Asked on Jun 25, 2016

Vinyl plank flooring vs pergo (laminate)

Lynn Turnbull
by Lynn Turnbull

I currently have stinky dirty carpeting in my living room and I want to replace it with a durable flooring that can stand up to dogs and kids.


  70 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jun 26, 2016
    I have Wilsonart Laminate flooring.
  • Pat Cook Pat Cook on Jun 26, 2016
    I recently bought a home ,and wanted New flooring, after shopping, and many considerations, I opted for ARMSTRONG Luxe Plank with the FasTac backing. There is no gluing, hammering, or special tools needed, and ,if a piece doesn't lay correctly, or an edge needs modifying for a better fit around a door , just pick it up, and do what needs done !! I wanted a floor that resembled a weathered 'boardwalk', and I'm in love with the results !! You can see the products on-line, then find a store. I visited three, and each store, gave me a little different price. We installed ourselves, so saved on installation costs. Hope this is helpful !! :-)
  • Comet Comet on Jun 26, 2016
    We used a "Luxury Vinyl" to re-do our bathroom (used by 7+ people daily) and we love it. These look like tumbled stone and we grouted them; looks like real travertine. You can remove the grout and re-do with out having to re-do entire floor. We love it! We are putting in industrial vinyl planks in our LR Kitchen and hall; so far hall and part of KR is done and it is great/ sooo much better than the stinky old carpet! (We have a family member who sells Pergo and will not recommend it)
  • Deb Dietz Deb Dietz on Jun 26, 2016
    Vinyl plank comes at many price levels. We recently installed it in an apartment. We have installed many types from laminate to ceramic and now vinyl plank. The laminate may be purchased with special attributes such as burn resistant, scratch resistant, etc. I have seen the good quality plank that has held up well under rough use and thus am choosing it. Check with your choice to see how difficult it is to replace a damaged plan the middle of your room. I think I am going to be very happy with our vinyl plank floor.
  • P. Thompson P. Thompson on Jun 26, 2016
    My daughter had a flood & had to replace her laminate wood flooring (which wasn't aging well) and since she has 2 small kids and a cat, she chose a vinyl plank that look like wood--with a texture. It's imperious to most all things a child can inflict! She did scratch it a little with a piece of furniture but that's easily concealed with a colored furniture marker. If I move into a different home, I'm installing it, too. I hate tile & grout cleaning and it does a number on old joints... don't know why people love it so much...everything breaks when it comes into contact with it. I highly recommend vinyl plank with a wood look!
  • Comet Comet on Jun 26, 2016
    Luxury vinyl is a thicker vinyl that is more like the real item---the plank itself is a bit thicker and has (in our case) more stone like look to it ---I believe the part where the design and the top coat is also thicker. These are thick enough to be grouted using special grout (which comes in color options) but not as thick as say ceramic tiles. Ours is holding up really well with 7+ people using the room and three dogs. The total cost of our 6x12" bathroom was around $100---we bought the flooring; trowels; the primer for the underfloor (help the tile and grout adhere better) a special scraper to get our old tiled vinyl floor UP , the grout. We love it! Our other flooring is a recyled thick vinyl wood look floor that a relative "rescued" when a local place was re-done; this was a lay and click flooring and we love this too. All in all I am really liking the thicker vinyl vs the older sheet and tile flooring we had at various times.
    • Stacey Justus Stacey Justus on Aug 30, 2022

      I just looked at it after reading these 2 previous posts, it looks great. I am so glad I stumbled in here I have been looking for a year. Only problem is I don't like to be rushed and the guy who I am sure is very nice is being pushy, I told him I want to make sure I'm going in the right direction, I really hate being pushed it never works out for the other person.

  • Judy Judy on Jun 27, 2016
    I would go with the vinyl plank, easier and less expensive installation, maintenance is a breeze. Exhort you to research the scratch resistant quality of the produxt you choose. Most of all train your dog not to scrach the flooring, regardless if what flooring you opt for this will determine durability.
  • My husband and I just put in for a little over a $1 a square foot the Trafficmaster from Home Depot. This floor is great! we have 2 dogs and 3 cats running in and out too. Pergo flooring is great for wetter areas such as kitchens and baths. It is more expensive but 24 hour water resistant (Home Depot carries this).
  • Michele Pappagallo Michele Pappagallo on Nov 11, 2017

    We have had both....and I would NEVER recommend laminate flooring to anyone for any reason. It is so easy to damage....scratches, spills, etc...It sounds funny and hollow when you walk on it...even with good quality underlayment under the flooring. We had nothing with trouble in every house that we installed laminate in. I would recommend the new vinyl plank flooring. It is 100% waterproof, easy to install with just a utility knife, and some of it comes with a lifetime warranty. You can get it in all sorts of patterns including tile and wood styles. Also, you can lay it directly over your subfloor with no problem.

