LAMINATE FLOORING

PROS – Since laminate is made from pressed wood, it is more durable and resists scratches, moisture and wear and tear. Laminate flooring is also easier to clean.
CONS – Even though laminate is more durable, it is not as visually appealing.

The average lifespan for laminate flooring is between 15 and 25 years, but it can vary from as short as 10 years to as long as 30 years. The difference in life expectancy depends on the quality of the flooring, whether it was properly installed and the amount of traffic it receives.

If a floor has too many humps or depressions, a filling compound needs to be used to get the floor flat. Laminate flooring will snap and pop as you walk on it if it's bridging across hollow spots under the flooring. Your weight stresses the interlocking tongues and grooves in the flooring, causing the noise.

Both present a very realistic representation of natural hardwood flooring and cost significantly less than hardwood, though luxury vinyl can be slightly more expensive than laminate. In addition to moisture resistance, luxury vinyl doesn't require any padding or underlayment when installing it.