When it comes to tile flooring, there are undoubtedly far more options available to choose from than even 10 years ago. However, this doesn’t always mean that you’re going to know which type of tiles you should be going for.
Like all things, “what type of tile is best?” isn’t really the right question to ask, since what is best is very subjective.
Take carpet and laminate flooring, for example; people say that carpet is best because it’s warm underfoot, and living in the UK, this is certainly something that multiple people prefer.
On the other hand, hardwood flooring options like laminate are hugely popular in this country due to being ideal in any room, as well as how easy it is to clean, and the modern, cozy look it offers.
So, as you can see, the question of whether luxury vinyl tiles or real tile is best ultimately comes down to what is best for your needs.
In this post, we’re going to look at the differences between the two, including the benefits of each to help you decide which type of tiled flooring suits you the most.
Let’s start with one of the most important things to consider - the price.
Pricing
When it comes to the cost of each type of flooring, luxury vinyl tiles is much cheaper than traditional tiles such as ceramic or stone tiled flooring.
This is partly since the material costs much less than normal tile, but also tiles like ceramic are not something that are easy to install without the correct tools, and often require a professional tiler, which will increase the cost you pay overall.
Whereas luxury vinyl tiles are designed to be easy to install for anyone, making them an affordable option for people who don’t have large budgets, but would like the appearance of hard flooring.
On average, luxury vinyl flooring will cost around 40% less than traditional options like ceramic tile or stone tile flooring, so if the price is important to you, then this is something to consider.
Installation
As touched on above, traditional tile flooring options like stone tiles or ceramic tiles require a certain amount of expertise to install correctly, and this usually requires a professional who has the necessary tools to do the job.
Luxury vinyl tiles have grown in popularity over recent years because of how easy they are to install, and in most cases simply require a Stanley Knife, a Square Edge, a strong adhesive, and a bit of patience.
Depending on the type of luxury vinyl tiles you go for, you’ll also find they will come with an adhesive already applied, which allows you to simply remove the backing paper and lay your tiles where you want them.
The ease of installation for luxury vinyl tiles makes them ideal for people who enjoy doing DIY, who are on a budget, renters, and those who want to have a robust and durable hard flooring solution in rooms like a bathroom or kitchen without having to spend extra on engineered wood flooring, or ceramic tiles.
Appearance
When people hear the words “vinyl flooring” many of them immediately think of the horrid, and industrial styles from 80s and 90s, but nowadays, vinyl flooring has undergone a complete transformation, and not only is unrecognisable from those style of the past, but in most cases is hard to distinguish from the real tile flooring and wood flooring.
Luxury vinyl tiles are available in a wide variety of designs, colours, styles, and finishes, and look just like genuine ceramic tiles, stone tiles, or even hardwood floors, so there’s certainly no shortage of options.
One of the wonderful things about luxury vinyl tile flooring is that it’s not just for those looking for tile effect, you can choose from multiple patterns like herringbone vinyl flooring to give you that authentic wood floor look.
Of course, depending on the luxury vinyl tiles you buy, the appearance compared to the real thing will vary if you look closely, but if this isn’t something that’s overly important to you, then luxury vinyl tile is often an excellent choice.
Quality
One of the things that people often wonder about when it comes to luxury vinyl flooring is if the quality of the material is as good as the real thing.
While this can certainly vary across brands, most luxury vinyl flooring is of an extremely high quality and is designed to last for decades when cared for correctly.
Ceramic tiles and stone tiles will, of course, always be the highest quality in terms of quality and durability, simply due to the nature of these materials, and are designed to last a lifetime.
We hope that this post has been useful in helping you understand the main differences between luxury vinyl tiles and ceramic or stone tiles so that you can choose the best option for your needs.
Here’s a simple checklist to follow based on the points covered in this post to help you when it comes time to decide between luxury vinyl tiles and tiled flooring:
Look at your budget
Before buying anything, it’s a clever idea to decide on the budget you have for your flooring, and which option might be more suited to this
Think about whether you can DIY
If you’re looking for a flooring solution that you can install yourself without too much hassle, then luxury vinyl flooring is a great option.
On the other hand, if you’d prefer to have someone install it for you, and are happy to pay for this, then real tile is the better choice Let Us Help.
Whether you prefer to shop online and browse our extensive range of luxury vinyl flooring solutions, or you’d like to visit our fully stocked Warrington showroom, our team of friendly experts at Floor Land are here to help with any questions you have.
From helping with design and planning, to choosing the right type of materials, we’re here to ensure you find the right type of flooring for you, at the best possible price.
If you’re looking for the best quality herringbone flooring Warrington, or simply want to learn more about the types of vinyl herringbone flooring on offer, you’ve come to the right place.
So, give us a call today on 0800 996 1922 to have a chat about your next project.