How the three floors are built
The core is the difference that matters. Laminate is built on a high-density fibreboard core with a printed layer and a clear wear layer on top. LVT (luxury vinyl tile) and sheet vinyl use a synthetic PVC core instead of a wood-based one. Flooring manufacturers and suppliers name the fibreboard core as the reason laminate swells when it is wet.
Planks, tiles and rolls
Format separates LVT from sheet vinyl. LVT is sold as planks or tiles that sit side by side, so the floor has seams. Sheet vinyl is a continuous roll, so a room can be covered without plank joints.
Why the core decides the water answer
A PVC core does not absorb water, so a spill that reaches the edge of an LVT plank does not swell it. A fibreboard core absorbs water, so a laminate board that stays wet swells and does not return to shape. You can use that one fact to sort most room questions.
Side by side
| Laminate | LVT | Sheet vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Fibreboard | PVC | PVC |
| Format | Planks | Planks or tiles | Continuous roll |
| Water | Water-resistant at best; standing water damages it | Material is waterproof; seams are the weak point | Can be made fully waterproof |
| Underfoot | Firm | Quieter than laminate | Thin, can feel hard |
| Repair | Replace scratched boards | Replace the damaged tile or plank | Cannot be refinished |
| Labour per m² (MyJobQuote) | £10 to £40; most jobs £10 to £30 | £15 to £30 | Not priced here |
The comparison comes from manufacturer and supplier guides under Sources. The comparison describes the product types in general, and specific ranges vary, so read the data sheet for the exact product you plan to buy.
Which room suits which floor
Kitchens and utility rooms
LVT or sheet vinyl suits a kitchen. Both have a PVC core, so a spill does not reach a wood-fibre board. Sheet vinyl has no plank seams, which helps in rooms where water is likely to sit.
Bathrooms and wet rooms
Avoid laminate in a bathroom, because suppliers advise against it. Sheet vinyl suits a wet room because it is one continuous sheet. LVT works where a fitter who knows the product seals the seams. For a tiled floor, see the floor tilers listed in Wales, and the guide to flooring for kitchens and bathrooms.
Living rooms and bedrooms
Laminate suits dry rooms with steady foot traffic, and it feels firmer underfoot than vinyl. LVT is the quieter choice of the two.
Hallways
A hallway takes grit and wet shoes, so the water tolerance of the surface matters more than in a bedroom. LVT handles wet shoes better than laminate because its core does not swell.
Laminate ratings: AC class and usage class
AC class
The AC rating is the abrasion class from the EN 13329 laminate standard. The test measures how long the surface layer lasts under a rotating abrasive test. Retail guides treat AC3 as the usual baseline for home use. The sources disagree on the scale itself, with one listing AC1 to AC6 and another listing 1 to 5, so read the rating from the manufacturer's data sheet.
Usage class
Usage classes are a separate rating. The first digit marks residential (2) or commercial (3) use and the second marks the load. Class 21 is light residential, 22 moderate, 23 heavy residential such as hallways, and 31 light commercial such as hotel rooms. Retail guides note that AC3 laminate often carries class 23/31.
What the ratings leave out
An AC class says nothing about water. A high-rated laminate still has a fibreboard core, so the water limits in the table above still apply to it.
What LVT and laminate cost
LVT supplied and fitted
MyJobQuote prices LVT supplied and fitted at £35 to £50 per square metre for low-end product, £50 to £70 for mid-range and £70 to £90 for high-end. For a 12m² kitchen the mid-range tier works out at £600 to £840 by simple arithmetic.
Laminate, with a Wales row
MyJobQuote's laminate guide gives supply and fit of £17 to £60 per square metre across the UK and puts Wales at £15 to £50, which it describes as 10% to 15% lower than the national average. The row is one guide's estimate, and the other guides checked give no Wales figure.
Labour by room for LVT
The same LVT guide gives labour of £75 to £150 for a 5m² bathroom, £180 to £360 for a 12m² kitchen and £255 to £510 for a 17m² living room. The guide to what flooring costs to fit sets these beside the Checkatrade figures.
Extras on an LVT job
Checkatrade says LVT does not always need underlay and prices it at £3 to £8 per square metre where it does. Checkatrade gives surface preparation at £2 to £13 per square metre and waste removal at £100 to £150, and notes that some installers include removal of the old floor and some do not. Ask which applies before you compare totals.
Where laminate does not belong
Bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms
LX Hausys advises that laminate should not be installed in wet areas such as bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms, and possibly kitchens. If you are unsure about a room, choose a PVC-core floor.
Scratches and repairs
The same source says the wear layer of laminate cannot be repaired once scratched through and the affected boards must be replaced. Ask your supplier whether spare boards from the same batch are available, because a replacement needs to match the floor you already have.
The installation caveat
LVT is a waterproof material, but a waterproof floor depends on its installation. Tarkett notes that while LVT products are waterproof, their installation is not, because water can get through poorly sealed joints between planks. A fitter who lays LVT regularly will know the adhesive, the subfloor requirements and the seam detail for the product.
Preparing the subfloor
Both floors need a flat, dry base. The screed moisture and levelling guide explains the moisture figure for vinyl and what levelling costs. You should ask the fitter for both before the old floor comes up.
Finding a fitter
74 Welsh businesses in the directory list vinyl, LVT and laminate fitting. The directory does not verify that any of them has fitted a specific product, so ask for photos of a similar job.
Questions to ask the fitter
- Is the product waterproof or only water-resistant, and where does the data sheet say so?
- How will the seams and the room edges be sealed?
- Does the subfloor need levelling, and is that in the quote?
- What AC and usage class does the laminate carry, if you are buying laminate?
Compare prices on a like-for-like basis with the guide to what flooring costs to fit, and run the checks in how to hire a flooring fitter in Wales before you book.
What this page does not cover
The page compares product types from manufacturer and supplier sources, not independent lab tests. The page does not rank brands, and it does not cover rigid-core or stone-plastic click vinyl as a separate type. Retail and manufacturer guides have a sales interest, so check any claim you rely on against the data sheet of the product you are buying. The sources also disagree on the AC scale, and the page does not settle that.