Vinyl, LVT and laminate flooring in Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire

What is the difference between vinyl, LVT and laminate?

They look similar once they are down, but they are made differently and suit different rooms:

• Sheet vinyl comes in wide rolls, so a small kitchen, bathroom or cloakroom can often be covered without a join. It is flexible, has a water-resistant surface and is laid onto a smooth subfloor.
• LVT, short for luxury vinyl tile, comes as individual planks or tiles that imitate wood or stone. Some are glued down onto a prepared subfloor, and others click together over an underlay.
• Laminate has a core made from compressed wood fibre with a printed design and a clear wear layer on top. The boards click together and float over an underlay rather than being fixed to the floor.

Which floor is best for a kitchen or bathroom?

Vinyl and LVT are usually the better choice for rooms that get wet. Their surfaces resist water, and well-fitted sheet vinyl has few or no joins for water to get into.

Laminate copes with everyday spills if they are wiped up quickly, but its wood-fibre core can swell if water gets into the joints or sits on the surface. For that reason laminate is generally not recommended for bathrooms. Some laminates are sold as water resistant, so if you have your heart set on one for a kitchen, check the manufacturer's guidance and ask the fitter.

Why does the floor underneath matter so much?

Hard floors show what is beneath them far more than carpet does. Sheet vinyl and glue-down LVT in particular will show every bump, nail head or gap, so the subfloor often needs preparing first. Typical work includes:

• laying plywood or hardboard over floorboards to give a smooth, firm base
• applying levelling compound to uneven concrete
• checking concrete for moisture, as damp can stop adhesive working and damage the floor
• removing old adhesive, tiles or underlay from a previous floor

Some older floor tiles and black bitumen adhesives contain asbestos. If you have an older floor you are unsure about, mention it in your enquiry and do not scrape it up yourself.

Does new flooring need time to settle before it is fitted?

Usually, yes. Laminate and many LVT products need to be left flat in the room, still in their packs, for a period before fitting so they adjust to the room's temperature and humidity. Manufacturers set the time, and it is often a day or two. Ask the fitter when the flooring should arrive so it has time to settle.

Laminate also needs a small expansion gap around the edges of the room, because it moves slightly as the seasons change. The gap is hidden under skirting boards or covered with a beading strip.

Can I have it fitted over underfloor heating?

Often, but not always. Many vinyl, LVT and laminate products can be used over underfloor heating within the manufacturer's temperature limits, and the underlay must be suitable too. Tell the fitter you have underfloor heating and, if you know, which type it is.

What about commercial floors?

Businesses often need a floor that copes with heavy use and is easy to clean, such as in a reception, a shop or a staff kitchen. Commercial-grade vinyl and LVT are designed for higher traffic. Some areas, such as commercial kitchens and washrooms, may need slip-resistant safety flooring. If the work must be done outside trading hours, say so in your enquiry and ask the fitter whether they can work evenings or weekends.

What should I tell the fitter?

Say which rooms, their rough sizes and what is on the floor now. Mention whether the floor underneath is concrete or timber, whether you have underfloor heating, and whether you have already chosen or bought the flooring. Note any doors, kitchen units or toilets the floor needs to fit around, and say whether it is for a home or a business.

What happens after I send an enquiry?

We pass your enquiry, with your consent, to one local carpet and flooring fitter who covers your postcode, and never to a group of companies. They contact you to talk through the room, will often want to see the floor, and agree any price with you directly. The decision is yours.

There is no charge for asking and no obligation. We are an independent enquiry service, not a flooring company, and the fitter may pay us a fee for the introduction.