Key takeaways
- On a 1,500 sq ft home, laminate runs $6,000 to $12,000 installed at RDC and LVP $6,000 to $13,500.
- Some laminate lines are sold as waterproof by their maker; the warranty, not the label, says which rooms they suit.
- Either floor needs a flat, dry slab, so RDC tests and levels the slab before the floor goes down.
Is LVP Better Than Laminate in Arizona?
LVP is better than laminate in Arizona rooms that see water, and laminate holds its own in dry rooms. RDC Renovation & Design Concepts recommends LVP for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and homes with pets. Laminate stays a good fit for bedrooms and living rooms, at $4 to $8 per sq ft installed against $4 to $9.
RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a flooring contractor in Phoenix, Arizona. It sells and installs flooring, tile and countertops from its Bell Rd showroom, LVP and laminate included. MSI, a flooring maker, says laminate should not go in wet areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms.
For installation details, brands and wear layers, see LVP flooring installation in Phoenix. For laminate on its own, see laminate flooring in Phoenix.
The RDC flooring showroom on Bell Road in Phoenix.
| Factor | LVP | Laminate | LVT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Multi-layer PVC vinyl | Wood byproducts mixed with resins | Same luxury vinyl construction as LVP |
| Look | Wood planks | Wood-look layer over the core | Stone or ceramic tile, grout lines built into the design |
| Water | Rigid-core lines are sold as waterproof by their maker; check the product | Water can damage the core | Same as LVP: check the product's own water rating |
| RDC suggests it for | Kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, pets | Dry bedrooms and living rooms | Baths and entries where you want a tile look |
| Installed at RDC | $4 to $9 / sq ft | $4 to $8 / sq ft | $4 to $9 / sq ft (same as LVP) |
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, and scope, confirmed in your free written estimate.
For context, engineered hardwood runs $8 to $16 and solid hardwood $10 to $20 per sq ft installed at RDC. The wood comparison is on engineered hardwood vs LVP in Arizona.
Laminate in a Sun City living room.
Is LVP the Same as Laminate?
No, LVP is not the same as laminate, even though the two can look alike from standing height. MSI describes a laminate core as wood byproducts mixed with resins, under a printed wood layer. RDC installs both in Phoenix; for the plank, see luxury vinyl plank installation in Phoenix.
Do I Have LVP or Laminate?
Look at a cut edge, at a doorway transition or on a spare plank. A laminate core looks brown and fibrous. An LVP core is solid vinyl, usually gray or white. On a spare piece only, a drop of water left on a cut laminate edge makes it swell, while vinyl is unaffected.
Is LVP Better Than Waterproof Laminate?
LVP is not automatically better than waterproof laminate, but the two keep water out in different ways. Some laminate lines are sold as waterproof by their maker, and RDC sells them too. Under its wear layer, that laminate still has the same core. LVP is vinyl through the core, so standing water does not damage it, per MSI.
The North American Laminate Flooring Association lists bathrooms among the excessive-moisture areas laminate does not suit. The one exception is a line its maker specifies as waterproof, so the warranty decides. Read the wet-area terms of that line before you put it in a kitchen, laundry room or bath.
Where water sits on the floor, RDC generally recommends LVP sold as waterproof or tile. The laminate side of the question is on is laminate flooring waterproof.
Finished wood-look LVP through a front entry and dining room.
LVP vs LVT: What Is the Difference?
LVP and LVT are the same luxury vinyl material in two looks. Shaw describes them simply as luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile. LVP is made to look like wood planks. LVT is designed to look like traditional tile, with grout lines built into the design.
At RDC, LVT costs the same as LVP installed in Phoenix: $4 to $9 per sq ft.
LVP or LVT for a Bathroom?
For a bathroom, the choice between LVP and LVT comes down to the look. LVT gives a Phoenix bathroom or entry a stone or tile look, and LVP a wood look. Either way, check that the product is sold as waterproof by its maker.
Which Is Cheaper, LVP or Laminate?
Laminate costs less than LVP at the top of the range. At RDC in Phoenix it runs $4 to $8 per sq ft installed, against $4 to $9 for LVP flooring installation. On a 1,500 sq ft home that is $6,000 to $12,000 for laminate and $6,000 to $13,500 for LVP.
Removal of the old floor ($3 to $5 per sq ft) and slab leveling ($1 to $4) are separate lines.
Whole-house LVP totals are on how much LVP flooring costs in Arizona.
Want exact numbers for your rooms? Get a free written estimate or call or text (602) 788-1446. You can also see financing options.
Luxury vinyl plank carried continuously across an open living, dining and kitchen area.
LVP and Laminate in Arizona and Phoenix Homes
Across Arizona, the median home was built in 1992, and in Phoenix in 1985 (U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, table B25035). In Phoenix, 49% of homes were built from 1970 to 1999 (table B25034). In homes that age, the slab under the floor matters as much as the plank.
Laminate floats over the slab, and LVP floats or is glued down, per MSI. Shaw's resilient warranty does not cover planks that lift from excessive subfloor moisture. How the test and the leveling work is on slab moisture testing and floor leveling in Phoenix.
North Phoenix: Compare Both at the Bell Rd Showroom
RDC's flooring showroom and store in Phoenix is at 1610 E Bell Rd Suite 101. Full-size LVP and laminate planks are on display, and samples go home with you free. It is open Sunday to Friday 10am to 5pm and closed Saturday.
Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa and Peoria
- Scottsdale: median home built in 1991 (Census). See flooring contractor Scottsdale.
- Paradise Valley: median home built in 1985 (Census). See Paradise Valley renovation.
- Mesa: median home built in 1989 (Census). See flooring contractor in Mesa.
- Peoria: median home built in 1999 (Census). See flooring contractor in Peoria.
White-oak-look LVP in a Scottsdale living room.
Buying and Installing Through One Company
RDC sells and installs LVP, laminate and LVT under one contract, with one point of contact for the installation and material warranties. If a plank has a defect, RDC handles the manufacturer claim with you. The full process is on LVP flooring installation in Phoenix.
Light LVP in a pool-view room of a Phoenix home.