  • Melinda Melinda on Nov 12, 2017

    I had 3 bathrooms and a laundry room with vinyl flooring. Pick a quality on like Armstrong. I never had any noises, in fact the very expensive bamboo flooring got squeaks and creaky all over. I just sold this house (9 yrs. old) and building new again and for sure the baths will have vinyl. So easy to clean and looks great after many yrs. Yes quality and good subflooring are required

  • Ginny Ginny on Nov 12, 2017

    Just had Armstrong vinyl oak plank flooring installed in TV room. Looks great and not at all like sheet goods but:


    • cannot use secretarial chairs or furniture with casters
    • cannot use large area rug or scatter rugs with latex backing to keep floors warmer during winter
    • because of walking disability I cannot use braided rug with an underpadding


    Had to get vinyl because of a medical problem I have and needed something that was easy to clean. The salesperson knew this but did not tell me about the above "no nos" or I would not have purchased it. I am pleased with the way it looks but thoroughly disgusted about the things I cannot use in the room.


    Don't just ask a salesperson what you can and cannot do with the vinyl flooring, go on line and read what the company says about the do's and don'ts of the product(s). icon


  • Rhonda Rhonda on Nov 12, 2017

    make sure to aks when picking out the vinyl so you a better quality or special layer under the vinyl that will help reduce noise. Then get area rugs!

  • Rae Rae on Nov 12, 2017

    I just had a laminate flooring installed throughout my basement. It has a cushion back on it and I dearly love it. The big thing is be prepared to pay good money for it. You definatly get what you pay for in this instance

  • Mike Mike on Nov 12, 2017

    I have looked at flooring extensively for about 2 weeks. Laminate is junk. Luxury Vinyl planks are the floors for me. I wanted a wood finish in my kitchen. Armstrong and Shaw are [2] of the better floors. After hr's of looking and getting quotes, I ended up at Lowes. The flooring and installation was under $5 a square foot. The floor looks and feels like wood and it is water proof [and] can go over your existing floor if they are in good shape. Good luck.

  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Feb 28, 2013
    If I were to choose ? Id choose vinyl. no seams... no tapping sounds, super easy clean.
  • LandlightS LandlightS on Mar 01, 2013

    A word of caution when using self stick vinyl tiles. After a short period of time, the embossed pattern of the old floor will show through on the new tiles Luxuary Vinyl Tiles can be used over the old vinyl floor with no see through of the old floor. It can be installed over the old floor and is available with a grout line and with out. Also available is a floating engineered wood floor that installs the same as a laminate floor. Good luck with your new floor Gary

  • Louise Louise on Dec 11, 2015
    We used Shaw luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout our house due to allergies. It is beautiful, quiet, easy to stand on in the kitchen and not cold like ceramic or porcelain tile. It did not outgas. My husband installed it easily. Be sure the floor is free of debris and definitely use the roll vinyl underlayment.
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Dec 03, 2017

    Just be careful with your choice. Sometimes vinyls can be slippery and you don't want people to fall

  • A A on May 28, 2017

    LVT can stand up better to moisture and temps and cleans up nicely.

  • My vote is for vinyl over laminate anything. I have laminate and am ripping it out. If you have kids or pets, or spill stuff, vinyl is a better choice. Laminate gets wet it swells and needs to be replaced.

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Feb 17, 2018

    We have laminate floors in most of our first floor, so far is in great shape no shrinking. But remember that it's also a thicker piece to deal with which could be why. But so far the first floor is fine so I suggest laminate if you can have or don't want hardwood. Be careful with quality as some scratches easily and I would never recommend the tile that looks like wood because if you drop something that tile might break if you drop on a laminate floor it's like any wood floor it a dent but you don't have to replace. I picked out a laminate floor that has the look of distress so that I wouldn't have to worry about those things, but only go that route knowing that each piece is different and when cut and bumped up to each other you will see the crease since it's pretty distressed.

