LVT Vs Laminate Flooring

Trying to decide between LVT and laminate flooring? Both options are incredibly popular with homeowners and businesses across the UK. However, they each have a range of pros and cons you need to be aware of before deciding which one to invest in.

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To help narrow down your search for the perfect floor, our friendly flooring experts provide a brief comparison of LVT vs laminate flooring below.

What is LVT Flooring Made From?

Short for Luxury Vinyl Tiles, LVT floors are made from layers of PVC vinyl. Numerous compounds are mixed in with the PVC to adjust the hardness of the floor.

A rolling process is used to compress the layers together while they are suspended in liquid. Once complete, they are dried using air and heat.

The top layer includes a decorative print that is typically embossed to provide a more realistic wood or stone effect. Newer floors are also fitted with a click system for easy installation. You can read more about what LVT flooring is here.

What is Laminate Flooring Made From?

Much like LVT, laminate flooring is made up of several layers. There are usually four layers included in their design, including backer paper, HDF board or core, decorative paper, and a wear layer.

These layers are fused together at the same time using a high heat press operation. Temperatures reached during the direct-pressure lamination process go up to 300°C.

The way laminate planks are produced today has improved significantly since the floors were first introduced onto the market. This has helped to provide them with a more realistic wood effect.

Which is Waterproof?

Laminate floors are not naturally waterproof. LVT floors on the other hand do generally come with a fully waterproof design.

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If you want to install laminate flooring in areas like the bathroom, it is possible to purchase waterproof varieties.

Comparing Durability

LVT and laminate floors offer incredible durability thanks to their multi-layered design. It’s difficult to say which one is better, as ultimately it depends upon the quality of each floor.

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The quality of LVT and laminate can vary drastically, but in general terms LVT tends to have an edge over laminate in the durability stakes. This is because it is more resistant against layer separation, and it doesn’t show signs of wear and tear as much as laminate. With that being said, laminate floors do feature a tough protective wear layer, and many are designed with scratch and stain resistance in mind.

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Both LVT and laminate floors can last up to 30 years, depending upon their quality.

Installing LVT vs Laminate Flooring

LVT and laminate floors can require the same click installation process. However, most LVT floors may instead require a Gluedown method to be followed. With click system installation, you just click the planks into place for a fast and secure fit. Read more about click vs gluedown LVT here if you are unsure which is right for you.

Another difference between LVT and laminate flooring installation is that laminate needs to have an underlay installed. While adding underlay to LVT flooring can improve its comfort, it doesn’t necessarily need it to function correctly. Some laminate floors do come equipped with a built-in underlay, but if it doesn’t you will need to install one yourself.

Room Suitability

Room suitability for laminate and LVT floors depends upon whether you purchase a waterproof variety. For standard floors, both LVT and laminate can be installed in all areas of the home besides the bathroom.

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The protective layer on both laminate and LVT helps to make them spill-resistant. This means you can get away with installing them in the kitchen and dining room.

Comparing Insulation

In terms of insulation, laminate and LVT floors are both warm to the touch. Laminate will produce more noise underfoot, but this can be reduced by installing a sound reducing underlay. Similarly, the comfort of both types of floors can be enhanced with a good quality underlay.

To keep the floors warm in colder temperatures, LVT and laminate can both be installed with compatible underfloor heating systems.

LVT & Laminate Styles & Effects

Both LVT and laminate floors are available in a huge range of designs. Both provide realistic wood and stone effects, produced through a hyper-realistic photographic layer.

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You can also select bevel edge and textured finishes with both types of flooring to enhance their realism.

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You will find that there is slightly more variety in the different effects available in LVT floors. Laminate products tend to focus more on realistic wood effects, while LVT has more stone and abstract designs to choose from.

Both types of flooring are available in parquet and herringbone styles. There are several styles of parquet including Versailles, chevron, basket-weave and herringbone.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

LVT and laminate floors are both excellent options for the home or business. They offer the same level of durability, provide a wide range of designs, and they are easy to install and maintain. It really comes down to which one you personally prefer when trying to determine which one to invest in.

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If you could use some help deciding which floor is best for your project, contact our flooring experts today. They are more than happy to discuss your requirements and run through the options available to you.

Further Browsing

You can purchase LVT flooring here.

You can purchase laminate flooring here.

You can purchase parquet flooring here.