Every autumn the phone at our Giffnock showroom gets busier. People want new floors down before the tree goes up and the family arrives, and one question comes up more than any other. Should they pick luxury vinyl or laminate?
We’ve been supplying and fitting floors across Glasgow’s Southside since 1994, so we’ve laid a lot of both. Neither one is right for every house. Below, we compare LVT vs laminate flooring on water, wear, comfort, price and fitting, based on what we see in real Scottish homes.
What’s the difference between LVT and Laminate?
Luxury vinyl tile, or LVT, is made from layers of vinyl. A printed design sits under a clear wear layer, and the whole board is waterproof. You can get it in wood, stone, slate and concrete effects.
Laminate looks similar once it’s down, but it’s built differently. The core is compressed wood fibre, with a photo layer and a hard melamine top. That wood core gives laminate its solid, warm feel underfoot. Most of the ranges we stock now come with a waterproof core, so it copes with everyday spills and splashes far better than laminate used to.
So you may be asking, is LVT or laminate better? After more than 30 years of fitting both, our take on LVT vs laminate flooring is simple. Most of our laminate ranges are waterproof these days, so it’s a solid, budget-friendly choice almost anywhere in the house, kitchens and hallways included. LVT is still worth considering for the busiest, wettest spots in a family home, where its extra durability earns its higher price tag.
LVT vs Laminate Flooring at a glance
Which Floor copes better with Glasgow life?
Kitchens, Bathrooms and Hallways
Glasgow weather doesn’t help. Between the rain, muddy dogs and school shoes, hallways take a battering from October to March. The good news is that most of the laminate we fit now is waterproof, so it stands up to everyday spills, wet paws and dripping coats without the joints swelling.
Our luxury vinyl tiles are still a great shout for the busiest, wettest rooms in the house. Ranges from Amtico, Karndean and Moduleo shrug off spills completely, so you can run one floor from the front door right through to the kitchen. Most of the LVT flooring Glasgow customers but if you’d rather have that wood-look warmth underfoot, waterproof laminate is a genuine option too.
Living Rooms and Bedrooms
In drier rooms, the choice comes down to feel and budget rather than water. Our laminate flooring Glasgow range includes Quick-Step, Egger and Balterio, and good laminate handles chair legs and daily foot traffic well. Maybe you’ve looked at laminate alternatives and still love that crisp oak look. If so, laminate is a sensible choice for a lounge or bedroom.
Click vs Glue Down LVT: Which do you need?
Click LVT locks together much like laminate and floats over the subfloor. If your existing floor is level, it can often go straight on top, which keeps the job shorter.
Glue down LVT is stuck to a smoothed subfloor. It takes more preparation, but there’s no movement once it’s fitted, so it’s very stable. Many of our customers choose it for patterns like herringbone. The click vs glue down LVT decision usually depends on the condition of your subfloor, and we check that during a home visit. If you’re wondering what goes underneath, our guide on whether luxury vinyl tile needs underlay explains the options.
How do the costs compare?
Laminate is normally cheaper to buy. LVT costs more, and glue down fitting adds prep time. Still, when you weigh up LVT vs laminate flooring, the price per square metre isn’t the whole story. Choosing a waterproof laminate range for a busy kitchen or hallway gets you a durable floor at a friendlier price, while LVT remains the toughest all-round option if you want one floor running through the whole ground level.
The easiest way to get real numbers is to book a free home consultation. We’ll measure up, check your subfloor and give you a clear quote for both options.
Choosing LVT vs Laminate Flooring before Christmas
Autumn is our busiest fitting season. Once the clocks go back, bookings fill up quickly as people get their homes ready for guests. If you want a new floor down before December, we’d suggest choosing your material this month or early October.
It helps to walk on both before you decide, because photos can’t show you how a floor feels or sounds underfoot. Pop into our showroom at 178 Fenwick Road, Giffnock, or call us on 0141 638 0968 to check fitting dates.
Get honest advice from First Floors
Still torn on LVT vs laminate flooring? First Floors is the independent flooring Glasgow families have trusted since 1994, and we’re always happy to talk it through. Contact us today and we’ll help you get the right floor down before Christmas.