Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank Flooring Pros and Cons - Get 6 Free Samples
Planning on buying luxury vinyl plank or tile flooring? We compiled a list of some of the major considerations you should take into account before making a decision, by creating a luxury vinyl tile comparison chart that reviews other popular vinyl plank flooring alternatives. In addition, the following comparison chart would allow you as well to better understand the pros and cons of luxury vinyl tiles.
However, since different characteristics of different flooring types cannot be conveyed by words
or images alone, we have also partnered with leading online flooring wholesalers, and invite you to
choose up to 6 Free Flooring Samples of any type, including vinyl plank flooring samples.
All samples ship free, and would arrive within 1-2 business days straight to your door.
Obtaining free samples would allow you to really hold down the materials and examine their quality and other attributes (e.g., durability, scratch and dent resistance, feeling of the texture, color matching, etc.)
right from the comfort of your own home. To order your free samples, simply scroll down to the bottom of the following comparison chart and click on the button in the relevant column.
In addition, you can click here to get a free installation cost estimate for your project.
Comparison Chart: Luxury Vinyl Flooring vs. Porcelain Tile vs. Laminate Flooring vs. Linoleum Flooring:
| Luxury Vinyl Flooring (Planks & Tiles) |
Porcelain Tile | Laminate Flooring | Linoleum Flooring | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durability | Modern luxury vinyl flooring (whether in planks or tiles) is considered very durable, more than laminate and hardwood floors, and designed to last for decades. Product specific protection rating (according to the wear layer thickness) is also a factor that would indicate the durability. | According to product specific PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) Rating (between 1-5; higher PEI = more durable). E.g, Class 3 and above suits both residential flooring and walls. Porcelain is part of the ceramic category, yet it is more durable than ceramic due to its special manufacturing process. | According to product specific AC Rating (between 1-5; higher AC = more durable). Not as durable as vinyl plank flooring. | Similar durability to non-luxury vinyl flooring, yet linoleum is more vulnerable to fading from sun exposure, or decay as a result of moisture. |
| What is it made of | Vinyl, fiberglass, felt, and dyes, topped with a high-res photographic image (of the wood or stone it imitates) and finished with a protective layer. | Porcelain is a type of ceramic, produced with finer grain clay than ceramic, and fired at higher temperatures. | A few layers of material that are fused together, which typically consists of high density fiberboard layer above a moisture resistant layer, topped with a high-res photographic image (to imitate wood flooring), finished with a protective layer. | Natural components such as tree resin, limestone, linseed oil, wood and pigments. |
| Areas commonly used | Extremely versatile - Luxury Vinyl can be used in virtually every room, including basements, and especially bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms - since Luxury Vinyl is highly water resistant. Can be Installed on any level of the home. Products with a thicker wear layer would allow for commercial use as well. | Floor surfaces, interior and exterior walls, balconies and more. Great for areas in which moisture can be expected such as bathrooms, kitchens, pool areas. | Very versatile, yet not suitble for wet locations (such as bathrooms). | Commercial spaces, kitchens; bathrooms, however, even though linoleum is water-resistant, it is still vulnerable to moisture, and can be ruined due to excessive humidity. therefore it is important to seal it properly and follow the manufacturer specific instructions. |
| Warmth and Feel | Pliable feel and comfortable underfoot, softer and warmer compared to surfaces such as tile and laminate. Vinyl Planks with attached cork underpad are available as well (9.5mm thick), featuring even better cushion and foot traffic noise insulation. | Feels colder and harder underfoot compared to luxury vinyl tile (radiant heating can be installed below the tiles). | Artificial feel and sound compared to natural materials such as hardwood. Quite hard underfoot. | Warm and comfortable. |
| Colors and pattern variety | Vinyl plank flooring (that looks like wood planks, and sometimes referred to as vinyl wood flooring) is offered in all traditional wood grain styles, as well as hand-scraped; Vinyl tile flooring (that looks like stone) is offered in various stone patterns. | Wide range of textures and colors, including natural stone, woods and even metals, with various finished: matte, polished, and rectified (natural). a full body porcelain is colored all way through, while glazed porcelain is white with color only on the surface. | All traditional wood colors. | Wide color variety, however it may appear outdated. Note that a yellowish "bloom" may temporarily appear on linoleum before exposed to a light source. |
| Cost (material prices) | $1.00 - $5.00 /sq ft; Inexpensive compared to real wood floors; Easy click-lock installation significantly reduces labor costs as well. | $1.00 - $20.00 /sq ft | $0.50 - $2.00 /sq ft | $2.00 - $8.00 /sq ft |
| Total Cost (with Installaion) | ||||
