LVT vs laminate: which floor should you choose?
By Eli Gjoka · Updated
Short answer
LVT (luxury vinyl tile) is made of vinyl, so it copes with water better and suits kitchens, bathrooms and anywhere that gets wet. Laminate has a wood-fibre core, which gives a firmer, more wood-like feel underfoot, but standard laminate doesn't like water. Some newer laminates are sold as water-resistant, yet even those exclude showers and wet rooms. For most living rooms and bedrooms either works; for bathrooms, LVT is the safer choice.
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What each floor is made of
Laminate is a photographic layer of wood or stone under a tough clear wear layer, on a core of high-density fibreboard, which is made from wood fibres. Its wear resistance is graded under the European standard EN 13329.
LVT is made of layers of vinyl, with a printed design and a clear wear layer on top. It comes in click planks that lock together and glue-down planks that are stuck to a prepared floor.
Water: the biggest difference
Standard laminate and water don't mix. If water gets into the fibreboard core, the boards can swell at the joints. Some manufacturers make laminate for kitchens and bathrooms: Quick-Step calls its HydroSeal range 100% waterproof, and Pergo's AquaSafe range is sealed down into the bevels. Even so, Quick-Step's own installation instructions say its water-resistant laminate isn't suitable for showers, saunas or rooms with floor drains.
LVT is far more tolerant of water. Karndean describes its LVT as waterproof and easy to clean. Quick-Step's vinyl is suitable for bathrooms but still not for saunas, steam rooms or showers. So neither floor belongs inside a wet room, but LVT is the safer choice for a family bathroom.
Kitchens, bathrooms and hallways
- Bathrooms and cloakrooms: LVT, or a laminate specifically rated for bathrooms.
- Kitchens: LVT, or a water-resistant laminate. Standard laminate is a risk near the sink and dishwasher.
- Living rooms, bedrooms and landings: either works well.
- Hallways: both cope with wear; choose the one with the better wear rating for the price.
Underfloor heating
Both can go over underfloor heating, within limits. The common rule across Karndean, Amtico and Quick-Step is that the floor surface shouldn't go above 27°C. Karndean also asks for the heating to be switched off 48 hours before, during and for 48 hours after fitting, then brought back up gradually. Quick-Step sets a limit on the total thermal resistance of the floor and underlay together, so the underlay has to suit the heating too.
How they feel and sound
Laminate is a thicker, more rigid board, so it feels firmer and closer to real wood underfoot. LVT is thinner and has a little more give. How warm and quiet either floor feels depends a lot on the underlay, so pick the underlay recommended for the product rather than the cheapest one.
Fitting and the floor underneath
Click laminate and click LVT both float over an underlay and need a flat floor. Glue-down LVT needs more preparation: the subfloor has to be smooth, level and dry, usually with a levelling compound. Amtico, for example, asks for the subfloor to be below 75% relative humidity before its glue-down floors go down. That's why the condition of your existing floor is one of the first things a fitter checks.
Repairs
Both can be repaired. Quick-Step sells a repair kit for laminate, and a damaged board can be replaced without lifting the whole floor. Karndean says a damaged LVT plank can be replaced too, and loose-lay ranges are the easiest to lift.
So which should you choose?
Choose LVT for bathrooms, kitchens and anywhere water is likely, or where you want a thinner floor. Choose laminate for living rooms, bedrooms and landings if you like a firmer, more wood-like feel. Whichever you pick, read the specific product's instructions: manufacturers differ on water, heating and fitting, and those instructions are what any guarantee depends on.
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Common questions
Is LVT better than laminate?
For wet rooms like bathrooms and kitchens, yes, because it copes with water better. For living rooms and bedrooms, either works, and laminate feels firmer underfoot.
Can laminate go in a bathroom?
Only a laminate made for bathrooms, such as some water-resistant ranges. Even those exclude showers, saunas and rooms with floor drains.
Can you put LVT or laminate over underfloor heating?
Yes, within the manufacturer's limits, usually a maximum floor surface temperature of 27°C, with a suitable underlay.
Is LVT more work to fit than laminate?
Click LVT is similar to laminate. Glue-down LVT needs a smooth, level and dry subfloor, which usually means more preparation.
Can a damaged plank be replaced?
Yes, with both. A single board or plank can usually be replaced without lifting the whole floor.