Laminate vs Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring | Everything you need to know!
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2024
- Laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are two of the most popular flooring options in residential construction. In this video, we’re going to look at how they are made, their main differences as well as their pros and cons.
Link to my Patreon page: / belinda_carr
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:16 Laminate flooring
2:40 Luxury vinyl flooring
5:08 Sponsored
5:50 Differences
7:03 Installation
9:26 Conclusion
Laminate flooring consists of several layers fused together under high heat and pressure.
- The underlayment can be cork or foam. It acts as a vapor barrier, absorbs impact, evens out any surface irregularities, and distributes moisture away from the bottom layer of the flooring.
- The bottom layer is a melamine or paper backer that provides foundation and water resistance.
- The core layer is the most important and largest part of the flooring. It is made of MDF or medium density fiberboard or HDF which is high density fiberboard.
- The pattern layer. It is created using a high resolution 3D photograph of real, natural wood grain.
- The topcoat or wear layer which is a mixture of aluminum oxide powder, melamine and urethane.
Now let’s look at how luxury vinyl planks are made. Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride or PVC was developed in Akron, Ohio in 1926 by blending it with various additives. It soon became the world’s third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic. The basic raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil. Electrolysis of salt water produces chlorine. Chlorine is then combined with ethylene that has been obtained from oil. The resulting element is ethylene dichloride, which is converted at very high temperatures to vinyl chloride monomer. These monomer molecules are polymerized forming polyvinyl chloride resin.
The layers of luxury vinyl flooring are similar to those of laminate flooring.
- The underlayment can be cork or foam. It evens out any subsurface irregularities.
- The bottom layer or backing can be made of rigid fiberglass.
- The core layer provides structure. It can either be SPC or stone plastic composite which is made of calcium carbonate, PVC and plasticizers or WPC or wood plastic composite which is made of a PVC mixture and wood flour.
- The pattern layer is a high resolution digital image of wood, stone or tile.
- The topcoat or wear layer is a clear, urethane based coating that makes the floor scratch and stain resistant.
Ease of use - They are both DIY friendly and affordable with an easy click and lock assembly. The tongue of one plank is fitted into the groove of another at an angle and folded down. This draws the boards together.
Acclimate - Laminate flooring needs to acclimate to the inside of a home for at least 48 hours before installation. It has to get used to the new temperature and humidity levels to avoid expansion or contraction. Vinyl flooring doesn’t need to acclimate at all.
Tools - Laminate flooring is cut with a circular saw or table saw. Luxury vinyl can be scored with a utility knife, bent back and snapped into two. It can also be cut with a circular saw or table saw.
Scratch resistance - The scratch resistance of laminate flooring depends on the thickness of the top layer and ac rating, which we discussed earlier. Luxury vinyl shows better scratch resistance.
Water resistance - Water puddled on the surface of this laminate flooring and did not penetrate the top coat. Luxury vinyl showed the same water resistance.
Uses - New, water resistant laminate flooring can be installed anywhere in a building, but flooring that isn’t water resistant shouldn’t be used in bathrooms, mudrooms or kitchens. Luxury vinyl is waterproof and can be installed anywhere.
Fire resistance - The foam underlayment on laminate caught on fire easily and melted away. The MDF core charred but didn’t burn. Vinyl flooring melted and gave off very strong fumes.
Health concerns - They also use phenol formaldehyde resins and glues that off-gas. In high concentrations, this can be a serious health concern.
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SOURCES:
• How Laminate is Made
• How It's Made: Luxury ...
• 6 Ways to Cut Vinyl Pl...
• How to Install Pergo L...
• Cut Laminate Flooring ...
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#laminate #vinyl #flooring #diy #luxuryvinyl - Наука та технологія
If you're looking for a gorgeous, natural flooring product that doesn't off-gas, check out HempWood: ua-cam.com/video/3Qy6awPeric/v-deo.html
Thankyou Belinda.. I will... that was one of my considerations... I simply don't like mdf. too many toxic issues.
Great video! Can you please mention if HempWood can be used in a basement? I’m trying to avoid off-gas products.
IIRC, you mentioned that Hempwood is quite sensitive to moisture, so I presume that means one shouldn't really consider it in high humidity locations. Do you know of any other non off-gassing materials that do better in high humidity environments?
