Tile flooring and laminate flooring are two types of floor coverings used by homeowners. They are very different in look and style. Ceramic, porcelain, slate  ¹, wood-like, and other floor tiles can be manufactured from a variety of resources, including natural stone. Laminate, however, is made with few natural materials. It is a synthetic layered product with an outer design surface that resembles hardwood or stone.

Below we will discuss the similarities and differences of these two types of flooring to help you make an informed decision.

Costs

Ceramic and porcelain tile are the most cost effective of the tile types. Their cost runs from $1.50 to $5 per square foot, while laminate strips will cost from $1 to $5 per square foot, giving both floorings similar material costs. Installation of tile will cost an average of $5.75 per square foot, and installation of laminate will cost an average of $2 per square foot. This means installed tile flooring will be approximately $5 to $13 per square foot, while installed laminate flooring will be about $2 to $8 per square foot.

A 200-square-foot living area will cost approximately $1,000 to $2,600 for tile installation or $400 to $1,600 for laminate installation. Installing tile is more expensive since the process is more labor intensive and exacting. The costs may be justified, however, because tile flooring increases a home’s resale value, but laminate flooring does not.

Durability

Both types of flooring are good choices for high-traffic areas since they are each durable. However, tile is more durable, most significantly because most varieties are impervious to standing water. Porcelain ceramic, made of feldspar, is harder and more stain resistant than non-porcelain ceramic tile made only of clay.

Unlike tile, laminate flooring is susceptible to moisture damage. Water can seep into the joints of laminate, and this may result in swelling, warping, and discoloration. Also, well-maintained tile can last as long as the home while laminate will wear over time.

Tile’s vulnerability is to chipping or breaking if something heavy is dropped on it, while laminate is less likely to be damaged this way. If damage does occur to laminate, however, it will be more obvious.

A damaged tile is not a disaster since one or more tiles can be replaced without affecting the remainder of the floor. Laminate strips, however, are connected to one another by a tongue-and-groove system. Therefore, replacing one strip can be a very involved process of removing an entire row or more.

Radiant Floor Heating

Tile and laminate flooring are both suitable for use with radiant heating with a few recommendations. For tile floors, a crack isolation system, a membrane applied between the subfloor ² and the tile, is recommended to allow the flooring to expand and contract. For laminate flooring, the WFCA urges homeowners to check the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the layers of the laminate flooring are well bonded and to make sure the floor temperature does not exceed 80º F.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Slate: A fine-grained rock, typically bluish-gray in color, that can easily be split into thin layers and is commonly used as a roofing material

² Subfloor: The bottom-most layer of a floor, supported by joists, over which finished flooring material is laid

⁴ Mortar: A mixture of Portland cement or lime or a combination of both, sand, and water used to bind bricks, stones, and concrete masonry units together

⁵ Pad: A cushion placed under a carpet to absorb impact, thus extending the life of the carpet

⁷ Grout: A fluid form of cement used to seal the joints between tiles. It also makes the surface stronger because it bonds the tiles together