  • My vote is for vinyl flooring over laminate. I had high end laminate floors and it was hands down the worst decision I ever made. I have many pets and visiting children and animals. Laminate does not play well with water. I ripped it all out and installed hardwood flooring. Other areas I intend to improve, I will use vinyl. Takes a beating, easy to maintain and looks great too. Just my experience. Flooring is a highly personal choice.

  • Oliva Oliva on Feb 03, 2019

    A top quality vinyl flooring will most likely "outlive" a wood laminate. The latter do poorly with liquids, children, pets, dropped items, etc.

  • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Feb 04, 2019

    Avoid wood laminate IMO. Does not hold up well to things that happen in real life.

  • Kothmia Kothmia on Feb 04, 2019

    I had vinyl plank in my last apartment, and when we redid the downstairs in my new house, we used it there as well. With two cats and lots of traffic, it holds up VERY well!

  • Lani Moore Lani Moore on Feb 04, 2019

    LVT. Luxury Vinyl Tile. It's vinyl planks that lay down like hardwood, but glued to the floor. If your underlying floor is concrete, it might need to be ground and smoothed out, but I believe in the glue down stuff. Water does not get underneath, so a household leak is not the end of the world. Each plank can be dug up if damaged, and replaced. "Laminate" is just fake wood. It will swell up and disintegrate with liquids. Not worth it. LVT does not require any special cleaning products. Damp mop. Swiffer. Easy clean, hard to damage.


  • Kathy Faile Kathy Faile on Feb 04, 2019

    Definitely luxury vinyl flooring is so much better for your back and legs. Easier to clean too.

  • Ken Ken on Jan 11, 2018

    Laminate is cheaper and easier to install. Most cannot be refinished. Factory applied finish. Some laminates include special features such as a 50 year warranty or water resistance. Cheap laminates look cheap.


    Hardwood is a traditional floor that some, like me, feel adds greater value than a laminate floor. Can be refinished multiple times. Requires special equipment to install. Must be sanded, stained, and finished on site. More expensive installation.

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Jan 11, 2018

    Laminate is what it is - wood look vinyl over cheap boards. Real wood is, well, real wood. It is more expensive, but actually needs no more care than laminate. If you have a choice, and want longevity, choose real wood. Laminate is big today because it's easy to install and cheap. I guarantee in a few years, people will be tearing it up and installing something else. Double work, double the expense.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 11, 2018

    Laminate - cheaper and easier to lay and if you get fed up with it you can change. Hardwood - for life - from time to time sand and re-finish.

  • Vivian Vivian on Aug 30, 2018

    If you are not doing the floor yourself the laminate could cost more because of labor to paste down and lay the floor could extremely expensive. The vinyl plank that you love may cost more but should last longer with heavy traffic. Waterproof and most are scratch resistant unless heavy metal objects are pulled over the floor. It also comes in many colors and there is a tile look also available in click down form. Check with your local Lowe’s or Homedepotforstyles and pricing. Take good measurements with you and make sure you can return any unopened boxes you do not want to keep.

  • Let your lifestyle choose for you! Kids, pets, stay away from laminate. I just ripped it out of my house. Wood is an excellent choice, but does require a little bit of upkeep, but in my opinion, not much, and always a classic and if selling in the short term, a plus for sale. Vinyl is fantastic if you have kids and pets, as it is easy to clean, maintain and look great with a minimum of effort. How fussy are you about your floors? Do you want showroom perfect? Or are dings and scratches a sign of love and character? Check warranties and buy the best product you can within your budget.

  • Dmotan Dmotan on Jul 02, 2018

    It truly depends on your budget. I have been impressed with the very heavy thick rectangular or square vinyl tiles. They look like wood or ceramic but easier to maintain and not so difficult to stand on in the kitchen. Ceramic tile is very hard on feet and legs.

  • Candace Beverly Candace Beverly on Sep 02, 2019

    Vinyl is better in wet areas. I sold flooring for 18 yrs. Laminate is wood based and does not perform well in a full bath.

  • J Elaine Baker J Elaine Baker on Jan 24, 2017

    I am hearing a great number of laminate users complaining of splitting and bulging at seams in those areas that are humid. Beneath the laminates surface (which is so pretty) is particles and glues ... so water is the ENEMY. Good Luck!

