Understanding Laminate, Vinyl & Hybrid Resilient Flooring

Understanding Laminate, Vinyl & Hybrid Resilient Flooring

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 and Vinyl Flooring Defining Laminate and Vinyl Flooring

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 Flooring
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.

Shop Vinyl Flooring
What 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.

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Key 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 Waterproof Pet Proof
with scratch warranty
Dent Proof LIFETIME* Residential

30 YEAR Commercial
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 Waterproof Pet Proof
with scratch warranty
Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

25 YEAR Commercial
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 Waterproof Pet Friendly Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

20 YEAR Commercial
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 Waterproof Pet Friendly Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

15 YEAR Commercial
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 Waterproof Pet Friendly Dent Resistant 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 Waterproof Pet Friendly Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

20 YEAR Commercial
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 Waterproof Pet Friendly Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

15 YEAR Commercial
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 Water Resistant Pet Friendly Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

10 YEAR Commercial
Hampstead 
Hampstead water-resistant laminate flooring provides durability and beautiful wood-look design.

See Hampstead Products
AC3 Durability 7+mm Water Resistant Pet Friendly Dent Resistant LIFETIME* Residential

5 YEAR Commercial
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.
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.
Waterproof Waterproof Waterproof Waterproof Waterproof Waterproof Waterproof Water Resistant Water Resistant
Pet Protection
Built to withstand pet wear and tear with advanced protection.
Pet Proof with scratch warranty Pet Proof with scratch warranty Pet Friendly Pet Friendly Pet Friendly Pet Friendly Pet Friendly Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Dent Protection
Protect your floors from dents.
Dent Proof Dent Resistant Dent Resistant Dent Resistant Dent Resistant Dent Resistant Dent Resistant Dent Resistant Dent Resistant
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.

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