No matter how lavishly beautiful your new house could be, it is nothing without the right flooring. The type of floor is important to a new home whether you will be living in it or putting it up for sale. Users can choose among many types of flooring to get a desired result but laminate and vinyl flooring are most popular. Indeed, they are so popular that many people often confuse one for the other, creating the need to compare them.
Vinyl Flooring
This is a synthetic floor covering made of polyvinyl chloride among other placitisizers which is often used in kitchen and bathroom floors as a cheaper alternative to other floor types. People prefer vinyl due to its low cost as well as ease of installation in form of ready tiles or sheets that are easily customizable to preferred sizes and shapes using a special cutting tool. Perhaps the most important reason for use of vinyl in kitchens and bathrooms is the chance to conform it to awkward angles around obstacles. For best results, vinyl floor installation requires a squeaky clean surface that is dry and even. Care-Regular cleaning is necessary to rid the surface of dust and particles that could easily scratch it. Avoid flooding the vinyl or strong cleaning because the adhesive might not be able to hold too much standing water. Installation- This is an easy process requiring perfectly smooth surface, strong adhesive and the vinyl sheet or tile.
Benefits of Vinyl flooring
Easy to clean.
Easy to install.
Ideal for homeowners on a budget.
Water resistant.
Flexible enough to withstand heavy traffic.
Laminate Flooring
It is also known as floating wood tile in some parts because laminate flooring conjures up wood thanks to a photographic layer applied to it. It is less expensive than hardwood flooring and relatively easy to install. Proper care to laminate flooring increases its life span, making it the ideal investment.
Care
laminate should remain clean because dust and debris scratch the surface over time, causing irreversible damage to the appliqué layer. Keep the floor dry because water or moisture left to sit for too long causes the supporting planks to warp or swell. Where there are high chances of spillage, users are better off picking laminate floors that are water resistant. Protect the floor from scratches by furniture using an adhesive felt pad on the feet.
Installation
The flooring is easy to install as it comes in tongue and groove planks they you only need to click together over the sub floor. You should leave a small gap between flooring and walls to give room for expansion and prevent warping and swelling. Give your floor a clean finish by removing baseboards and then reinstalling them after laying the laminate. You will need a saw to trim around edges, door entrances and furniture. While adhesive glue should be provided for a stronger connection between planks, there are some inferior types of glue less laminate. These gradually separate, leaving unsightly gaps that you must tap into place the appropriate tool.
Benefits of Laminate flooring
Laminate has a lot of aesthetic versatility considering that the printed strip can be made in any preferred texture. Recent technologies have made possible the simulation of stone and tile patterns besides wood.
It is easy to clean and care for than hardwood and other floors.
Laminate flooring’s ease of installation and low maintenance make it less expensive than tile or hardwood.
Differences between Laminate and Vinyl flooring
Vinyl is waterproof unlike laminate which is made from recycled hardwood which is prone to moisture. Inability to withstand moisture makes laminate a poor choice for bathrooms and basements or other areas with fluctuating humidity.
Laminate flooring needs to stay in the building where it will be installed to let it adapt to the conditions therein. It is recommended that you have the floor 48 hours before installing to allow for expansion and contraction depending on the existing conditions of your home. Vinyl on the other hand is ready to install at any time on a dry, clean surface. While vinyl is soft and flexible, laminate is the opposite, making it prone to bumps and slopes that could pervert, bend and eventually break the planks.
Materials used may make laminate more expensive than vinyl but that is not the only factor determining cost. The size of space for example might make the difference in total cost, creating the need for customers to seek professional estimates on the best type according to their budget.
Vinyl floor surfaces are scratch resistant while laminate is prone to scratch, wear and fading in heavy traffic or dust prone areas.
Both laminate and vinyl flooring are popular choices for people who would like to cut costs. They are indeed less expensive to buy and maintain compared to tiles and hardwood floors. If you acquire a reputable brand of either laminate or vinyl, it will be the best investment you ever made as it could last long without need for repairs. Some people use the two flooring types in different rooms to create a unique aesthetic mix as well as suit different conditions. Due to several laminate and vinyl flooring brands in the market, consumers must be careful to avoid scammers. Make sure that each product you buy has the authentic mark of quality and if not convinced, go ahead to do a background check to ensure that it meets relevant quality and health standards.
Inferior products designed by unscrupulous business men may expose you to harmful, disallowed materials and fumes that could endanger your health. Vinyl floors should have a special anti slip layer to protect children and elderly people form accidental falls. If you are not a DIY expert, do not attempt to install any type of flooring to avoid injury to self or others. Seek professional help at least for the first time and learn the ropes before carrying out maintenance on the floor. Laminate and vinyl flooring are not the same but if done right, both these floors are durable, adaptable, cost effective, versatile and beautiful options for any home.