You always reach my expectations... Great video as always.... Well detailed and researched... Great
@@parasharkchari hardwood or bamboo maybe
I was humbled by this video as someone who was prepared to go down the rabbit hole doing research, this video was stunningly cohesive and informative, thanks for your time and have a good day
This is the most thorough comparison between between vinyl and laminate flooring I have seen. I'm looking to remove the carpet from my house and this has been very informative.
I installed Mohawk water resistant laminate flooring in 4 bedrooms and a hallway. Got it cheap feom Costco . Before I installed it, I placed half of plank in a bucket of water and let it sit there for half a day. I removed it and let it sit for a day. It was absolutely untouched. I could not tell where it has been immersed in the water. I also put 2 planks together and put water on them overnight. Checked them in the morning and all looked perfect . Zero damage. I also took the scratchiest chair and sat on it and tried for scratch the heck out of it on purpose and could not make 1 scratch on that floor. So, Mohawk laminate is super strong and it’s way more than water resistant .
Your thorough insights and explanations are so helpful! Watching these helps me feel a lot more confident about the DIY projects I undertake. Thanks so much!😊
I've used both wood laminate and vinyl plank in two separate houses. Both have held up really well. The vinyl is harder to cut but has the benefit of being truly waterproof. The only placed I've ever glued anything was vinyl plank onto stairs. Taking the underlay off was a huge pain but the results were nice. Such a nice video, Belinda! Keep up the great work!
The most comprehensive and non biased reviews I have found about construction projects. Thank you!
Just stumbled onto your channel and had to comment; I'm blown away by the breadth, quality of information and presentation of you video. You're a real pro at this.
Thanks Belinda for explaining the difference and the importance of getting the correct rated product for the area it’s being applied to.
Because I was shopping for flooring this popped up in my feed, was impressed, and subscribed. Her delivery is perfect, she speaks and explains so clearly it's refreshing.
Will be following - thanks for posting!
This channel is a great source of knowledge, I have zero experience on these topics, yet you made it so easy to understand. I deeply appreciate your efforts to share this knowledge with the rest of us. Thank you very much and keep up with the good work.
I’m soooooo grateful I found your channel. This is my favorite way to learn about materials in more depth.
Thanks for all your research and the excellent presentation! Your videos are always educational and enlightening and all the work that goes into them is very much appreciated!
Beautiful and smart! I was actually going to buy laminate flooring next week but now I'm changing it to luxury vinyl. Thanks!!!
In my old house, I had the HVAC on the first floor and didn’t do proper maintenance for a couple years. As a result, the unit started leaking water from the AC. I would hear a drip every now and then, but thought it was in my head. Eventually, I would walk by the closet where the HVAC was and found the floor was saturated. Eventually the LAMINATE floor started to buckle wherever the water spread. Basically all the water was sitting under the laminate for a long time. I had tried out vinyl plank flooring for one of the bedrooms a year before and was really impressed with it. So I bought Lifeproof vinyl plank flooring for the entire first floor. It literally felt nice to walk on, it looked good, and most importantly, it was waterproof. Plus there’s a 5 year warranty on the floor. It was a really good investment. It was one of the things that helped me sell my house for double what I bought it for after 1 day on the market (it was my first house I had for a decade). I did end up upgrading to a newer, nicer place, but I miss my old house. I did a ton of projects upgrading everything. My new place doesn’t need anything. But next time I buy a place, I’m going for a project house. I’m pretty sure a project house will keep you living longer.
True about laminate's water intolerance. I rented out my apartment for 3 years to a woman with a child. When I moved in, some of the laminate was bloated.
This was very timely and informative. Easy to follow along. Thank you.
I just LOVE your channel and your delivery! You always give concise, helpful and direct information. THANK YOU.
Thank you!!
Thank you for this! Easily the best video I've seen explaining the differences. We have vinyl in our house now and have been extremely happy with it. We've been trying to decide what to get in our new house and almost went with laminate but I think vinyl is definitely the way to go. Thank you!!
Great video! My wife and I have been talking about replacing our carpet with one of the two options. I knew some of things from the video but still learned a lot. One thing I would add is that laminate flooring can dull saw blades due to the aluminum oxide being so hard. If I ever do a laminate install again, I am going to buy a purpose built laminate cutter.
Thanks I was just looking this up today. You are such a good presenter, your voice is clear, crisp and your diction is melodic.
