Asked on Jun 25, 2016
Vinyl plank flooring vs pergo (laminate)
+87
I currently have stinky dirty carpeting in my living room and I want to replace it with a durable flooring that can stand up to dogs and kids.
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
We have had both....and I would NEVER recommend laminate flooring to anyone for any reason. It is so easy to damage....scratches, spills, etc...It sounds funny and hollow when you walk on it...even with good quality underlayment under the flooring. We had nothing with trouble in every house that we installed laminate in. I would recommend the new vinyl plank flooring. It is 100% waterproof, easy to install with just a utility knife, and some of it comes with a lifetime warranty. You can get it in all sorts of patterns including tile and wood styles. Also, you can lay it directly over your subfloor with no problem.
I had 3 bathrooms and a laundry room with vinyl flooring. Pick a quality on like Armstrong. I never had any noises, in fact the very expensive bamboo flooring got squeaks and creaky all over. I just sold this house (9 yrs. old) and building new again and for sure the baths will have vinyl. So easy to clean and looks great after many yrs. Yes quality and good subflooring are required
Just had Armstrong vinyl oak plank flooring installed in TV room. Looks great and not at all like sheet goods but:
Had to get vinyl because of a medical problem I have and needed something that was easy to clean. The salesperson knew this but did not tell me about the above "no nos" or I would not have purchased it. I am pleased with the way it looks but thoroughly disgusted about the things I cannot use in the room.
Don't just ask a salesperson what you can and cannot do with the vinyl flooring, go on line and read what the company says about the do's and don'ts of the product(s).
make sure to aks when picking out the vinyl so you a better quality or special layer under the vinyl that will help reduce noise. Then get area rugs!
I just had a laminate flooring installed throughout my basement. It has a cushion back on it and I dearly love it. The big thing is be prepared to pay good money for it. You definatly get what you pay for in this instance
I have looked at flooring extensively for about 2 weeks. Laminate is junk. Luxury Vinyl planks are the floors for me. I wanted a wood finish in my kitchen. Armstrong and Shaw are [2] of the better floors. After hr's of looking and getting quotes, I ended up at Lowes. The flooring and installation was under $5 a square foot. The floor looks and feels like wood and it is water proof [and] can go over your existing floor if they are in good shape. Good luck.
A word of caution when using self stick vinyl tiles. After a short period of time, the embossed pattern of the old floor will show through on the new tiles Luxuary Vinyl Tiles can be used over the old vinyl floor with no see through of the old floor. It can be installed over the old floor and is available with a grout line and with out. Also available is a floating engineered wood floor that installs the same as a laminate floor. Good luck with your new floor Gary
Just be careful with your choice. Sometimes vinyls can be slippery and you don't want people to fall
LVT can stand up better to moisture and temps and cleans up nicely.
My vote is for vinyl over laminate anything. I have laminate and am ripping it out. If you have kids or pets, or spill stuff, vinyl is a better choice. Laminate gets wet it swells and needs to be replaced.
We have laminate floors in most of our first floor, so far is in great shape no shrinking. But remember that it's also a thicker piece to deal with which could be why. But so far the first floor is fine so I suggest laminate if you can have or don't want hardwood. Be careful with quality as some scratches easily and I would never recommend the tile that looks like wood because if you drop something that tile might break if you drop on a laminate floor it's like any wood floor it a dent but you don't have to replace. I picked out a laminate floor that has the look of distress so that I wouldn't have to worry about those things, but only go that route knowing that each piece is different and when cut and bumped up to each other you will see the crease since it's pretty distressed.
My vote is for vinyl flooring over laminate. I had high end laminate floors and it was hands down the worst decision I ever made. I have many pets and visiting children and animals. Laminate does not play well with water. I ripped it all out and installed hardwood flooring. Other areas I intend to improve, I will use vinyl. Takes a beating, easy to maintain and looks great too. Just my experience. Flooring is a highly personal choice.
