When it comes to choosing the best floor for your New Zealand home, the debate can often come down to laminate versus vinyl. Both options have advantages, but factors like budget, aesthetics, durability, and maintenance may influence your decision. Here's a comparison to consider when making the best choice for your home.
Durability
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring boasts excellent durability and superior fade, dent, and scratch resistance compared to vinyl. Many high-quality laminates now come with watertight surfaces, making them suitable for use throughout the home including wet areas.
Vinyl flooring
Vinyl is known for its general durability and good water resistance. Vinyl flooring is made from a mix of plastic, fibreglass and PVC, so it can fade, discolour and warp in areas near doors or windows that are exposed to sunlight and heat. In New Zealand, vinyl is better suited to rooms on the south side of the home, such as bathrooms, toilets, or the laundry.
Appearance
Laminate flooring
Laminate provides a wide variety of colours, textures and grains that closely replicate hardwood, stone, and tile. High-quality laminate floors offer an authentic look and feel, giving you the look of natural wood or a stone tile with the added resilience of a laminate surface.
Vinyl flooring
Vinyl offers a broad selection of designs that mimic natural wood, stone, and tile. The realism of these designs can vary significantly based on the quality of the image layer, so some vinyl floors will look more realistic than others. However, they tend to lack the feel of natural wood and, instead, vinyl floors will have a slightly plastic feel with an imprinted grain pattern.
Installation
Laminate flooring
Laminate is typically a floating floor system with a click-lock mechanism. It might need more precision during installation but remains DIY-friendly for homeowners with the right tools and experience. If you are in the Waikato or Bay of Plenty, Floorboards offer professional installation services for those seeking expert fitting; our specialised installation technique allows for installing under skirtings and kitchen toe-kicks, saving you the cost and hassle of removal or replacement.
Vinyl flooring
The installation of vinyl is fairly user-friendly, with peel-and-stick or click-lock options available. However, sheet or plank vinyl may require extensive subfloor preparation so that lumps and bumps do not reflect on the finished floor surface. The additional floor prep can be time consuming and may increase the total cost of your floor.
Product Price
Laminate flooring
Laminate is slightly pricier than vinyl, but does have a variety of options from budget-friendly to high-end ranges with detailed surfaces and extensive warranties.
Vinyl flooring
Vinyl is generally more affordable than laminate, particularly at the lower end. Yet, premium vinyl can match laminate prices.
Maintenance
Laminate flooring
Laminate is ideal for low-maintenance lifestyles, offering a stain and fade-resistant surface that requires just sweeping and damp mopping.
Vinyl flooring
Maintaining vinyl is straightforward, with regular sweeping and mopping. Lower-end vinyl may show signs of wear over time.
Environmental Consideration
Laminate flooring
Usually made from wood-based products, laminate is more environmentally considerate than vinyl.
Vinyl flooring
Constructed from synthetic materials (PVC) and chemicals, vinyl is considered less eco-friendly.
Best Uses
Laminate flooring
Laminate excels in the main living spaces due to its superior durability, look and feel. While it may cost a bit more upfront, laminate offers better long-term value. High-quality laminates can be installed throughout the home, including wet areas and areas exposed to the sun, making it an ideal investment if you want a seamless, modern look.
Vinyl flooring
Vinyl is well-suited for smaller, less sunlit spaces with light foot traffic. It's a cost-effective solution for quick updates.
Key Takeaways
Durability: Laminate outperforms vinyl in resistance to fading, dents, and scratches.
Aesthetics: Laminate tends to provide a more realistic and high-end look and feel.
Installation: Both are DIY-friendly for homeowners with the right tools and experience.
Product Price: Vinyl is cheaper initially, but higher-end ranges can equal laminate pricing.
Maintenance: Both options are easy to clean and maintain.
Environmental Considerations: Laminate is generally much more eco-friendly than vinyl.
Best Uses: Laminate for a seamless look throughout the home or areas exposed to sun. Vinyl is cost effective in rooms with low exposure to sunlight and foot traffic.
If you're keen to learn more about the differences between laminate and vinyl floors, visit our showroom in Hamilton or contact us at our Mount Maunganui office. Our team at Floorboards is here to help you choose the best flooring that meets your needs and enhances your home. Call us today.
Hamilton & Waikato
Phone 07 959 1861
Tauranga & Bay of Plenty
Phone 021 977 548
