LVT floors, or Luxury Vinyl Tiles, have long been present in commercial spaces and have recently gained popularity in residential settings. The growing variety of textures and designs makes it difficult to distinguish LVT from real wood or natural stone at first glance. This article explores the advantages of LVT flooring over laminate and whether price is the only drawback of LVT compared to laminate.
Related Articles:
HOW TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN VINYL FLOORING
LVT (LUXURY VINYL TILES) FLOORING: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
LVT stands for “Luxury Vinyl Tiles,” a higher-quality and more expensive type of standard vinyl flooring. Due to their characteristics and installation methods, LVT is often seen as an ideal replacement for laminate. However, there are differences between these two types of flooring, making one option sometimes a better choice than the other.
How Are LVT Floors Installed?
LVT flooring comes in tiles that can be installed with a click system or by gluing them down. Gluing is recommended for experienced installers, while the click system is suitable for DIY enthusiasts. Like laminate, both types can be installed without glue, allowing for easy corrections if mistakes occur. LVT has a slight edge over laminate for DIY projects because the tiles are easier to cut and fit.
Perfect Substrate Required for LVT
Unlike laminate, vinyl requires an ideal substrate for installation. The surface must be dry, flat, and clean, as LVT will eventually conform to the substrate, revealing any minor imperfections. If LVT tiles are installed over old ceramic tiles with wide and deep grout lines, these must be leveled first to prevent them from showing on the LVT surface. Laminate tolerates minor imperfections better due to its rigidity.
LVT Flooring Is More Expensive Than Laminate
LVT floors are generally more expensive than laminate, especially when comparing similar quality levels. Both LVT and laminate offer various designs and quality levels, but LVT usually comes at a higher cost.
Comfort and Design Options Favor LVT
LVT flooring is not only durable but also provides high comfort. It is more pleasant to the touch and not as cold as laminate, making it ideal for children’s and bedrooms. LVT offers a richer variety of designs, including natural stone imitations that are hard to distinguish from real stone.
Which Flooring Is More Durable, Laminate or LVT?
Both LVT and laminate have their strengths and weaknesses regarding durability. LVT, made from PVC, is more resistant to moisture than laminate. However, LVT is less tolerant of point loads and can be damaged by chair legs, which should be covered with felt pads.
LVT also does not handle caster wheels well, making laminate a better choice for offices with lots of wheeled furniture. Additionally, cigarette burns can damage vinyl more easily than laminate.
Photo: Tarkett