Before we start looking for a professional to install your laminate or vinyl floor, let's start by defining the scope of these two types of flooring, so that we can understand what they are. Laminate flooring is made up of refined wood fibres and melamine resin. In short, it is a kind of panel made of recomposed wood fibres, which is relatively environmentally friendly, as it allows the use of all parts of a tree. The advantage of this panel is that it is very homogeneous in terms of its composition and technical characteristics. Vinyl flooring, also known as PVC flooring, is a product of the petrochemical industry. It is more often referred to as linoleum or lino, and PVC floors come in different types of covering: they can be heterogeneous or homogeneous, acoustic or compact, and therefore meet all requirements and demands.
Having explained the nature of each of these floor coverings, we will now look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of them, starting with laminate flooring.
Laminate floors are generally very aesthetic floor coverings, which also benefit from very nice surface finishes, which lend themselves perfectly to the decoration of your living spaces. Maintenance is also a huge advantage, as it is very simple and quick to carry out; a quick wipe with a damp mop or a microfibre broom soaked in water will suffice.
Finally, it is important to understand that this type of flooring is also very interesting from an economic point of view, given its low cost and its practicality; the cost of laying it is not usually too great an expense either. Finally, this type of flooring has the advantage of being available in many patterns that imitate wood, tiles and even mosaics. As for the weak points, it should be noted that laminate floors are not the most resistant, nor the most stable in the long term, and in the event of a crack or an area of extreme wear, the entire surface will have to be replaced. Laminate flooring cannot be repainted or sanded. In addition, and this is less well known, it is important to know that laminate flooring is not suitable for wet rooms, as it can peel off quickly. It will therefore be necessary to measure the humidity in the room before laying the floor, and the level should not exceed 3%.
Vinyl and PVC floors are extremely versatile and can be used for a wide range of purposes. PVC floors have very good shock and footfall acoustic properties, for example, which is ideal for offices, multi-family housing, etc. One of the other advantages of PVC floors is that they are very hardwearing, and in fact, they have very good durability and maximum abrasion resistance. As far as design is concerned, there are no limits to vinyl flooring, and it allows for the creation of designs that can range from the simplest to the most complex, and there is something for every taste, in every colour. This makes it a very good option for creating a natural, elegant or warm atmosphere in your home. This type of flooring is not very conductive, which means that it has good thermal qualities in relation to its thickness, it is easy to maintain, and it is easy to lay and remove.
However, PVC floors have a few weak points that are important to be aware of. To begin with, they have very average sound insulation, with a strong resonance. Although very resistant, as we have said, this material is not repairable, and the entire surface will have to be replaced if there are areas of wear or tear. Finally, this type of floor is not suitable for damp rooms and is therefore not suitable for outdoor use, for example.