Thank you Belinda!! I just installed luxury vinyl in one of our bathrooms, and am getting ready to install some laminate in one of our bedrooms. Understanding how each one is made, their characteristics and pros & cons really helps.
I've put in thousands of square feet of laminate in rental properties and have never ever been tempted to put it in a bathroom
I can’t wait for your linoleum video! Most people sleep on it due to the design insanity of the 70’s, but it’s an exceptionally sustainable product
I agree. I just won't use plastic flooring. Obviously new wooden planks would be impossibly expensive, but lino, while not super-cheap, is much less expensive. Linseed oil and cork or sawdust - can't get much more sustainable than that. And none of the awful click-clack noise of laminate when you walk on it. I detest the sound of that garbage.
Natural cork, FSC-certified solid bamboo flooring with low-VOC resins (much lower resin content than engineered floors anyway), even high-quality rubber in wet areas are all other alternatives.
I'd be interested in seeing a video on linoleum too. I've heard it's making a comeback because of the environment, but I wonder have they improved it since it's heydey.
My go to for unbiased, informed product reviews. I always learn so much and your approach is effortless. Feels like learning from a friend 💯 thanks Belinda 🙏🏿 you should be at 300k followers!!!
Good points Belinda = you know your stuff and we appreciate a real professional.
Belinda...great video! Concise, but very informative! It greatly assisted in helping me make a decision. Thank you!
Omg great review she broke it down step by step, i love the way you gave the name of each product so i didn't have to do research thank you so much.
Appreciate how thorough you were with this video, thank you! You've answered several pressing questions I had 👍🏾👍🏾
Thank you. Excellent comparison. I found the difference in damage caused by water to be especially informative. It would be interesting to know how they compare in areas such as sounds acoustics, sound absorption, as well as walking/standing comfort.
Wow. This is one of the most detailed descriptions. Thank you.
Thank you Belinda, enjoyed your thorough explanation. Was a great help to our decision making. Well presented.
Outstanding work. Thank you. This has been very helpful.
Excellent video. Very thorough comparison between laminate and Vinyl. Thanks for posting it.
Your presentation is just outstanding ! Such level of detail no one has given ! God bless you, I subscribed. Good luck
Greatly appreciating the thorough testing you did for this video! Well done!!
Great video, very comprehensive, thank you!
I have 3 dogs and luxury vinyl was a game-changer for the look, resistance to wear and tear, and the waterproof is a game-changer. It is so easy to install, and the cost was comparable with laminate, so for me, it was a no-brainer. Thanks for the video, always very informative, well done.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing!! We also have 3 dogs, 2 of which are large and have massive paws/nails which create huge gouges in our real wood floors.
Your video is very professional and informative. I hope that others will follow your example. Good job, please do other videos.
Really great video.
Keep up the great work. Very informative plus entertaining. I am a contractor so I especially enjoy when you take a blowtorch to a product to see how quickly you can destroy it. :)
As always, an excellent review for beginners and experts alike. Clear, concise, and correct information packed into an interesting presentation. Thank you for sharing our base of knowledge.
I really enjoy the level of detail that you go into with your videos, I started binge watching and spent a few hours watching you. Great content!
Hi, I really enjoyed this video review. I learned a lot about the differences between Laminate and Vinyl Flooring. Fantastic overview. I appreciate you time and knowledge.
Thank you so much for sharing useful information on laminate and vinyl flooring. This will come in handy when I choose flooring material on our upcoming home improvement project. 🙂
Thanks for the video.
One important difference, at least to me, is the surface sound. The degree varied by brands, but laminate flooring consistently has a louder, more harsh sound when walked on or when things are slid across it. A lot more high frequencies to the sound profile.
Another is that LV planks will relax to fit the undulations on a floor surface, while laminate will just bridge the hollow spots. This makes for an unpleasant feel when walking across said hollows. It's particularly noticeable on concrete floors, which tend to not be as flat.
Great observation!
The core hardness is a big part of the noise difference. Vinyl is softer often used as a mass dampener and sound deadener. MDF and HDF are much more solid while vinyl has more give. I also much prefer the feel of the LV to the laminate.
@@ljprep6250 I'll go further & say that laminate makes me uncomfortable. Almost a fingernails on a chalkboard feeling. My son's last house had laminate throughout & I hated walking on that floor, shoes and no shoes.
