Laminate vs Tile Flooring

Both laminate and tile have come a long ways over the past few decades. Now, both look impressive and make great additions to any home. But is one better than the other? Let’s compare laminate flooring vs. tile flooring to find out.

When considering the price of your floors, it is important to take into account all factors. Both laminate and tile flooring alone are affordable. However, when thinking about the cost of installation and additional components (such as underlayment or grout), the price changes quite a bit.

Tile is expensive to install and often requires the help of an expert. Homeowners often opt for a DIY installation of laminate floors, saving installation costs.

If price is one of your top concerns, laminate is your best option.

Laminate tile flooring has developed to look very similar to real tile. At first glance, most people cannot tell a big difference. With a closer look and touch, the laminate tiles will feel substantially different than tile. Some benefits of laminate include no discoloration of grout, maintaining a steady temperature when weather changes, a more soft material to the touch and an even surface from tile to tile.

If you want the look and feel of a real tile floor, you might want to opt for ceramic or travertine tile.

Both tile and laminate flooring are very durable. The way laminate flooring is made allows the material and design to stand up to scratches, dents, and scrapes.

Tile is the same. The ceramic pieces can withstand the scratching of your pet’s feet, burn protection and protection against fallen object. Dents are not a concern either. The only concerns with tile are cracks and chipping. If something falls on the tile and causes it to crack or break, the entire tile must be replaced which can be very expensive and difficult.

If durability is a concern, laminate is probably your best option and easiest to repair if any significant damage would occur.

Tile is often used in rooms that have more moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms. That is because it resistant to moisture and does not get damaged when excess water builds up or sits for long periods of time.

Although laminate flooring is moisture resistant, it is not waterproof. Unlike tile, if puddles of water build up on the floor, laminate flooring can become damaged and warped, which will require a re-installation of a few planks or the whole floor.

If you are installing your floors in a room that is prone to excess moisture, tile is generally a better option.

Noise is a big concern when it comes to tile. It creates a noticeable echo in your home, which is frustrating for many tile owners. Laminate is quieter. When installed using a 3-in-1 underlayment, sound is more muffled and your rooms are a little bit quieter.

If noise is a concern, laminate flooring will win that battle.

Both tile and laminate floors are easy to clean. All they require is a damp mop. Spills and messes are easily cleaned up with just a little bit of water. With laminate, you will want to dry your floors quickly after cleaning so that it does not warp. With tile, you will want to dry your floors quickly too, but for a different reason; leaving them wet could make them slippery and pose a hazard.

With tile floors, it is important to keep up with cleaning due to the porousness and usually light colors of grout. Grout will easily stain over time and can be a pain to renew back to the original color.

If you want easy cleaning, either tile or laminate will work for your home, but just beware of possible grout discoloration over time.

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