| LVT (Luxury Vinyl) | Laminate | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost installed | $6 – $11/sq ft | $4 – $8/sq ft |
| Waterproof? | ✅ 100% | ❌ (some water-resistant) |
| Core material | Plastic (SPC/WPC) | Wood fiberboard (HDF) |
| Lifespan | 15 – 25 years | 15 – 25 years |
| Pets & kids | Excellent | Good (avoid moisture) |
| Feel underfoot | Slightly softer, quieter | Firmer, more wood-like |
| Best rooms | Kitchen, bath, basement | Living, bedroom, dining |
Set a plank of luxury vinyl next to a plank of laminate in a showroom and most people cannot tell them apart. They can look identical, click together the same way, and print the same convincing wood grain. But once they are down in a real Columbus home, living through humid summers, dry winters, spilled water bowls, and muddy boots, they behave very differently. Here is how I actually think through the choice after 20 years of installs across Central Ohio.
The Real Difference Is the Core
Everything comes down to what is underneath the printed surface. LVT (luxury vinyl tile or plank) has a plastic core, usually a rigid SPC or a slightly softer WPC. Laminate has a core of high-density fiberboard, which is basically compressed wood. That one difference drives almost every decision that follows: how each floor handles water, how it feels underfoot, and where it belongs in your house.
The Case for LVT (Luxury Vinyl)
LVT is the most-installed floor in Columbus right now, and the waterproof core is the main reason. It is the floor I recommend for the majority of rooms in a typical Central Ohio home.
Why LVT wins
- 100% waterproof, the plastic core does not swell, so spills, mopping, and the occasional flooded water heater do not ruin it
- Handles Ohio humidity, it barely expands or contracts with our seasonal swings
- Softer and quieter, a little more give underfoot and less click than laminate
- Great with pets, the wear layer shrugs off dog nails and it is the #1 choice for homes with animals
- Works below grade, the only click floor I will put in a Columbus basement
Where LVT falls short
- Costs a little more than laminate installed
- Cheaper, thin products can feel hollow on an uneven subfloor
- Cannot be sanded and refinished, when the wear layer is gone, you replace it
- Does not add the resale premium of real hardwood
The Case for Laminate
Laminate gets written off too quickly. In the right rooms it is a genuinely good floor, and the wood-fiber core gives it a firm, solid feel that a lot of people actually prefer to vinyl. If your budget is tight and the rooms stay dry, it deserves a real look.
Why laminate wins
- Lower cost, usually the most affordable click-together wood-look floor
- Very hard surface, top-tier laminates resist scratches and dents extremely well
- Firm, wood-like feel, the dense core feels solid underfoot, closer to real hardwood
- Sharp visuals, modern laminate printing and texture is excellent, often with deep grain
- Fast install, most rooms go down in a day
Where laminate falls short
- Not waterproof, the fiberboard core swells and lifts if water sits on the seams
- Not for bathrooms, basements, or homes with big water bowls
- Can sound and feel harder and louder underfoot without a good pad
- Cannot be refinished, same as LVT
A Columbus-Specific Note on Water and Basements
This is where the choice usually makes itself. A lot of Central Ohio homes have finished or half-finished basements, and basements move moisture no matter how dry they seem. I will not put laminate below grade, the fiberboard core and the humidity are a bad match, and I have pulled up too many swollen laminate floors to recommend it there. LVT is the floor for a Columbus basement, full stop.
Same logic in kitchens and baths. A dishwasher leak or an overflowing tub is a repair with LVT and a full tear-out with laminate. If there is any water in the room's future, and in a real house there usually is, I steer people to LVT.
So Which Should You Choose?
Here is the short version I give homeowners on the phone. If the room can get wet, or you have pets, choose LVT. If the room stays dry, you want a firmer wood-like feel, and you are watching the budget, laminate is a smart pick. Plenty of homes end up with both, LVT through the kitchen, baths, and basement, laminate or carpet in the bedrooms.
Still deciding between vinyl, laminate, hardwood, and carpet across the whole house? My LVT vs. hardwood vs. carpet guide walks through all four, and the LVT flooring page covers our fixed and floating vinyl options. When you are ready, I will bring samples of both LVT and laminate to your home so you can feel the difference in your own rooms.
LVT vs. Laminate FAQs
Is LVT or laminate flooring better?
For most Columbus homes, LVT is the better all-around choice because it is 100% waterproof, handles Ohio humidity, and holds up to pets and kids. Laminate costs a little less and can feel firmer and more wood-like underfoot, but it swells if water sits on the seams. If moisture is anywhere in the picture, LVT wins. For a strict budget in dry, low-traffic rooms, quality laminate is still a solid floor.
Is laminate flooring waterproof?
Traditional laminate is not waterproof. Its core is high-density fiberboard, which swells and lifts if water sits on the seams. Some newer laminates are sold as water-resistant, meaning they tolerate a quick spill, but they are still not a true waterproof floor. LVT has a plastic core that water does not affect at all, which is why we recommend it for any room that can get wet.
Does LVT or laminate cost more?
Laminate is usually a little cheaper installed, roughly $4 to $8 per square foot, while LVT typically runs $6 to $11 in the Columbus market. The gap has narrowed a lot, so most homeowners find the waterproofing and durability of LVT worth the small difference.
Which lasts longer, LVT or laminate?
Both last around 15 to 25 years with normal use. LVT tends to outlast laminate in real homes because it is not damaged by moisture, which is the most common reason a laminate floor gets replaced early. Neither can be sanded and refinished.