LVP and Laminate Flooring Installation in New Jersey

Luxury vinyl plank, usually shortened to LVP, and laminate both give you a wood-look floor in plank form. They are installed differently from hardwood, and they behave differently in the house. We install them, and we bring the same standards for subfloor preparation and layout that hardwood requires.

Morais Construction is fully insured, with general liability, workers compensation and employers liability coverage. Leo walks every estimate, looks at the room and the subfloor and helps you choose between the products before anything is ordered.

The two floors are built differently, and the construction explains most of the differences you will notice.

LVP is made of layers of vinyl with a printed wood-look surface and a protective wear layer on top. The core is plastic-based and does not absorb moisture the way wood fiber does. Many LVP products have a rigid core, which gives the plank stability and stays flat over small imperfections better than a flexible plank.

Laminate has a core of compressed wood fiberboard, a printed layer and a hard wear surface on top. It feels solid underfoot and resists scratches well. Because the core is fiberboard, it reacts to standing water and can swell if moisture reaches the edges.

In terms of repair, both are floating floors in most homes, so a damaged plank can often be swapped out if the installer saved spare pieces. In terms of feel, laminate tends to sound and feel firmer, while LVP is slightly softer and quieter underfoot. Always check the specific product's moisture rating and installation instructions, because products vary and the label is what counts.

Basements are the most common reason people look at LVP. The plastic-based core tolerates moisture and temperature swings better than a fiberboard core, but any floor over concrete still depends on a moisture test and a sound installation. LVP is also a frequent choice for kitchens, laundry rooms and entryways, where spills happen. The room still has to be dry and properly prepared underneath.

Laminate suits dry, lower-risk spaces such as bedrooms, offices and living areas, where water is rarely a factor.

Hardwood remains the better answer when you want a floor that can be sanded and refinished again and again, when resale and character matter, or when the floor needs to match wood elsewhere in the house. Our hardwood flooring page covers that option in detail. A good installer weighs these tradeoffs with you before recommending a product.

The method is the same for most floating plank floors, and it begins with the subfloor. It has to be flat, clean, dry and solid. Old flooring comes out, nails and staples are pulled, and high spots are ground down while low spots are filled. Concrete is checked for moisture and an underlayment or vapor barrier is chosen to suit the product.

Layout comes next. Planks are installed from a straight reference line, because few walls are square. The first and last rows are planned so neither ends up as a narrow strip, and joints are staggered so the pattern looks natural. Planks are cut around doorways, vents and cabinets with clean edges.

Floating floors need a small gap around the perimeter so they can expand and contract with temperature. That gap is hidden under baseboard or shoe molding. Transitions at doorways and at changes in floor height are chosen so the floor ends neatly and safely. We remove the old flooring, prepare the subfloor, install the planks, clean up and finish with a walk through.

An uneven subfloor is the leading cause of problems. Dips and ridges telegraph through the planks as soft spots, gaps and clicking seams, and forcing the locking edges over a bump can crack them over time. Ignoring moisture is the second one, especially over concrete. Skipping the expansion gap lets a floor push against the wall and buckle when temperatures change. Cutting corners at transitions leaves trip hazards and ragged edges.

A flat subfloor matters more to the final result than the planks you pick. That is why subfloor preparation and leveling gets its own section on our staircases and floor services page, and why we raise it at the estimate whenever the floor underneath needs attention.

One Google reviewer described a basement floor Morais Construction installed in vinyl plank as clean, modern and durable. A basement is a good example of why the preparation matters: the slab, the moisture and the temperature all influence which product and method suit the space.

If you have a basement project in mind, tell Leo about the history of the room at the estimate, including past water problems, how the slab feels and whether the space is heated.

How will the subfloor be checked and prepared? What will be done about moisture, especially over concrete? Which underlayment is recommended for the room and why? How will the floor meet doorways and stairs? What is the plan for baseboard and trim? And who is responsible for cleaning up when the job is done?

Our answer begins with the owner walking the space. The details are set out at the estimate, before installation day.