Laminate vs. Linoleum

I don’t know about anyone else, but I always though Laminate and Linoleum were the same product, and there are so many different flooring products out there that it can get so overwhelming.   Linoleum and Laminate used to be the popular choice – some people still prefer it over Luxury Vinyl – as it is affordable, and the new styles are par with the housing trends.
 
The biggest difference between laminate and linoleum is the material used to create each flooring:

Linoleum (also called Lino) is made from natural products like linseed oil, pine resin, ground cork dust, wood flour, sawdust, and mineral fibers such as calcium carbonate, they usually have a burlap or canvas backing and look very similar to Vinyl flooring.  Pigments are often added to the materials to create the desired colour finish.
 
At our location, we have a few brands, but the Tarkett FiberFloor® Sheet Vinyl goes beyond other flooring manufacturers and is CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly™.   Their flooring exceeds all air quality standards set for schools and hospitals and has 4 distinct protective layers to help it stand up against scratches, scuffs, and stains making it a must-have.

Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic product that is fused together with a lamination process (hence the name), it uses a composite base that is topped with printed paper layered with images of hardwood flooring or tile and a clear protective layer to finish.  The inner core layer is usually made of melamine resin or a fiberboard material.
 
Thanks to the evolutions of digital print technology the paper images are now extremely realistic – making it harder to tell laminate from real hardwood flooring.  It is reasonably durable, Hygienic (several brands contain an antimicrobial resin), and relatively easy to maintain. 
 
The majority of our Laminate is produced by EuroStyle distributed out of Vancouver, it is 100% made in Germany, with the beauty and qualities of environmentally friendly laminate flooring.  They have incorporated a high-quality structure with the exclusive Diamond Gloss Effect, characterized by a brushed, matt surface with glistening synchronised wood pores, which reflect the light differently as you move around the floor. ​

Installation is very important to consider with each product type, Linoleum is glued down to the sub-floor, while laminate floats on top of the sub-floor over a layer of underlayment (very similar to the Click Luxury Vinyl Product), which minimizes moisture seeping through and damaging the floor, this allows for a quieter and smoother surface as well.
 
Linoleum is often selected for bathrooms or kitchens where water spills are a bigger problem as it is almost virtually waterproof, laminate acts like hardwood and can expand and crack with moisture, which is not ideal for water spills. 
 
Both Linoleum and Laminate have various patterns many imitating hardwood, tile, and stone however Laminate more closely resembles the hardwood flooring in both the feel and look, making it a popular choice, but no matter which product you decide to go with always consider the resale value and the room where the flooring will be used – Laminate tends to be more popular over linoleum, but both can be suitable for your home!  ​​

Come visit us at our store's location and see our huge selections of laminate, Linoleum (Fiberfloor), Vinyl, Tiles and carpet.