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Comparison
Flooring types compared: laminate, wood, vinyl, tile
Every floor type is a trade-off between looks, durability, water resistance, comfort and how easy it is to install. This guide compares the five most common choices so you can match the floor to the room.
1. The options at a glance
| Floor | Water | Can be sanded | DIY install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | Low (water-resistant types better) | No | Easy |
| Engineered wood | Low | 1–3 times | Easy–medium |
| Solid wood | Low | Many times | Hard |
| Vinyl (LVT, SPC) | High | No | Easy |
| Porcelain tile | Very high | Not needed | Medium–hard |
2. Laminate
Laminate is a fiberboard core with a printed photo layer and a hard, transparent wear layer. It resists scratches well and is one of the cheapest and easiest floors to install, because the boards click together and float on an underlay. Its weak point is water: standing water can swell the core at the joints. Choose the wear class (AC rating) by traffic, and see How to install laminate flooring: a step-by-step guide for the method.
3. Engineered and solid wood
Solid wood boards are one piece of timber. They feel warm and natural and can be sanded and refinished many times over decades, but they move more with humidity and are usually nailed or glued down, which makes installation harder.
Engineered wood has a real wood top layer on a stable core of plywood or softwood. It looks like solid wood, moves less, can often float like laminate and suits underfloor heating better. The top layer can be sanded only a limited number of times, depending on its thickness.
4. Vinyl (LVT and SPC)
Modern vinyl planks and tiles are waterproof, quiet and warm underfoot, which makes them popular for kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Rigid-core types (SPC) bridge small unevenness better than flexible ones, but all vinyl needs a smooth subfloor because bumps show through. It is softer than tile and can be dented by heavy furniture and marked by rubber feet.
5. Porcelain tile
Porcelain tile is the most water- and wear-resistant option and works in any room, including outdoors when frost-resistant. It feels cold and hard underfoot unless combined with underfloor heating, and installation takes the most skill and time. Ceramic vs porcelain tile: differences and uses explains the difference between tile types.
6. Which floor for which room?
| Room | Good choices |
|---|---|
| Living room, bedroom | Engineered or solid wood, laminate |
| Kitchen | Porcelain tile, vinyl, water-resistant laminate |
| Bathroom | Porcelain tile, vinyl |
| Hallway, entrance | Porcelain tile, AC4–AC5 laminate |
| Basement | Vinyl, porcelain tile |
Whatever you choose, measure the room and add a waste allowance; the Laminate flooring calculator and Tile calculator work out the quantities.
Common mistakes
- Choosing standard laminate for a bathroom or another room with standing water.
- Laying vinyl over an uneven subfloor, so every bump shows through.
- Buying solid wood for rooms with large humidity swings, where it gaps and cups.
- Ignoring underfloor heating compatibility when choosing the floor and underlay.
- Comparing only the board price and forgetting underlay, trims, adhesive and installation.
Frequently asked questions
Is laminate or vinyl better?
Vinyl is better in wet rooms because it is waterproof; laminate is usually harder-wearing against scratches and often cheaper in dry rooms.
What is the difference between engineered and solid wood?
Engineered wood has a real wood top layer on a stable core; solid wood is one piece. Engineered wood moves less, solid wood can be sanded more times.
Which flooring is best with underfloor heating?
Porcelain tile conducts heat best. Vinyl, laminate and engineered wood also work if the product and underlay are approved for it.
Which floor lasts longest?
Porcelain tile and solid wood can last for decades; solid wood because it can be refinished, tile because it hardly wears.
How much flooring do I need?
Measure the floor area and add 5–12% for cutting waste. The flooring and tile calculators do this and round up to whole packs.