  • Michele Pappagallo Michele Pappagallo on May 19, 2017

    Depending on the type of vinyl you are considering, it can be very simple to install. Check out a product called Vinyl Planks. They come in strips (planks) that you simply stick together with small edge strips. They can be cut with a utility knife, and you do not need any other tools. They come in hundreds of different patterns that look like everything from tile to wood. They can be installed over most other flooring, and they are waterproof...which is great in a typical basement.

  • Susan Savarese Susan Savarese on May 19, 2017

    We put down peel and stick 6" x 48" vinyl planks. They look terrific. Nobody knows they aren't real and they were a breeze to install. You literally cut them when needed with scissors!

  • Lea Swenson Lea Swenson on May 21, 2017

    Vinyl planks are very easy. I would recommend using the kind that lock together if your floor is uneven. Sheet vinyl is good on uneven floor but tricky if you are not somewhat experienced. There are loose lay ones that are easier though. Then I would say laminate. Ceramic needs a level floor.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Apr 23, 2021

    If you go over it with vinyl I would first do a floor leveling compound over the whole floor. That will fill in any gaps etc. and give you a flat smooth surface to place you vinyl on. I think that would probably be your least expensive way to go :)

  • Seth Seth on Sep 20, 2018

    Where is it going and what will the traffic level be? Both have advantages. Vinyl for wet areas and wearability. Laminate for it's better looks. Install is similar for both. It depends more on the interlocking system a particular manufacturer uses.

  • Deb K Deb K on Jan 09, 2022

    Hello Lynn, having had pets myself, I absolutely believe the vinyl plank flooring is the best for pets, it has some grip to prevent slips, it is forgiving when it comes to scratches from claws, and is also forgiving with water dribbles and and tracked in snow.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jan 31, 2022

    vinyl floor is for sure your answer

  • Maura White Maura White on Jan 31, 2022

    Hmmm...I'm not sure if I can give advice on vinyl vs. pergo. We have perfo in two of our rooms and that stuff is solid - no scratches or even a hint of wear after being installed for 10 years. But if I were you, I'd compare costs to your budget, and find the design you like the best, and just go with that. Both are great alternatives to hard wood!

  • Janice Janice on Feb 02, 2022

    With children and dogs, I'd suggest the best quality vinyl plank flooring you can afford.

  • Sharon Sharon on Feb 02, 2022

    Luxury Vinyl Plank for sure, laminate doesn't hold up to dog nails very well. Bamboo is very good if you have sharp dog nails.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 03, 2022

    Vinyl every time!

  • Simply Simply on Feb 13, 2022

    In the two choices given to with a VINYL! Had "high" quality laminate "wood" flooring with plastic, then a layer of cork under this laminate that also had a rubber backing made onto it. Walking on it with any type of shoes aside from sneakers was loud. It you had sweaty feet you left foot prints, if yard was dewy in the morning or night the floor just looked horrible with our dogs paw prints.. If a pet, child or even yourself had any kind of mishap that deals with body fluids or food where it got in-between to planks boards what ever you call them, your bound to get a swell area, ruins it! Cleaning these floors are a real pain in the derriere! They streak, smudge, leave foot prints, paw prints ECT.... I will never have this flooring again! No matter who says what about! In my experience and what other I personally know have said have said, I conclude that laminate flooring is just not a practical flooring. Have you looked into the bag floors using poly on top? I knew one who had bought the thick rolled brown paper (found in paint aisle at diy home stores) riped it up in an assortment of shapes and sizes used Elmer's glue to stick it down overlapping them. then wiped on lightly and right back off some wood stain rolled on a few coats of miniwax poly. It actually look really good, held up for years. The rare times it got a scratch (by sliding bed frame without anything underneath) she simply used a fingernail polish brush and painted the scratch with the poly and it it vanished! Always looked nice, no feet prints, dog tracks, smudges or streaks! Just an idea look up paper bag floors there are some really nice ideas out there!














  • Daphne Reynolds Daphne Reynolds on Feb 16, 2022

    I've had both, laminate and vinyl. I'd choose vinyl over laminate any day. It holds up better, easier to clean, you don't have to worry about water ruining it. It's just an all around a better investment.

  • Lynn Turnbull Lynn Turnbull on Feb 16, 2022

    I am going to sell my house as-is but I will suggest vinyl to the buyers


  • We had those choices and went with prefinished hardwood flooring instead. It's real wood, very durable, looks great after 20 years in a busy family, pet-filled kitchen and cost the same. Plus it can be sanded and refinished if necessary.