| Ease of DIY Installation | Very easy floating click-lock installation (interlocking to one another on all sides), usually requires only a utility knife (a table saw may be required for thicker tiles); for commercial settings a glue-down application may be used (which would increase labor costs). Installation is significantly easier than real tile (ceramic/porcelain) as there's no need to adhere tiles with mortar (and therefore it's also easier to replace a damaged tile). | A professional installer is recommended (as it is important to decide upon which mortar/grout has to be used, and upon the appropriate installation method and maintenance practice). | Easy installation as it can be floated; Possible to install without any previous experience. | Usually requires a professional linoleum installer, as linoleum sheets requires careful cutting, and acrylic coating after installation (and further annual sealing) as opposed to vinyl. The Stick-down method also means more bother to make minor corrections, as opposed to simply pulling up vinyl planks or tiles. |
| Climatic Suitability | Suitable in any climate (indoors). | Suits all climates, for exterior use as well, thanks to its high density. | Laminate flooring needs to be installed in climate-controlled areas. | Suitable in any climate (indoors). |
| Care and Maintenance | Very low-maintenance, no refinishing is required, very easy to clean. As opposed to grouted tile (such as ceramic / porcelain), It is much easier to replace an individual tile if it gets damaged. | Virtually no maintenance required. No sealing or waxing is needed. | Relatively simple: keep clean, use floor protection pads for heavy and sharp furniture. | Daily cleaning is minimal, however, linoleum should be resealed annually with an acrylic sealer. |
| Scratch and dent resistance | Vinyl plank flooring and tiles are extremely resistant to denting, scratches and staining. | Very good resistance to scratches. However, any tile may eventually chip if a heavy object is dropped on it. | Good scratch resistance, though not as good as vinyl. AC hardness is a factor. | Good resistance, however, durability may vary according to manufacturer and quality of maintenance and installation. |
| Dimensions | Planks: Length: usually ranges 37″-47″; Width: 6″-8″. Tiles: Usually 12″*24″, 18″*18″. |
Typically 6″x6″ - 24″x24″, Including 6″*24″(for wood look porcelain tiles in plank sizes, for example). | Length: usually ranges 47″-49″; Width: 5″-7″. | Usually comes in messy rolls, rather than planks or tiles. |
| Thickness | 2mm – 10mm; to be chosen according to the situation and desired wear layer; choose 3mm and above for floating floor installations (rather than glue-down); choose thicker tiles if installed directly over concrete (rather than over a subfloor) to allow for more cushion. | 9.5mm (= 3/8″, Industry standard) | 6mm – 15mm | 2mm – 4mm |
| Ease of Cleaning | Use a damp mop or a swiffer; for thorough cleaning special cleaners might be required (such as neutral-pH agents) according to the specific manufacturer instructions. | Easily cleaned with a damp mop. Glazed tile is easier to clean, while unglazed tile is more slip-resistant. | Use a dust mop / soft brush vacuum. Do not use excessive water or soap based detergents. Spills need to be cleaned up immediately. stubborn stains can be removed using acetone. | Requires a little more care than vinyl tile, as it is more sensitive to high-pH strippers. Use neutral detergents. |
| Environment friendly | Synthetic and therefore difficult to recycle, though may be recycled into new vinyl. Also asserted to be less energy-consumptive in its manufacturing process and transportation compared to other materials, making it more eco-friendly. | Yes, as it is made from natural materials, and has one of the longest life-spans of any flooring material in the market. | Presumably more eco-friendly than hardwood, as less wood is utilized in its construction, however the material is less recyclable. | Supposedly more environmentally-friendly than vinyl, as it is made from natural materials. However, since luxury vinyl is replaced less often than linoleum thanks to its durability, it can actually have better impact on the environment. |
| Installation surface restrictions | Can be installed above existing subfloors such as tile, plywood, vinyl, linoleum, wood floors. Since vinyl tile is usually not as thick as traditional flooring, always check the manufacturer recommendations (not following it may void the warrantee). | It is recommended to install directly over level concrete. In case of a top plywood layer, it is advised to lay a cement board first. In general, it is advised not to install over subfloors such as vinyl. | Can be installed virtually over any hard flat surface (e.g, tile, wood, linoleum, but not over carpets), Use underlayment if installed over concrete. | Similar to vinyl, no specific restrictions as long as the subfloor is level, dry and smooth. Always check manufacturer recommendations. Basements installations may not be done directly over concrete. |
| Pattern repetition | Usually repeats every 8 planks/tiles, therefore it is recommended to lay the planks out in advance before installing. | In the case of porcelain tiles that look like wood or stone, the grain may repeat about every 8 tiles. | Usually repeats about every 10 planks. | Seamless sheets. |
| Can it be installed over radiant heat | Generally yes, check specific product information. | Yes. | Generally yes. | Generally yes, check specific product information. |
| Fading due to UV exposure | No | No | No | Yes |
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Please note: The above data is provided for general information purposes only. Even though the best efforts were made to ensure its accuracy, such general information can never take into account differences between different products from different manufacturers, nor your unique personal circumstances and needs. It is therefore always recommended to seek advice from a qualified professional and carefully follow the relevant manufacturer's instructions.
