Laminate vs vinyl plank flooring in Canada

Should I choose laminate or vinyl plank flooring?

Choose rigid-core vinyl plank for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, entryways and any home with pets or young children, because it is waterproof through the plank and dimensionally stable in Canada's dry winters. Choose laminate for bedrooms, living rooms and hallways where water is unlikely and you want a harder, more dent-resistant surface for $0.50 to $1 less per square foot. Laminate has a wood-based core that swells permanently if water reaches it, which is why it cannot be used below grade. Vinyl is softer underfoot and can dent under heavy furniture, but it can be dried out after a leak. In practice most Canadian homeowners now choose rigid-core vinyl for the main floor and accept the small premium, because one dishwasher leak costs more than the difference.

Water resistance

This is the decisive difference. Rigid-core vinyl (SPC and WPC) is waterproof through the plank: the core is plastic and does not absorb water. Water-protected laminate resists surface spills for 24 to 72 hours, which handles a knocked-over glass but not a supply line failure. Once water reaches a laminate core, the board swells irreversibly and has to be replaced.

Hardness and denting

Laminate's melamine wear layer is harder than vinyl's urethane. It resists scratching from grit and pet claws slightly better and does not dent under heavy furniture the way vinyl can. If you have a piano, a heavy sectional or appliances that sit directly on the floor, use furniture pads on vinyl.

Comfort and sound

Vinyl is quieter and warmer underfoot, particularly WPC with an attached pad. Laminate can sound hollow over a floating installation unless a quality underlay is used. In a condo or above a suite, the acoustic underlay you put under either product matters more than the product itself.

Canadian climate performance

Rigid-core vinyl barely moves with humidity, which matters enormously in Prairie and northern homes where indoor relative humidity falls below 20 percent every winter. Laminate is more stable than hardwood but does expand and contract, and it needs correct expansion gaps at every wall.

Cost

Laminate runs $4 to $10 per square foot installed; rigid-core vinyl $5 to $12. On a 1,000 square foot main floor the difference is typically $500 to $1,500 — less than the cost of replacing a laminate floor after a single water event.

Common questions

Which lasts longer, laminate or vinyl?

Both last 15 to 25 years in a normal household when properly specified. Neither can be refinished. Laminate more often fails early from water damage; vinyl more often fails early from a thin wear layer. Specify AC4 for laminate or 20 mil for vinyl and either will go the distance.

Can I put vinyl plank over laminate?

No. A floating floor cannot go over another floating floor — the two layers move independently and the top one will fail at the joints. The laminate has to come up first, which costs $1 to $1.50 per square foot.

Which is better for resale?

Neither commands a premium the way hardwood does, but a consistent, modern floor throughout the main level helps a sale regardless of which you choose. Waterproof vinyl is increasingly what buyers expect in kitchens and basements.

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