Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and laminate are the two most popular alternatives to hardwood. They look similar in a showroom, but they behave differently in your home.
Water
Vinyl is the clear winner for moisture-prone areas. Rigid-core vinyl tolerates spills and humidity well, which makes it the common choice for basements, laundry rooms and kitchens. Laminate has a wood-fibre core; even water-resistant products are less forgiving of standing water.
Look and feel
Laminate often has crisper embossing and feels more like real wood underfoot. Vinyl can feel slightly softer and warmer, especially with an attached underlayment.
Durability
Both resist scratches well when you choose a good wear layer. Laminate generally resists surface scratches; vinyl is quieter and more comfortable in high-traffic family spaces.
A simple rule
- Basement, kitchen, laundry, mudroom: vinyl plank.
- Living room, bedrooms, upper floors: either — choose by look and feel.
- Bathrooms: vinyl or tile, not laminate.
Whichever you choose, the subfloor must be flat for click-lock floors to perform. That preparation is where a careful installer earns their keep.