A top quality vinyl flooring will most likely "outlive" a wood laminate. The latter do poorly with liquids, children, pets, dropped items, etc.
Avoid wood laminate IMO. Does not hold up well to things that happen in real life.
I had vinyl plank in my last apartment, and when we redid the downstairs in my new house, we used it there as well. With two cats and lots of traffic, it holds up VERY well!
LVT. Luxury Vinyl Tile. It's vinyl planks that lay down like hardwood, but glued to the floor. If your underlying floor is concrete, it might need to be ground and smoothed out, but I believe in the glue down stuff. Water does not get underneath, so a household leak is not the end of the world. Each plank can be dug up if damaged, and replaced. "Laminate" is just fake wood. It will swell up and disintegrate with liquids. Not worth it. LVT does not require any special cleaning products. Damp mop. Swiffer. Easy clean, hard to damage.
Definitely luxury vinyl flooring is so much better for your back and legs. Easier to clean too.
Laminate is cheaper and easier to install. Most cannot be refinished. Factory applied finish. Some laminates include special features such as a 50 year warranty or water resistance. Cheap laminates look cheap.
Hardwood is a traditional floor that some, like me, feel adds greater value than a laminate floor. Can be refinished multiple times. Requires special equipment to install. Must be sanded, stained, and finished on site. More expensive installation.
Laminate is what it is - wood look vinyl over cheap boards. Real wood is, well, real wood. It is more expensive, but actually needs no more care than laminate. If you have a choice, and want longevity, choose real wood. Laminate is big today because it's easy to install and cheap. I guarantee in a few years, people will be tearing it up and installing something else. Double work, double the expense.
Laminate - cheaper and easier to lay and if you get fed up with it you can change. Hardwood - for life - from time to time sand and re-finish.
If you are not doing the floor yourself the laminate could cost more because of labor to paste down and lay the floor could extremely expensive. The vinyl plank that you love may cost more but should last longer with heavy traffic. Waterproof and most are scratch resistant unless heavy metal objects are pulled over the floor. It also comes in many colors and there is a tile look also available in click down form. Check with your local Lowe’s or Homedepotforstyles and pricing. Take good measurements with you and make sure you can return any unopened boxes you do not want to keep.
Let your lifestyle choose for you! Kids, pets, stay away from laminate. I just ripped it out of my house. Wood is an excellent choice, but does require a little bit of upkeep, but in my opinion, not much, and always a classic and if selling in the short term, a plus for sale. Vinyl is fantastic if you have kids and pets, as it is easy to clean, maintain and look great with a minimum of effort. How fussy are you about your floors? Do you want showroom perfect? Or are dings and scratches a sign of love and character? Check warranties and buy the best product you can within your budget.
It truly depends on your budget. I have been impressed with the very heavy thick rectangular or square vinyl tiles. They look like wood or ceramic but easier to maintain and not so difficult to stand on in the kitchen. Ceramic tile is very hard on feet and legs.
Vinyl is better in wet areas. I sold flooring for 18 yrs. Laminate is wood based and does not perform well in a full bath.
I am hearing a great number of laminate users complaining of splitting and bulging at seams in those areas that are humid. Beneath the laminates surface (which is so pretty) is particles and glues ... so water is the ENEMY. Good Luck!
Depending on the type of vinyl you are considering, it can be very simple to install. Check out a product called Vinyl Planks. They come in strips (planks) that you simply stick together with small edge strips. They can be cut with a utility knife, and you do not need any other tools. They come in hundreds of different patterns that look like everything from tile to wood. They can be installed over most other flooring, and they are waterproof...which is great in a typical basement.
We put down peel and stick 6" x 48" vinyl planks. They look terrific. Nobody knows they aren't real and they were a breeze to install. You literally cut them when needed with scissors!
Vinyl planks are very easy. I would recommend using the kind that lock together if your floor is uneven. Sheet vinyl is good on uneven floor but tricky if you are not somewhat experienced. There are loose lay ones that are easier though. Then I would say laminate. Ceramic needs a level floor.
