What is the difference between vinyl and laminate flooring ?

One of the main differences is in their composition. Vinyl floors are made from PVC, mineral fillers, plasticizers, pigments and additives. Laminates are made up of wood-derived materials, such as high-density wood fiber panels, paper and melamine. This difference in composition makes laminate a rigid material and vinyl a flexible product.

But in practice, what does this impact ? See below:
Composition
Vinyl floors  are  made from PVC, mineral fillers, plasticizers, pigments and additives. Since the laminates are composed of materials derived from wood, such as wood fiber panels with high density, paper and melamine
This difference in composition makes laminate a rigid material and vinyl a flexible product. But in practice, What does this impact? See below:
The custics
Acoustics is one of the main differences between laminates and vinyls .
As it is a rigid product, laminate propagates sound when walking, it is the famous “ toc-toc ” . In some cases it is recommended to install an acoustic blanket under the laminate so that downstairs neighbors are not disturbed by the noise of the footsteps , but even so the sound reverberation in the environment is not completely attenuated.
Since the vinyl floor , as it is flexible, it has a greater acoustic absorption. On the market it is possible to find options with sound absorption at impact of up to 19dB .
Maintenance
In the case of wood-based materials, laminated to the the may come into contact with water during cleaning, otherwise it may cause bloating and decay of the coating.
In the case of flooring vinyl, floors glued s may be washed with water and mild detergent, but it is not recommended to leave the floor submerged in water for extended periods, as this can cause the detachment of some plates or strips. As for the flooring option vinyl clicked it is not indicated washing, simply just pass a damp cloth or mop with water and detergent.
Formats
Vinyl floors are available in  different  formats, such as: blankets, rulers, boards and other geometric shapes .
So that you understand better: the shapes geometric are modular, ie  floors modules that contain dry seal ( the seams of the pieces rest against a to s other ). The blanket format, on the other hand, is monolithic and the union of the pieces is made with a weld bead or specific adhesive, forming a single product.
This type of floor is more suitable for hospital environments, which need special care with cleaning and maintenance, but it is also possible to find residential and commercial vinyl blankets.
Textures
The textures of the vinyls are diverse, from the rustic ones, typical of wood, to the more contemporary line with cement reliefs.
Laminate floors, in turn, are available in ruler and board formats and , as well as vinyl, have different textures and colors that simulate wood, concrete and stones.
What do laminate flooring and vinyl flooring have in common? 
Thermal comfort is certainly a property that both products have in their favor. Both floors are considered athermic, that is, they are not influenced by the outside temperature. This way, you won't feel discomfort when walking barefoot in winter, nor feel the hot and stuffy environment on a day of intense heat. 
Moreover, they are products with long durability and easy installation and maintenance, so they are very practical s to keep the rush of day to day.
In which environments to install them? 
The installation of laminate flooring is recommended for residential areas with medium circulation , such as : bedrooms, living rooms, corridors and halls , in addition to commercial areas with medium traffic . Since the vinyl, having in one the greatest variety of shapes and resistance , they are indicated for areas INSTANCE lies business, enterprise , and even industrial.
In addition, one of the advantages of vinyls is the installation in large areas without the need to use transition or expansion profiles, as required by laminate. This way, the look is cleaner and maintenance is simpler.
 Did you like our tips? Lots of information, right? To help you make this choice, here is a table with all the characteristics of vinyls and laminates.