For floating vinyl flooring, there are both types with a vinyl core layer (solid vinyl) and those with an HDF core layer (vinyl on HDF backing).
Construction:
Wear-resistant polyurethane coating, vinyl wear layer, vinyl decorative layer, stabilization layer, and then either another vinyl layer or HDF.
Vinyl is suitable for wet rooms, expands less, and the product consists of fewer different materials, each with its own properties.
Sometimes the same manufacturer sells both vinyl with an HDF core and solid vinyl with a vinyl core.
Why choose an HDF board at all instead of solid vinyl, which expands less and is more water-resistant? The construction described above (wear layer, etc.) is always the same.
Construction:
Wear-resistant polyurethane coating, vinyl wear layer, vinyl decorative layer, stabilization layer, and then either another vinyl layer or HDF.
Vinyl is suitable for wet rooms, expands less, and the product consists of fewer different materials, each with its own properties.
Sometimes the same manufacturer sells both vinyl with an HDF core and solid vinyl with a vinyl core.
Why choose an HDF board at all instead of solid vinyl, which expands less and is more water-resistant? The construction described above (wear layer, etc.) is always the same.
Hmm, I see.
That said, I have to mention that none of the laminate floors I’ve had so far have swollen. Since I even used them in the kitchen, some spills happened occasionally. Personally, I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on this factor. However, it definitely plays a role in the decision-making process.
In my opinion, scratches on laminate are also not easy to create. PVC might indeed be more durable. Still, for me, this is a minor consideration as well.
What about PVC when installed as a floating floor using a click system? Wouldn’t the “joints” be present there as well, similar to laminate? That might have a similar impact regarding moisture. (Click PVC often has another layer made of HDF (high-density fiberboard), right?)
Thanks for sharing your experience!
(I’m intentionally playing the “bad cop” or the laminate advocate here. This way, I can properly weigh all the pros and cons for myself.)
That said, I have to mention that none of the laminate floors I’ve had so far have swollen. Since I even used them in the kitchen, some spills happened occasionally. Personally, I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on this factor. However, it definitely plays a role in the decision-making process.
In my opinion, scratches on laminate are also not easy to create. PVC might indeed be more durable. Still, for me, this is a minor consideration as well.
What about PVC when installed as a floating floor using a click system? Wouldn’t the “joints” be present there as well, similar to laminate? That might have a similar impact regarding moisture. (Click PVC often has another layer made of HDF (high-density fiberboard), right?)
Thanks for sharing your experience!
(I’m intentionally playing the “bad cop” or the laminate advocate here. This way, I can properly weigh all the pros and cons for myself.)
Hello Farilo, regarding your questions:
More resistant:
In total, I believe the solid vinyl (V) is more resistant because it has a wear layer. That means if I get medium or deep scratches, they remain within this transparent layer (0.2 - 0.7 cm (0.08 - 0.28 inches) thick, depending on quality) and do not damage the design underneath.
With laminate, there is no wear layer, only a synthetic resin coating. So if I get a scratch like that, it damages the design itself, which is visually noticeable.
Also, when objects fall, solid vinyl is more likely to get a dent, while laminate is more prone to chipping because the surface is very hard but inflexible.
The advantage of laminate is that it is less sensitive to light scratches (including from claws) than vinyl. Here, only vinyl with a very high-quality PU coating is comparable.
Easy to maintain:
Solid vinyl’s advantage is that it can be cleaned very wet. Vinyl on HDF can also be wiped with more moisture than laminate.
Laminate cannot be treated with maintenance products, only cleaners. All maintenance products contain waxes, which do not belong on a laminate surface.
Vinyl, on the other hand, looks better again with good care, similar to a car.
More durable:
Exactly because it is more resistant and easier to maintain. After 10 years, vinyl will still look "newer" than laminate.
Quieter:
Solid vinyl is somewhat quieter than vinyl on HDF, but both are significantly quieter than laminate. Mainly because of the already mentioned elastic surface.
Even with the best underlayments, I cannot achieve good impact sound reduction with laminate. With good underlayments, I can only improve footfall noise.
I hear the footfall noise myself, and my neighbor below hears the impact noise...
