In short: vinyl flooring is waterproof, quieter and softer underfoot, so it also works in kitchens, hallways and bathrooms. Laminate flooring has a hard, very wear-resistant surface and is an affordable choice for dry rooms such as living rooms and bedrooms. Water-resistant laminates are also suitable for kitchens, and special waterproof laminate flooring is available too; conventional laminate is not suitable for constantly wet rooms. Thicker laminate is also more forgiving of minor subfloor unevenness than thinner vinyl flooring.
What is laminate and what is vinyl flooring?
Laminate flooring consists of an HDF fibreboard with a decorative layer and a hard, wear-resistant surface. Laminate is floated over an underlay.
Vinyl flooring is made of vinyl. LVT is flexible and can be glued down or laid with a click system, while SPC vinyl has a rigid core made of a mix of stone powder and plastic. Both have a decorative layer and a hard-wearing protective wear layer.
Comparison table
| Laminate flooring | Vinyl flooring | |
|---|---|---|
| Core material | HDF fibreboard | Vinyl (LVT) or a rigid SPC core |
| Water resistance | Conventional laminate is not waterproof; water-resistant and waterproof laminate flooring is available | Vinyl is a waterproof material |
| Surface | Very hard and scratch-resistant | Scratch-resistant, slightly softer |
| Footfall noise | Louder, needs a good underlay | Quieter |
| Feel underfoot | Hard | Warmer and softer |
| Subfloor unevenness | Thicker board is more forgiving | Thinner plank, especially glue-down LVT, shows unevenness |
| Underfloor heating | Suitable | Suitable |
| Installation | Floating, click system | Click system or glue-down |
Is laminate waterproof?
Conventional laminate is not waterproof: if water gets into the joints, the HDF board can swell. Water-resistant laminates withstand spills for much longer and work well in kitchens and hallways. There is also special waterproof laminate flooring whose joints and core are protected against water – it can also be used in bathrooms according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For constantly wet areas such as a shower or sauna, vinyl flooring or ceramic tiles are the best choice.
Which is quieter?
Vinyl flooring. Its softer surface dampens footfall noise and walking sounds quieter, especially with glue-down LVT. The hard surface of laminate sounds louder, so it is worth choosing an underlay with good footfall noise reduction for laminate.
Which is more durable?
Both are very durable in everyday use. The hard surface of laminate stands up well to scratches and wear – the wear class (AC3–AC5) shows what level of traffic it is designed for. Vinyl flooring copes better with water and impacts, and a damaged plank can be replaced.
Which copes better with subfloor unevenness?
Laminate flooring. A thicker laminate board with an underlay is more forgiving of minor subfloor unevenness, as the rigid HDF board bridges over it. Thinner vinyl flooring, especially glue-down LVT, shows unevenness through the surface, so the subfloor must be carefully levelled. Rigid-core SPC vinyl is more forgiving in this respect than flexible LVT, but it also needs a flat subfloor that meets the manufacturer’s requirements.
Can you lay them yourself?
Yes. Click laminate and click vinyl are easy to lay yourself. What matters is a flat, dry subfloor, a suitable underlay (many click vinyl planks already have an underlay attached) and an expansion gap left around the walls. Glue-down LVT requires a carefully levelled subfloor and is best left to an experienced fitter.
Which should you choose?
- Living room and bedroom: both are suitable; laminate is more affordable, vinyl is quieter.
- Kitchen and hallway: vinyl flooring or water-resistant or waterproof laminate.
- Bathroom: vinyl flooring or special waterproof laminate flooring; conventional laminate is not suitable.
- Uneven subfloor: thicker laminate or rigid-core SPC vinyl; thin glue-down LVT needs a carefully levelled subfloor.
- Apartment: vinyl flooring, as it reduces footfall noise better.
- High-traffic areas: laminate with a high wear class or vinyl with a thicker wear layer.
Browse our laminate flooring range, click vinyl flooring and glue-down vinyl flooring. You’ll find the right underlay in our underlays section.