  • Ayesha Khan Ayesha Khan on Mar 14, 2022

    Vinyl plank flooring is a really durable flooring option, perfect for high-traffic areas. Pergo is a nice, clean-looking, and naturally durable alternative, but hard to keep clean.

    Floor Way professionals provide the best information about vinyl flooring and laminate flooring.



  • Libbie B Libbie B on Mar 26, 2022

    I am a huge fan of LVP. I have installed 4 floors and never had a problem. 5 stars for sure.

    • See 1 previous
    • Libbie B Libbie B on Apr 15, 2022

      Karen,


      We just laid a product from Procore that we got at Lowes and Love how they turned out. We have a 120 lb dog and haven't noticed any issues with prints (and we live on a lake).

  • We have prefinished hardwoods in the kitchen and it looks as good today as it did 20 years ago...kids, pets, water, spills, you name it. Plus we can refinish it if we ever need to.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Mar 31, 2022

    Laminate for sure

  • Janice Janice on Apr 30, 2022

    Luxury sheet vinyl will wear the best and can look very good and is very easy care. That would be my go to if I had children and pets as it won't absorb odors like wood laminate.

  • Betty Betty on Jun 09, 2022

    My sister and husband own flooring store and he does all kinds remodeling to new builds and luxury vinyl plank or tile is definitely the way to go especially with kids or pets. I just redid my entire house with it and love it.

    Easy to clean waterproof and takes a lot to make a scratch.

  • Jjw22200472 Jjw22200472 on Jul 08, 2022

    Vinyl plank, have it in kitchen and living room, with 2 dogs. And have no problems or scratches

  • Janice Janice on Aug 25, 2022

    There are pros and cons to either choice. Pergo floors I've walked on look nice but have a hollow-like sound that is annoying. Vinyl planks look great and are long wearing and cushion the feet but if you live in an area where the temperature is high and you lleave for long periods, the vinyl planks can expand and buckle. Only you can decide which is the better choice for your particular needs. A good store that sells both products can advise you as to any other pros and cons as they have experience and have feedback from customers' problems that occur after install.

  • Janice Janice on Nov 29, 2022

    A good grade of vinyl plank flooring seems it would suit your needs well.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 02, 2023

    Do hope you resolved this problem and are happy now!

  • Susan Susan on Jan 02, 2023

    Lynn Turnbull I DID PARROTS ROOM. GOT RID OF CARPET. IN-EXPENSIVE TO DO. PUT DOWN LAMINATE THAT LOOKS LIKE WOOD.


    EASY TO CLEAN.




  • RONALD GILLMAM RONALD GILLMAM on Jan 18, 2023

    vinal floor planking is thr best4

  • Go to a flooring store and explain your concerns with pets and kids. They will give you the best recommendation.

  • Dee Dee on Aug 08, 2023

    I have both in my house. I made sure that the Pergo was scratch proof. The LVP was supposed to be scratch proof but I have found small scratches in my kitchen.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 17, 2023

    In my experience, Pergo is a superior product. Especially when it comes to scratches. However, I have seen some LVP that is truly scratch proof. We had a salesman do a demo and let us take a stiff wire brush (like you use to clean brick ) and we couldn't scratch it.

  • Christine czyzewski Christine czyzewski on Sep 16, 2023

    LVT or luxury vinyl tile/strips should avoided because the plastic dust from walking on it is a carcinogen and will be inhaled. Just say NO. Also it has to be one of the ugliest floors, especially in gray.

    Look for materials like ceramic tile, linoleum, cork, and wood…much better and safer….even concrete.

  • Betsy Betsy on Oct 15, 2023

    Hi Lynn: Laminate or vinyl might be your best bet. Tile may be a bit cold. Here's a site that talks about laminate flooring and, off to the right is a menu of costs, and general questions:


    The Best Laminate Flooring For Your Home 2023 – Forbes Home

  • Betsy Betsy on Nov 25, 2023

    Hi Lynn: Personally, I love carpeting :) I got carpeting and the padding is called Pet Padding, and it's a vinyl type of padding that won't allow moisture to go through. If you want something else, I'd try the waterproof Pergo Laminate flooring.

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Jan 02, 2024

    We love LVP flooring and have installed it in 5 rentals and our own home (we have a 100 lb dog and 9 grandkids. Love it. https://alifeunfolding.com/choosing-lvp-flooring-for-our-cottage-remodel/