If you go over it with vinyl I would first do a floor leveling compound over the whole floor. That will fill in any gaps etc. and give you a flat smooth surface to place you vinyl on. I think that would probably be your least expensive way to go :)
Where is it going and what will the traffic level be? Both have advantages. Vinyl for wet areas and wearability. Laminate for it's better looks. Install is similar for both. It depends more on the interlocking system a particular manufacturer uses.
Hello Lynn, having had pets myself, I absolutely believe the vinyl plank flooring is the best for pets, it has some grip to prevent slips, it is forgiving when it comes to scratches from claws, and is also forgiving with water dribbles and and tracked in snow.
vinyl floor is for sure your answer
Hmmm...I'm not sure if I can give advice on vinyl vs. pergo. We have perfo in two of our rooms and that stuff is solid - no scratches or even a hint of wear after being installed for 10 years. But if I were you, I'd compare costs to your budget, and find the design you like the best, and just go with that. Both are great alternatives to hard wood!
With children and dogs, I'd suggest the best quality vinyl plank flooring you can afford.
Luxury Vinyl Plank for sure, laminate doesn't hold up to dog nails very well. Bamboo is very good if you have sharp dog nails.
Vinyl every time!
In the two choices given to with a VINYL! Had "high" quality laminate "wood" flooring with plastic, then a layer of cork under this laminate that also had a rubber backing made onto it. Walking on it with any type of shoes aside from sneakers was loud. It you had sweaty feet you left foot prints, if yard was dewy in the morning or night the floor just looked horrible with our dogs paw prints.. If a pet, child or even yourself had any kind of mishap that deals with body fluids or food where it got in-between to planks boards what ever you call them, your bound to get a swell area, ruins it! Cleaning these floors are a real pain in the derriere! They streak, smudge, leave foot prints, paw prints ECT.... I will never have this flooring again! No matter who says what about! In my experience and what other I personally know have said have said, I conclude that laminate flooring is just not a practical flooring. Have you looked into the bag floors using poly on top? I knew one who had bought the thick rolled brown paper (found in paint aisle at diy home stores) riped it up in an assortment of shapes and sizes used Elmer's glue to stick it down overlapping them. then wiped on lightly and right back off some wood stain rolled on a few coats of miniwax poly. It actually look really good, held up for years. The rare times it got a scratch (by sliding bed frame without anything underneath) she simply used a fingernail polish brush and painted the scratch with the poly and it it vanished! Always looked nice, no feet prints, dog tracks, smudges or streaks! Just an idea look up paper bag floors there are some really nice ideas out there!
I've had both, laminate and vinyl. I'd choose vinyl over laminate any day. It holds up better, easier to clean, you don't have to worry about water ruining it. It's just an all around a better investment.
I am going to sell my house as-is but I will suggest vinyl to the buyers
We had those choices and went with prefinished hardwood flooring instead. It's real wood, very durable, looks great after 20 years in a busy family, pet-filled kitchen and cost the same. Plus it can be sanded and refinished if necessary.
Engineered hardwood depending on quality doesn't stand up to running dogs very well. I have two that scratch with their claws all of the time. Go for quality.
Vinyl plank flooring is a really durable flooring option, perfect for high-traffic areas. Pergo is a nice, clean-looking, and naturally durable alternative, but hard to keep clean.
Floor Way professionals provide the best information about vinyl flooring and laminate flooring.
I am a huge fan of LVP. I have installed 4 floors and never had a problem. 5 stars for sure.
We have prefinished hardwoods in the kitchen and it looks as good today as it did 20 years ago...kids, pets, water, spills, you name it. Plus we can refinish it if we ever need to.
Laminate for sure
Luxury sheet vinyl will wear the best and can look very good and is very easy care. That would be my go to if I had children and pets as it won't absorb odors like wood laminate.
My sister and husband own flooring store and he does all kinds remodeling to new builds and luxury vinyl plank or tile is definitely the way to go especially with kids or pets. I just redid my entire house with it and love it.
