When it comes to environmental impact, laminate has a slight edge over vinyl thanks to its recycled wood core. However, the melamine wear layer on the surface is still made of plastic, which may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful to people and pets.
While laminate is water-resistant, vinyl is waterproof. Keep this in mind when selecting flooring options for different parts of your home or business. Vinyl is the safer option when it comes to choosing between vinyl or laminate flooring for basements or other damp and spill-prone areas like bathrooms.
Solid hardwood flooring is considered the safest and least toxic option as it's completely natural and free from any toxins. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber, which makes it a healthy flooring option.
So is vinyl flooring toxic? Toxicity levels of vinyl flooring were once a major concern dating back to the study discussed above which was conducted in 2015. It's now 2022 and most floor manufacturers have eliminated the use of this chemical and now provide 'phthalates-free' vinyl flooring.
Formaldehyde exposure may potentially cause a variety of symptoms and adverse health effects, such as eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, coughing, wheezing, and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde has been associated with cancer in humans and laboratory animals.
In reality, the off-gassing should be the strongest during the first two weeks and continue to off-gas for up to months after it is placed into your home.
Although levels of formaldehyde emissions from products like laminate flooring decrease over time, significant off-gassing may continue for months and even years. Significant off-gassing from laminate flooring can continue for months and even years.
Vinyl chloride is a deadly toxic chemical, despite industry's repeated attempts to hide the threats. Vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC). From production through disposal, vinyl chloride threatens health and contaminates the environment.
Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Does flooring contain asbestos? Flooring, including sheet vinyl, floor tiles and any associated paper-like backing, adhesive or glue, can contain asbestos. Asbestos was added during the production of flooring to strengthen the flooring and to increase its durability.
Healthier flooring options include solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. A key feature of all of these is that they are easily cleaned of dust and dirt.
Vinyl plank flooring has a solid surface and that means there is no opportunity for dirt, grime ad allergens to seep into it. Vinyl flooring is also easy to clean and requires no maintenance. That's not the case with carpet. Carpet will attract, trap, and hold everything from dust mites to pet dander and urine.
When it comes to environmental impact, laminate has a slight edge over vinyl thanks to its recycled wood core. However, the melamine wear layer on the surface is still made of plastic, which may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful to people and pets.
The disadvantages of vinyl floors
Can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Shorter lifespan than wood floors. No impact, or negative impact, on home resale value. Difficult to remove, especially if adhesive is used during installation.
The main difference between laminate and vinyl flooring is the materials they're made of. Vinyl is 100% synthetic, while laminate uses a fiberboard core constructed of wood byproducts. Thus, laminate flooring is not waterproof, while vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has classified vinyl chloride as known to be a human carcinogen (cause cancer). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified vinyl chloride as a known human carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure.
Avoid using ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Don't use bleach as an overall vinyl floor cleaner. Keep away from highly abrasive scrubbers or detergents on vinyl. They can damage the floor, causing cracks or scratches.
What are BPA and phthalates (THAL-ates)? Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in some hard, clear plastics such as water bottles and baby bottles and in the lining of food cans. Phthalates are used to make soft, flexible plastics such as PVC (“vinyl”) products and food packaging.
Polyflor vinyl is favoured for its superior 'cleanability' over other flooring products and is used in the strictest of hygiene zones throughout hospitals. An additional benefit of Polyflor's low maintenance PUR products is the minimised VOC emissions from reduced cleaning chemicals.
Vinyl has a dynamic range of 55-70dB, whereas digital music can go up to 90-96dB. Vinyl's lower dynamic range means that it has a lower threshold for 'loudness' during the recording process. Any sound too loud can cause the turntable needle to jump too erratically.
Not all laminate flooring releases high levels of formaldehyde. Also, studies have shown that after several years, formaldehyde released by products installed in the home may decrease to levels typically found in most homes.
Before you install your flooring, you must acclimate your laminate to the environment where it will be housed. To do this, arrange your boxes of flooring with flat and side by side. Don't put them flush against the wall. Give them room to breathe and become used to the humidity level in your home.