Choosing between LVT and Laminate flooring

ThisIsWeird

Confused? Here's 6 types explained

https://www.woodandbeyond.com/blog/6-vinyl-flooring-types-explained-and-compared/

(I haven't read this myself yet, so apologies if it ain't useful.)

Albermarle

The brand Karndean is often mentioned.
Just be aware that although they promote themselves as a UK company, they are very coy about where the product is actually manufactured. I think it is mainly in China/Far East.
Their main competitor, Amtico, has a large manufacturing facility in Coventry, where most of what they sell is made. In fact Amtico have been around a lot longer than Karndean.
Maybe something to take into account if you are the patriotic type.
I do not think Amtico produce a budget SPC type product, but for the better quality ranges the products are similar although the design style is a bit different.

ThisIsWeird

Mil went for Amtico glued-down.
Impressive stuff, but surprised that even tho' the woodgrain texture is very pronounced, it doesn't match the actual wood print below - I'd have expected this at the considerable price
In reality, tho', you don't notice, and wouldn't unless you stared very closely at it!
Her first quote - from the local authorised dealer - was full whack, and she was warned that anyone else offering to do the job using Amtico would be supplying 'seconds'. A look at the Amtico website shows how protective they are of their dealers.
She still got it done for a few £k less by a reputable, self-employed local fitter who managed to get hold of it no problem...

Albermarle

Her first quote - from the local authorised dealer - was full whack, and she was warned that anyone else offering to do the job using Amtico would be supplying 'seconds'. A look at the Amtico website shows how protective they are of their dealers.

Yes they do try and push you into using expensive authorised dealers and fitters. However if you do not go that route and later there is a problem, it will be more difficult getting it put right/compensation.

AFAIK, you can not buy Amtico 'seconds' as they have a high quality reputation to protect, and anything faulty tends to just get chopped up and goes back into the manufacturing process. I might be wrong though, there might be a black market for LVT out there !

JadeHighland

I was in your situation. In the end, you're not going to go massively wrong either way. Old laminate flooring was quite poor quality, but the new stuff are durable (they have gradings). I went for Click LVT and no regret so far.

UKnowledge

cAteriNs said:

I'm (hopefully) soon to be a new house owner with zero knowledge about most of the things. I've been told that the first and most important thing is figuring out the flooring as nothing much can be done without flooring is sorted out (it's newly built house)

It seems like I have 2 options, going LVT or laminate flooring way, both have ups and downs. I have a friend that bought house from same estate and went with LVT way. LVT looks super nice, but I think the ground floor is super cold at some points (ground floor of the houses are bare cement and upstairs has some wooden stuff on floor).

I got in touch with seller/installer of a LVT brand and I've been told that click and install type LVT has built in underlay already so it's not recommended to use underlay with those type of models, and I was told if I want underlay, I should go with laminate way. But I don't know if all LVT brands and types have same thing.

My question is : Is it possible to use underlay with any type of LVT (click or glue down type)? If yes, which type is most suitable for that?

I will get it professionally installed, and my main concern is having warm (or at least not super cold) flooring and I have been told this can be achieved with an underlay.

Thanks!

Hi @cAteriN

I had the same choice to make a few months back and asked all the same questions. So for the glue down LVT type you can't use an insulation underlay as you would be gluing to the underlay not the subfloor ( the concrete in your case). One fitter I had round did say there is a specialist underlay called Regupol that is used for heavy duty soundproofing that acts as a sandwich layer and glues on both sides (to the subfloor then floor to it). but this is expensive (more then the floors I was looking at) and is usually used for high end wooden flooring. After speaking to 3-4 flooring companies, they told me all "Rigid" LVT usually labelled as SPC comes with a built-in 1mm underlay, but there is nothing stopping me from using another underlay under that.

As SPC is made from Stone I went for laminate as it was slightly cheaper and is made from wood so feels alot less cold underfoot.

Hope this helps. love to hear what you went with.