Easy to clean waterproof and takes a lot to make a scratch.
Vinyl plank, have it in kitchen and living room, with 2 dogs. And have no problems or scratches
There are pros and cons to either choice. Pergo floors I've walked on look nice but have a hollow-like sound that is annoying. Vinyl planks look great and are long wearing and cushion the feet but if you live in an area where the temperature is high and you lleave for long periods, the vinyl planks can expand and buckle. Only you can decide which is the better choice for your particular needs. A good store that sells both products can advise you as to any other pros and cons as they have experience and have feedback from customers' problems that occur after install.
A good grade of vinyl plank flooring seems it would suit your needs well.
Do hope you resolved this problem and are happy now!
Lynn Turnbull I DID PARROTS ROOM. GOT RID OF CARPET. IN-EXPENSIVE TO DO. PUT DOWN LAMINATE THAT LOOKS LIKE WOOD.
EASY TO CLEAN.
vinal floor planking is thr best4
Go to a flooring store and explain your concerns with pets and kids. They will give you the best recommendation.
I have both in my house. I made sure that the Pergo was scratch proof. The LVP was supposed to be scratch proof but I have found small scratches in my kitchen.
In my experience, Pergo is a superior product. Especially when it comes to scratches. However, I have seen some LVP that is truly scratch proof. We had a salesman do a demo and let us take a stiff wire brush (like you use to clean brick ) and we couldn't scratch it.
LVT or luxury vinyl tile/strips should avoided because the plastic dust from walking on it is a carcinogen and will be inhaled. Just say NO. Also it has to be one of the ugliest floors, especially in gray.
Look for materials like ceramic tile, linoleum, cork, and wood…much better and safer….even concrete.
Hi Lynn: Laminate or vinyl might be your best bet. Tile may be a bit cold. Here's a site that talks about laminate flooring and, off to the right is a menu of costs, and general questions:
The Best Laminate Flooring For Your Home 2023 – Forbes Home
Hi Lynn: Personally, I love carpeting :) I got carpeting and the padding is called Pet Padding, and it's a vinyl type of padding that won't allow moisture to go through. If you want something else, I'd try the waterproof Pergo Laminate flooring.
We love LVP flooring and have installed it in 5 rentals and our own home (we have a 100 lb dog and 9 grandkids. Love it. https://alifeunfolding.com/choosing-lvp-flooring-for-our-cottage-remodel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugG2TuReg0
After having the LVP for 2 years I hate it. It scratches easily from dog. It is hard to keep clean and sincie it is a floating floor it separates. I had an installer put it in. Wish I did not, he did an awful job. The old waterproof laminate was much better, never scratched. Tiles are too hard on the feet. Next time I will go with waterproof laminate again.
https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/flooring/vinyl-flooring-pros-cons/
https://www.ehow.com/facts_5562885_pros-cons-pergo-flooring.html
My great-aunt, 86 yrs old, wanted pergo in her little kitchen. So she got it.. 18 yrs ago. After the 1st 6 months she's complained about it!! It's so slippery! Wet or dry!!
Its been responsible for 3 broken legs, a break of the ulna at the elbow break, we lost count of ankle sprains, and lots of cussing. She had her hip replaced 2 yrs ago. We got busy.
We replaced it with vinyl flooring, wood plank look. It's so much better! The look of wood floor is great and it has a texture. Knock wood.. no one has gone down on it.
And, she loves it.
Vinyl is a petroleum product. Off gasiing & long term problems & cleaning will occur.
Ask any thing about Dry cleaners
Vinyl sheet flooring is what I had installed. I wondered if urine from the dogs could seep between the vinyl planks, so got the sheets. Cleanup is a breeze!
Vynil Flooring or Ceramic tiles.
I would go with a luxury vinyl plank! It stands up to everything!
I will add that the new LVP vinyl flooring is not good with pets. It says scratch proof, but it is not. I spent a fortune and would go back to laminate.