Price:
Vinyl is certainly more expensive than laminate. Vinyl starts at about 20-25 € (in good quality), while I can get laminate for 8-10 €.
Which benefits are worth how much to you is something you have to decide.
Vinyl is not just a glued-on covering on a panel!
These “coverings” (sheet goods) are CV (cushioned vinyls), which are quite different from the vinyl we are talking about here.
More resistant:
In total, I believe the solid vinyl (V) is more resistant because it has a wear layer. That means if I get medium or deep scratches, they remain within this transparent layer (0.2 - 0.7 cm (0.08 - 0.28 inches) thick, depending on quality) and do not damage the design underneath.
With laminate, there is no wear layer, only a synthetic resin coating. So if I get a scratch like that, it damages the design itself, which is visually noticeable.
Also, when objects fall, solid vinyl is more likely to get a dent, while laminate is more prone to chipping because the surface is very hard but inflexible.
The advantage of laminate is that it is less sensitive to light scratches (including from claws) than vinyl. Here, only vinyl with a very high-quality PU coating is comparable.
Easy to maintain:
Solid vinyl’s advantage is that it can be cleaned very wet. Vinyl on HDF can also be wiped with more moisture than laminate.
Laminate cannot be treated with maintenance products, only cleaners. All maintenance products contain waxes, which do not belong on a laminate surface.
Vinyl, on the other hand, looks better again with good care, similar to a car.
More durable:
Exactly because it is more resistant and easier to maintain. After 10 years, vinyl will still look "newer" than laminate.
Quieter:
Solid vinyl is somewhat quieter than vinyl on HDF, but both are significantly quieter than laminate. Mainly because of the already mentioned elastic surface.
Even with the best underlayments, I cannot achieve good impact sound reduction with laminate. With good underlayments, I can only improve footfall noise.
I hear the footfall noise myself, and my neighbor below hears the impact noise...
Price:
Vinyl is certainly more expensive than laminate. Vinyl starts at about 20-25 € (in good quality), while I can get laminate for 8-10 €.
Which benefits are worth how much to you is something you have to decide.
Vinyl is not just a glued-on covering on a panel!
These “coverings” (sheet goods) are CV (cushioned vinyls), which are quite different from the vinyl we are talking about here.
Hi,
which type of vinyl flooring would be recommended for use over a floating screed with underfloor heating?
Building description: "In the basement, a floating cement screed with impact sound insulation and thermal insulation is installed according to the thermal protection certificate. In the ground and upper floors, a floating cement screed with impact sound and thermal insulation is installed. For a buyer-installed floor build-up, approximately 1 cm (0.4 inches) is available."
which type of vinyl flooring would be recommended for use over a floating screed with underfloor heating?
Building description: "In the basement, a floating cement screed with impact sound insulation and thermal insulation is installed according to the thermal protection certificate. In the ground and upper floors, a floating cement screed with impact sound and thermal insulation is installed. For a buyer-installed floor build-up, approximately 1 cm (0.4 inches) is available."
A
AndreasPlü7 Aug 2018 21:18Brief experience report on vinyl flooring on HDF (Parador). Nearly a year ago, I installed the Parador Basic Vinyl on HDF product with a cork layer in the children’s and bedrooms.
It looks good, feels relatively warm underfoot (we previously had glued vinyl – noticeably colder), and is quite quiet. No clattering noise like with laminate. Installed as a floating floor without additional impact sound insulation in the new build, only a vapor barrier. Feels like it is glued down and of high quality.
So far, we are satisfied. It’s not quite as easy to install as the friendly salesperson makes it look in the video. The planks are relatively heavy – you notice this quickly in high summer. I couldn’t cut them with a laminate cutter; a circular saw was necessary.
It looks good, feels relatively warm underfoot (we previously had glued vinyl – noticeably colder), and is quite quiet. No clattering noise like with laminate. Installed as a floating floor without additional impact sound insulation in the new build, only a vapor barrier. Feels like it is glued down and of high quality.
So far, we are satisfied. It’s not quite as easy to install as the friendly salesperson makes it look in the video. The planks are relatively heavy – you notice this quickly in high summer. I couldn’t cut them with a laminate cutter; a circular saw was necessary.
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