price: This flooring type generally ranges from an all-time low of $1.79 to just short of $6. Our CoreTEC LVT is absolutely amazing, definitely a “more bang for your buck” kind of product. Check the link, peeps, you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Click here to shop Luxury Vinyl!
Waterproofness: If you did a double take at that word, I don’t blame you. I voiced this word out loud, and my boss was like, “Uhhh…yeah, not a word,” but after a simple Google search, I learned that it IS, in fact, a word. Just a little tidbit. Moving on.
This is where the high-functionality comes from in LVT, and also where one of the main differences come in during this flooring comparison. This flooring type is 100% WATERPROOF. Not water-resistant, merely repelling droplets..I mean zero-damage. None whatsoever.
I’ve explained it before, and I’ll do so again. You could pour a jug of water on LVT, leave for a vacation, come back, and the piece would be good as new. It’s that good.
Click to shop LVT
You could technically put it in your bathroom. That was typically a BIG no-no, and you had to use a wood look tile if your design called for a wood style. The downside there, is that installing tile is much more expensive than installing LVT.
Durability: Another functionality characteristic, LVT doesn’t just Kung Fu the crap out of water, but also scratches. And dents. Plus, it’s strong.
So, the next time you decide to juggle a few cans of green beans, and then time kinda stands still as you watch one go amiss, propelling towards your new floors, remember this blog, remember this passage, don’t forget this sentence — it’s okay.
Click to shop Luxury Vinyl Flooring
It’s going to take a little more than green beans and water to damage this flooring type. A hammer, sure. But I’m sure you’ll find other ways to blow off steam than taking a hand tool to your new floors. But that’s none of my business. *Sips tea*
Additional: I’d also just like to point out, or reiterate rather, that because LVT is water’s nemesis, this flooring is perfect for nearly any space. Bathrooms? Check. Kitchens? For sure. Basements? Have at it. Laundry room? An solid pick. It’s an excellent flooring type for any room in your household.
Click to shop LVT flooring!
Side note: If you’re worried about sound, LVT often has sound muffling cork backing. I’m telling you, LVT virtually has no cons, besides the fact that it’s just not real wood. To learn a little more about LVT, make sure to check out this blog!
Laminate Flooring Comparison
Click here to shop laminate flooring!
When some people do a flooring comparison, they sometimes given laminate a bad rap for being cheap or too ordinary. Some laminate is more cheaply made than others, but there is a laminate style for everyone. There are definitely some positive sides to laminate. First off…the funds.
Price: In our stores, Laminate generally stays around $0.99 to $2.89/ sf. Now, in comparison to the other flooring types, you can see how people could regard this as cheaply made or why you here negative comments about the price. But to me, it’s the opposite.
Obviously, these prices are a bit cheaper than Luxury Vinyl Tile, but there’s a reason for it. In this flooring comparison, you’ll see the different benefits of each. If you’re looking for a nice-looking floor at a cheaper price, this is your best bet. But if you’re going for full functionality, the aforementioned will do the trick.
Click here for laminate flooring!
It’s kind of like when someone is called a lightweight when they’re out socially drinking with their friends, and the person in question fails to see negatory punchline. After all, if three beers gets the job done, who is saving more money in the long run — the lightweight or the pompous friends? Just a little food (libation) for thought.
Waterproofness: As far as complete, 100% water-eradicating measures, no. But, this flooring type is definitely moisture-resistant. Would I trust it in my bathroom, around the shower? No. Absolutely not. Whereas laminate’s opponent in this post completely repels water. Definitely a hard difference there.
Click here to shop laminate flooring!
Durability: The haters can say what they want about laminate, but as far as it’s strength, it’s pretty resilient. It is primarily scratch & dent resistant AND extremely long-lasting. There’s a reason, among others, why you may walk into a particularly older home, look down, and see laminate, virtually unharmed.
Click here to shop Laminate Flooring!
Additional: It goes without saying that this is an extremely affordable option compared to the other options. Unlike regular hardwood floors, laminate is pretty pet-friendly and installation is quite simple, as well.
There you have it. The main flooring comparison between Luxury Vinyl and Laminate flooring. A quick recap: They’re both fairly inexpensive, durable and make for a beautiful floor. LVT has a bit more functionality, being completely waterproof BUT laminate is water-resistant. I hope this proves to be a decent reference the next time you’re in store and looking for flooring options. Until next time, everyone, stay safe!
Written By: Chris Chamberlain