@@frankpratt529 I agree with all of your points. Made the mistake of using it in my last house just to get it habitable again. I knew I wasn't going to like it. I didn't realize how much I was going to hate it. Dropping just a cable to the floor is like a mini gun shot. The coating applied to the surface... better not have wet boots or even wet bare feet. I'm an agile fit man and came close to busting my ass far to many times.
@@ShainAndrews There's gotta be something fundamentally different in the surface treatments on the two. LVP does not have that slippery when wet thing that laminate has, yet it cleans & sweeps easily.
I loved your way in explaining the differences between laminate and vinyl flooring
Answered all my questions and changed my mind about the flooring I chose.thank you.
thanks a millions Ms.Belinda, i didn't know and can't decide laminated or vinyl for my floor but i do now, God Bless and keep up a good work.
I've been researching laminate vs. vinyl for days now, and this one video just answered so many questions I had, and gave me so much additional information. Thank you so much!!
Were you able to find the average cost for materials and installation?
@@this2shallpass410 The range is huge here. I found products under $1 per sq. ft. and products at $15 per sq. ft. I think the most common price was about $3.50, materials only.
Such quality videos!
When I tell my friends about your researched content, I describe your videos as if the Valedictorian put together a presentation.
This is such a great video. So detailed and provide so much information. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for this informative video. After watching, we now know that we will be going with the luxury vinyl flooring and which thickness to look for.
Learned so much from your presentation. You are an excellent speaker and educator. You would make a good Chemistry Professor.
This in such a helpful and succinct explanation of the two products. Thank you so much!!
Now THAT was an INCREDIBLE explanatory video on laminate and vinyl. Excellent job! Love the accent too :)
Very helpful info, straight to the point without any chitchat.
Wow, what an amazing video! I am planning to replace my floors so this knowledge is so useful! I am a fairly inquisitive person and I always like to dig a bit more and research in order to understand things in a bit more detail. Your video is exactly what I needed, necessary info explained in a clear and concise way! Than you so much!
Thanks for making this clear and crisp explanation
I'm just installing laminate at the moment. If I had a bigger budget I'd go vinyl though. We are replacing vinyl that drastically failed but I think newer products are better than what we had previously. I do have a 15yr old laminate floor in my kitchen that has lasted incredibly well but it was a high end waterproof laminate.
Such a thorough and clear overview. Thank you!
I run a kennel with hundreds of dogs every year. I also have a rental. I installed TrafficMaster textured vinyl floating plank with tongue and groove glue strip. (Whew! That is a mouthful.) I have been using it for 6 years and it seems nearly indestructible. It is swept and mopped multiple times everyday and is still in excellent condition.
We foster 4 our animal shelter which means lots of animals & lots of accidents. We're replacing our carpet but w what is the ?. My friend said not to get lv bc hers buckled but i think it was not installed properly & maybe the newer lv has better water proofing tech. Ty 4 sharing ur exp bc it truly helps people like me (that also have a zoo).
Excellent video! Love the technical details. I’ve lived with both products for years. Vinyl is more resilient in everyday residential use with family and pets. Laminate can scratch, chip and peel given years of living. All the best and continued success to you!
Only 10-20 yrs? If you feel up for it, a video on different "wood"/"real wood" flooring costs vs. lifespan would be interesting. Great content on your channel.
Yes, I was surprised too. They have a limited lifetime warranty, but I doubt it covers much. I will make a video on real vs fake wood soon. Thanks!
@@BelindaCarr Looking forward to that video!
@@BelindaCarr i would love a video on engineered wood floors
The original oak hardwood in my house has been refinished at least once in its lifetime and still looks pretty good. Its 70 years old!
There's also the "opportunity cost of money" vs the "nominal cost". If real wood is $20k and LVP is $5k, then going with LVP means saving $15k. That money can be invested, and that investment will likely return in the neighborhood of $10k in 10 years, so an LVP replacement in 15-20 years will be "free" in a sense (of course, better to keep saving if possible if the LVP is in reasonable condition!).
It was good to know the differences of the two materials. I just had both installed.
this is the greatest comparison video on the internet< thank you
Belinda excellent presentation! Thank you for reporting on the VOCs as I will be selecting a flooring solution for a live-in Van. Offgassing is an issue in such a tiny space so would love to hear a recommendation that has minimal to no VOCs.
