Laminate, Vinyl, & Eco Resilient Flooring Differences
Laminate, vinyl, & eco resilient flooring are also known as performance flooring due to their versatility and benefits.
Defining Laminate, Vinyl, and Eco Resilient Flooring
While laminate, vinyl, and eco resilient flooring are performance flooring types with a number of features, it's helpful to understand the differences to select the flooring that best suits your space.
What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is constructed with a high density wood-based core ideal for stability and performance, a protective coating top layer, printed paper graphic, and balancing bottom layer. Wood-look laminate flooring mimics the look of traditional hardwood floors and certain varieties include wood grain texture that make it feel like real hardwood.
What is Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring includes a rigid core that provides great durability and resistance to scratches and dents, making it the ideal selection for busy spaces. Rigid core vinyl flooring is complete with a protective coating top layer, decorative print layer, and balancing bottom layer.
What is Eco Resilient Flooring?
Floor & Decor offers an Eco Resilient flooring option that is extremely scratch resistant, 100% PVC-free, and includes a 50% wood-based rigid core. Eco resilient flooring captures the beauty of a wood-look floor, while providing waterproof, dent-proof, and pet-proof protection.
Key Features of Laminate, Vinyl, & Eco Resilient Flooring
Many laminate, vinyl, & eco resilient floors boast features that will help you choose the fit that best suits your needs.
Durability
A floor's ability to resist surface layer wear over time.
Thickness
Total thickness of the flooring planks. Some planks include attached pads that increase this measurement.
Water Resistance
Ability of the floor to withstand spills.
Pet Protection
Resistance to pet wear and tear.
Dent Protection
Resistance to dents.
Warranty
Residential and commercial warranty options for peace of mind.
How is Durability Measured?
How is laminate durability measured?
The protective surface coating of laminate is measured by AC Rating. AC Rating stands for Abrasion Classification (AC) ratings that define areas for use and range from AC-1 (light home use) to AC-5 (high traffic commercial).
How is vinyl durability measured?
Protective clear layer measured in thickness by mils. Thicker wear layer provides more protection.
What is Techtanium Plus?
Unlike a traditional wear layer, Techtanium Plus provides extreme scratch resistance through a high-performance coating acting as a physical barrier that delivers twice the scratch resistance versus the leading 22mil wear layer alternatives.
Floor & Decor Brand Comparison Chart
Explore the key features of our Laminate, Vinyl, & Eco Resilient Performance Flooring Brands.
| Features & Benefits |
Durability A floor's ability to resist surface layer wear over time. |
Thickness Total thickness of the flooring planks. Some planks include attached pads that increase this measurement. |
Water Resistance Ability of the floor to withstand spills. |
Pet Protection Resistance to pet wear and tear. |
Dent Protection Resistance to dents. |
Warranty Residential and commercial warranty options for peace of mind. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIGID CORE LUXURY VINYL FLOORING - Extreme protection for busy homes and commercial spaces | ||||||
Nucore Performance Nucore Performance flooring boasts unparalleled durability with rigid-core construction, 100% waterproof protection, and Techtanium Plus reinforcement against dents and scratches. See Nucore Performance Products |
Techtanium Plus Extreme Protection | 6.5mm with attached pad | LIFETIME* Residential 25 YEAR Commercial |
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Nucore |
Heavy Residential/ Commercial Traffic | 5.5+mm with attached pad | LIFETIME* Residential 20 YEAR Commercial |
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Duralux Performance Duralux Performance combines stable, rigid-core construction with waterproof protection, a design that looks and feels like real hardwood, and pre-attached pad for a quieter, warmer floor. See Duralux Performance Products |
Heavy Residential/ Commercial Traffic | 4+mm with attached pad | LIFETIME* Residential 15 YEAR Commercial |
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Duralux Duralux flooring is 100% waterproof with a rigid-core construction and dent and scratch resistance that makes it ideal for high-traffic areas. See Duralux Products |
Moderate Residential Traffic | 3mm | 30 YEAR Residential | |||
| WOOD-BASED LAMINATE FLOORING - Advanced protection for busy homes and commercial spaces | ||||||
Aquaguard Performance Enjoy wood-based laminate flooring with an authentic wood look and feel, waterproof protection, dent and scratch resistance, and a sound reducing anti-microbial pre-attached underlayment. See Aquaguard Performance Products |
AC5 Durability Heavy Residential/ Commercial Traffic |
12mm with attached pad | LIFETIME* Residential 20 YEAR Commercial |
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Hydroshield HyrdoShield wood-based laminate flooring offers water resistance with a design that looks and feels like real hardwood. See Hydroshield Products |
