![]() Pet toenails can scratch lower quality laminates, and pet urine, if left unattended, can cause water damage and odor. Some laminates are adversely affected by excessive heat and direct sunlight and may warp or discolor. The top graphic layer may also delaminate from the melamine and fiberboard beneath it. Laminate flooring may peel away from the subfloor if it is glued, especially if it is not locked by tongue-and-groove installation. Both flooring materials feature products designed for higher traffic and moisture- and water-rich environments - i.e., bathrooms and kitchens - and should be selected accordingly. In particular, they can lose their attractiveness due to dirt and water damage. Consequently, the perceived resale value of a house with trending laminates may be slightly higher.īoth vinyl and laminate flooring are considered to be quite durable, although they can experience dents, scratches, discoloration, and warping. ![]() Additionally, vinyl is typically less expensive than laminate, may look to be of lesser quality, wears more readily, and is not as trendy as it was in the 1950s to 1970s. This difference in durability gives laminate floors a slight pricing edge when a property goes up for sale. Vinyl flooring lasts 10-20 years and laminates last 15-30 on average. Laminate flooring typically comes in planks that are tongue-and-grooved to lock together and float or be glued to a subfloor. The patterning, most often made to look like naturally-occurring hardwood and stone, is achieved by a designer paper layer that is sealed to the base materials and coated with a clear polymer. Laminate flooring is manufactured from fiberboard (highly compressed wood fibers) and melamine resin (a.k.a., melamine formaldehyde, a plastic material hardened by heating). It is available in rolls, sheets, tiles, and strips, as well as in planks, for glue-down installation. Vinyl flooring is comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a resin-based plastic that is essentially rubberized, textured, and pigmented to create various designs, from floral to geometric patterns, to marble and stone lookalikes, and even woods, ceramics, blocks, and bricks. Some resistance cannot handle standing water. Recyclable if it does not contain PVC or asbestos. May release chlorine gas and phthalate-related toxins and may contain asbestos (prior to ~80s). Formaldehyde emissions may be cause for some environmental and health concerns. Common for recycled materials to be used, but is also made with a resin composed of melamine and formaldehyde. Cannot be refinished.ĭifficult to determine environmental impact. Protect heavy traffic areas with mats or rugs sweep, mop, vacuum with beater up/off use manufacturer-recommended cleaners. Keep clean and free of moisture, avoid causing damage, use pads on the feet of furniture. Glue-down peel-and-stick over wood, cement, or previously installed flooring $3 to $11 per square foot, including cost of installation.įloating tongue-and-groove locking, glue-down over wood, concrete and/or cork or foam pad ![]() Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin with dies, textures, rubberizing plastics, stabilizers single textured/stylized layer Usually has four layers: a stabilizing layer, a layer of treated high-density fiberboard, a photographic pattern layer, and a clear melamine resin layer. Laminate flooring is a synthetic fiberboard product. Manmade symmetrical and random designs, manufactured tile and ceramic, wood, stone, brick, plastic Manufactured wood, stone, tile, and ceramic styles/shapes Lower quality brands may need to be replaced sooner. Most laminate floors will need to be replaced after 15-25 years. Good laminate flooring is less prone to some of the problems that plague hardwood. Laminate flooring almost always emulates natural products, while vinyl flooring does the same, although typically not as well, and offers a limitless range of manmade designs and color combinations. Generally, the highest quality vinyls and laminates appear most similar to the materials they imitate. Quality determines aesthetics, durability, installation features (i.e., tongue-and-groove locking laminates vs. Laminate flooring is available in tiles and planks and is typically made of dense fiberboard, melamine (a binding formaldehyde-based resin), a photographic layer that simulates wood or stone, and a protective clear-coat surface.īoth flooring materials cover a quality range from basic to premium. Vinyl flooring comes in rolls, sheets, tiles, and plank sections, and is fabricated from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is a resin augmented with fillers, dyes, texture elements, rubberizing plastics, and stabilizing agents.
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