If you are looking for a new floor, you will have undoubtedly come across laminate flooring and vinyl floor tiles. Both are very good options when you are tight on budget, but what are the differences between the two? This post discusses the main features of each floor to help make your decision a bit easier.
Laminate Flooring
A very popular choice, laminate flooring imitates real wood perfectly but is actually made up of synthetics layers. These layers are called the backing, the core, the image and finally the protective layer. The backing acts as a protective barrier that prevents moisture from penetrating the rest of the floor. Because of this, laminate flooring can be installed in places with increased humidity and is therefor suitable for kitchens. This is where laminate floors come up top, as both solid and engineered floors cannot be installed in rooms with fluctuating temperatures.
Now, if you have a family this is very important, laminate floors are highly water resistant. Since spillages are more likely to occur with little ones in the house, this is an invaluable quality. Besides, it also simplifies the maintenance of the flooring as you only need a warm damp cloth and a hoover to keep the floor looking perfect.
Laminate is not only practical, but it looks amazing too. Its popularity is largely due to the wide range of styles it is available in. Laminates can replicate different species of wood such as oak or walnut and as for the colour, you will not be disappointed with the range of shades on offer. So fear not, choosing laminate flooring will not limit you when deciding the aesthetics of your house. This way you won’t need to budget money as tightly and get a high class look that doesn’t break the bank.
Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl flooring has been around for years. Often criticised for being cheap, manufacturers decided to upgrade their game and the result of this is luxury vinyl tiles. This floor comes in boards as with tiles or hardwood. This contributes to its better quality and amazing looks.
Vinyl tiles have the same features of any other vinyl floor. They are made of plastic, which means they can withstand scratches very well. This makes them a very good option when looking for a floor in a room with high levels of traffic. While laminate flooring is only water resistant, vinyl tiles are totally waterproof. This makes for a very versatile floor since they are suitable for all rooms in your home, including bathrooms.
Like laminate flooring, vinyl tiles are a very low maintenance. You need only to regularly mop, sweep and or hoover as upkeep. Vinyl is a very hygienic floor that is highly recommended for people who live with allergies. Unlike carpets for example, vinyl doesn’t collect dust or any other kind of allergens. As previously mentioned, vinyl tiles look amazing as they are able to imitate wood and tile alike. There is a lot of choice including different kind of woods and stone effects.
So, there you have it, some of the main qualities of the cheapest floors on the market. Both are made to a beautiful quality but the choice is up to you as to which you think would be best for you home!