AC4 Durability Heavy Residential/ Light Commercial Traffic |
8+mm | LIFETIME* Residential 10 YEAR Commercial |
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Hampstead Hampstead water-resistant laminate flooring provides durability and beautiful wood-look design. See Hampstead Products |
AC3 Durability Residential Traffic |
8+mm | LIFETIME* Residential 5 YEAR Commercial |
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Fairoaks FairOaks laminate flooring includes a beautiful design with the durability and ease of maintenance standard with laminate flooring. See Fairoaks Products |
AC3 Durability Residential Traffic |
7+mm | 30 YEAR Residential | |||
| ECO-RESILIENT FLOORING - Ultimate protection for busy homes and commercial spaces | ||||||
Optimax Reinforced with Techtanium Plus for supreme protection, Optimax is waterproof, dent- and gouge-proof, pet-proof, extremely scratch resistant and 100% PVC free See Optimax Products |
Techtanium Plus Extreme Protection | 7+mm with attached pad | LIFETIME* Residential 25 YEAR Commercial |
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| *See product warranty and installation information. | ||||||
| Features & Benefits |
Optimax Reinforced with Techtanium Plus for supreme protection, Optimax is waterproof, dent- and gouge-proof, pet-proof, extremely scratch resistant and 100% PVC free See Optimax Products |
Nucore Performance Nucore Performance flooring boasts unparalleled durability with rigid-core construction, 100% waterproof protection, and Techtanium Plus reinforcement against dents and scratches. See Nucore Performance Products |
Nucore |
Duralux Performance Duralux Performance combines stable, rigid-core construction with waterproof protection, a design that looks and feels like real hardwood, and pre-attached pad for a quieter, warmer floor. See Duralux Performance Products |
Duralux Duralux flooring is 100% waterproof with a rigid-core construction and dent and scratch resistance that makes it ideal for high-traffic areas. See Duralux Products |
Aquaguard Performance Enjoy wood-based laminate flooring with an authentic wood look and feel, waterproof protection, dent and scratch resistance, and a sound reducing anti-microbial pre-attached underlayment. See Aquaguard Performance Products |
Hydroshield HyrdoShield wood-based laminate flooring offers water resistance with a design that looks and feels like real hardwood. See Hydroshield Products |
Hampstead Hampstead water-resistant laminate flooring provides durability and beautiful wood-look design. See Hampstead Products |
Fairoaks FairOaks laminate flooring includes a beautiful design with the durability and ease of maintenance standard with laminate flooring. See Fairoaks Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring Type | Eco-resilient Flooring | Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring | Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring | Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring | Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring | Wood Based Laminate Flooring | Wood Based Laminate Flooring | Wood Based Laminate Flooring | Wood Based Laminate Flooring |
Durability Wear layer thickness is measured in mils and helps protect floor surfaces from scuffs, scratches, fading, and stains. |
Techtanium Plus Extreme Protection | Techtanium Plus Extreme Protection | Heavy Residential/ Commercial Traffic | Heavy Residential/ Commercial Traffic | Moderate Residential Traffic | AC5 Durability Heavy Residential/ Commercial Traffic |
AC4 Durability Heavy Residential/ Light Commercial Traffic |
AC3 Durability Residential Traffic |
AC3 Durability Residential Traffic |
Thickness Select the flooring thickness that best suits your space. |
7+mm with attached pad | 6.5mm with attached pad | 5.5+mm with attached pad | 4+mm with attached pad | 3mm | 12mm with attached pad | 8+mm | 8+mm | 7+mm |
Water Resistance Protect your floors from spills with flooring that ranges from water resistance to complete waterproof protection. |
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Pet Protection Built to withstand pet wear and tear with advanced protection. |
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Dent Protection Protect your floors from dents. |
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Warranty Select the residential and commercial warranty that best fits your needs. |
LIFETIME* Residential 20 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 20 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 15 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 10 YEAR Commercial |
30 YEAR Residential | LIFETIME* Residential 20 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 10 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 5 YEAR Commercial |
30 YEAR Residential |
| *See product warranty and installation information. | |||||||||
TECHTANIUM PLUS: High performance coating that acts as a physical barrier, delivering twice the scratch resistance versus the leading 22 mil wear layer alternatives.
AC RATING: Abrasion Classification (AC) ratings define area for use and range from AC-1 (light home use) to AC-5 (high traffic commercial).
Whispercore: Acoustically enhanced core that has been tested to the highest industry standards.
All listed products are GREENGUARD Gold Certified.
Download Comparison Chart PDF