"I highly recommend Monteros Hardwood Flooring. They refinished the hardwood floors at our Redlands home and they look new and we are extremely happy with the results. Javier communicated regularly throughout the project. His team is professional, efficient and very prompt and the work was finished in a timely manner. We are very pleased with the results and we highly recommend them."
Laminate vs Luxury Vinyl Plank
Two budget-to-mid-tier options at similar price points. The differences matter.
Laminate and LVP look similar from a distance and often cost similar amounts. Up close, they're different products with different best-uses.
Cost
- Laminate: $3 – $7 per sq ft installed.
- LVP: $4 – $9 per sq ft installed.
- Winner: Laminate by a small margin.
Water resistance
- Laminate: water-resistant cores available. Spills wiped within hours are fine. Not for wet rooms.
- LVP: fully waterproof. Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, all fine.
- Winner: LVP, decisively.
Durability against scratches and wear
- Laminate: AC4 / AC5 wear ratings are very tough.
- LVP: wear-layer thickness in mils - quality LVP matches laminate durability.
- Winner: Tie at comparable quality tiers.
Sound underfoot
- Laminate: can sound hollow; underlayment matters.
- LVP: with attached pad, quieter and warmer underfoot than laminate.
- Winner: LVP.
Comfort
- Laminate: harder underfoot; closer to tile in feel.
- LVP: softer, slight give. More comfortable for long periods of standing.
- Winner: LVP.
Visual realism
- Laminate: photographic wear layer; high quality is convincing.
- LVP: photographic wear layer; modern premium LVP is excellent.
- Winner: Tie at quality tiers.
Pet households
- Laminate: OK; accidents need fast cleanup.
- LVP: waterproof handles accidents perfectly. Scratch-resistant.
- Winner: LVP, decisively.
When to choose laminate
- Tight budget where the LVP price tier isn't in reach.
- Strictly dry rooms (bedrooms, formal living).
- Rental property where cost matters most.
When to choose LVP
- Any wet room (bathroom, kitchen, laundry).
- Pet household.
- Whole-house consistency where part of the home includes wet areas.
- Long-term home where waterproof safety adds value.
Our default in 2026
For most clients today, we install LVP. The price gap with laminate has narrowed, the waterproof advantage is meaningful, and the comfort and quietness underfoot is real. Laminate still has a place; LVP has more of one.
Free in-home estimate with laminate and LVP samples side-by-side.
Related Guides
Ready to upgrade your floors?
Free in-home estimate. Honest pricing. 20+ years of Inland Empire craftsmanship.