Outstanding video. I learned a ton in 10 minutes.
Thanks for sharing this! 💯
Terrific video, very straightforward and to the point. LOVE the clips showing the industrial production- haven’t seen that elsewhere and fascinating-plus your showing a bit of the actual chemistry.
One point: we have nearly 35 year old laminate that is over due for replacement, and it has no photographic layer on top but a thin layer of actual wood veneer, similar looking to bamboo.
Or perhaps this is what’s called “engineered hardwood “ which might be a separate category altogether (?)
Nice work! You’d make a great professor.
i don't know how this video was suggested to me but this is great, i am just about to refloor my basement and the options for flooring are vast. This made some things more clear to me, Thanks!
Very helpful. I ordered vinyl not knowing the difference. Although I am concerned about VOCs, it seems to offer a better choice. Fortunately, I had my open beam ceiling siliconed recently, which will cut down on UV penetration into the bedrooms
Your video provides great info with great clarity, thanks a lot!
This video came out at just the right time! I'm thinking of covering up the ugly tile in my kitchen, bathroom and hallway but I was wondering what would be easiest to use (and remove since I live in a rental). Thank you for always making such interesting and helpful content!
Linoleum is nontoxic vs plastic floors too
More flooring videos please . Love to have a bamboo and cork As one as well comparing these flooring systems compared to those flooring systems
This was a great video--so much information about each product. I learned a lot.
Thank you for this video. Very helpful for learning about those kinds of flooring
Thank you for the comparison.This did clear out a lot of questions I had on mind but also brought up a many new ones😀.. Still in the 'homework' phase and assessment with such information is going to have an impact
EXCELLENT VIDEO...
This is the Very BEST Video on this subject... "Brava"
That was very informative. I'm actually looking for the color lvt you had in your hand. I didn't even think about VOCs. Nice job.
Sure wish I'd watched this before I bought my floor. Excellent information, thank you. I have laminate on my main level and vinyl going in my lower level as I write this.
Thanks for the very informative video Belinda.
Hi Belinda, thanks for explaining very well, you are so professional, I learn a lot about the laminated floors, eaven how the factory made this product...
Keep going and thanks so much for sharing this information... blessing's ❤❤❤❤
WOW..you are simply the Best!! So much details in your review. Thanks a lot!!
This was very informative!! Thanks for posting, great channel😻
Always so informative Belinda
Excellent, thorough, well-done!
What an incredibly complete, unbiased and useful video. I'm going to redo my downstairs, open concept, house with a living room, entryway, kitchen combination and this will be very helpful in my choosing which product to use. Thank you for putting it together.
What are you choosing laminate or vinyl? I would think you'd want viny
Which one will you use to put in a kitchen on top of tiles ? if Laminated tiles then will you go with AC2?
I've always had this question..thanks for the detailed video
Amazing video!!so comprehensive and easy to learn
You are an amazing and so knowledgeable human being! I am putting in flooring in my mobile home 350sqft. I am on a major budget and trying to find the least non toxic. It seems like Vinyl flooring would be the best options. I looked in to hemp, but over budget for me.
What about the health concerns in vinyl flooring vs e.g. natural wood?
Thank Miss Belinda this video was very helpful! 😊
Great information, and great additional information in the comments!
As a video suggestion, I'd like to know more about Energy Recovery Ventilators and Heat Recovery Ventilators. I have an old house with no forced-air system, and while the radiators are very comfortable the lack of ventilation and fresh air (especially in the winter when the windows are locked) isn't great. I'm considering adding a ventilator of some type, so an overview of these technologies and the situations and climates where they are best used would be great!
I'll add that topic to my list. Thanks!
That was a lovely video. Very nice explaining the difference.
I don't know if it's a topic you would like to discuss on your channel, but I would love to see a video surrounding the natural gas and oil situation right now. I don't follow any type of traditional news media, so I'm a little lost on it all. I appreciate the excellent presentation and dedication that goes into each of your videos!
Excellent review, informative, and helpful in my flooring buying decisions….(LVT, at least 12 mil, waterproof, and etc)
Great video, it answered all my questions, thank you!!
First time to your channel. I subscribed and gave a "thumbs-up" because you did a great job with the video and info. Thank you!
Thank you! Clear and very informative!
Very informative and helpful video, thank you
Good information, I installed vinyl flooring in several room.