Laminate, Vinyl, & Hybrid Resilient Flooring Differences
Laminate, vinyl, & hybrid resilient flooring are also known as performance flooring due to their versatility and benefits.
Defining Laminate, Vinyl, and Hybrid Resilient Flooring
While laminate, vinyl, and hybrid 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.
Shop Laminate FlooringWhat 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.
Shop Vinyl FlooringWhat is Hybrid Resilient Flooring?
Floor & Decor offers an Hybrid Resilient flooring option that is extremely scratch resistant, 100% PVC-free, and includes a 50% wood-based rigid core. Hybrid resilient flooring captures the beauty of a wood-look floor, while providing waterproof, dent proof, and pet proof protection.
Shop Hybrid Resilient FlooringKey Features of Laminate, Vinyl, & Hybrid Resilient Flooring
Many laminate, vinyl, & hybrid 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, & Hybrid 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYBRID RESILIENT FLOORING | ||||||
Optimax Performance Reinforced with Techtanium Plus for supreme protection, Optimax Performance is waterproof, dent- and gouge-proof, pet proof, extremely scratch resistant and 100% PVC free See Optimax Performance Products |
Techtanium Plus Extreme Protection | 8+mm with attached cork pad | with scratch warranty |
LIFETIME* Residential 30 YEAR Commercial |
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| RIGID CORE LUXURY VINYL FLOORING | ||||||
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 | 6.5+mm with attached cork pad | with scratch warranty |
LIFETIME* Residential 25 YEAR Commercial |
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Nucore Nucore flooring is 100% waterproof with a look and feel just like real wood. Available with Whispercore, featuring sound reduction technology. See Nucore Products |
22+mil Wear Layer | 6.5+mm with attached cork 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 |
12+mil Wear Layer | 4+mm with attached foam 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 |
6mil Wear Layer | 3mm | 30 YEAR Residential | |||
| WOOD-BASED LAMINATE FLOORING | ||||||
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 | 10+mm with attached foam pad | LIFETIME* Residential 20 YEAR Commercial |
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Hydroshield+ HydroShield Plus wood-based laminate offers waterproof protection combined with the authentic look and texture of real wood. See Hydroshield+ Products |
AC4 Durability | 10+mm with attached foam pad | LIFETIME* Residential 15 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 | 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 | 7+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 | 7+mm | 30 YEAR Residential | |||
| *See product warranty and installation information. | ||||||
VAPOR BARRIER A 6mil poly vapor barrier is required for all hybrid resilient, vinyl, and laminate brands when installing over a concrete subfloor. |
UNDERLAYMENT Sentinel Protect Plus is recommended for all hybrid resilient, vinyl, and laminate brands that have an attached pad. Eco Ultra Quiet or Sentinel Premium Quiet is recommended for use with DuraLux, and is required for HydroShield, Hampstead, and Fair Oaks. |
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| Features & Benefits |
Optimax Performance Reinforced with Techtanium Plus for supreme protection, Optimax Performance is waterproof, dent- and gouge-proof, pet proof, extremely scratch resistant and 100% PVC free See Optimax Performance 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 Nucore flooring is 100% waterproof with a look and feel just like real wood. Available with Whispercore, featuring sound reduction technology. See Nucore Products |
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+ HydroShield Plus wood-based laminate offers waterproof protection combined with the authentic look and texture of real wood. See Hydroshield+ 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 | Hybrid 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 | 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 | 22+mil Wear Layer | 12+mil Wear Layer | 6mil Wear Layer | AC5 Durability | AC4 Durability | AC4 Durability | AC3 Durability | AC3 Durability |
Thickness Select the flooring thickness that best suits your space. |
8+mm with attached cork pad | 6.5+mm with attached cork pad | 6.5+mm with attached cork pad | 4+mm with attached foam pad | 3mm | 10+mm with attached foam pad | 10+mm with attached foam pad | 8+mm | 7+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 30 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 15 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 10 YEAR Commercial |
LIFETIME* Residential 5 YEAR Commercial |
30 YEAR Residential |
| *See product warranty and installation information. | ||||||||||
VAPOR BARRIER A 6mil poly vapor barrier is required for all hybrid resilient, vinyl, and laminate brands when installing over a concrete subfloor. |
UNDERLAYMENT Sentinel Protect Plus is recommended for all hybrid resilient, vinyl, and laminate brands that have an attached pad. Eco Ultra Quiet or Sentinel Premium Quiet is recommended for use with DuraLux, and is required for HydroShield, Hampstead, and Fair Oaks. |
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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