# Vinyl or Linoleum Floor for Kitchen?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vinyl-or-linoleum-floor-for-kitchen/720799>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 25, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vinyl-or-linoleum-floor-for-kitchen/720799 "2015-05-25T15:29:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vinyl-or-linoleum-floor-for-kitchen/720799/1 "2015-05-25T15:29:14Z")

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I’ve “Googled” around and read some informative articles on types of flooring. But, I am unclear if a vinyl floor is better than a linoleum floor? It sounds like a solid vinyl floor is better than a composite vinyl floor as the pattern is homogeneous - all the way through the material, so the pattern will last and wear well over time. However, perhaps the experience of the SD can tell me how a linoleum floor compares? And, what about price (in general)? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vinyl-or-linoleum-floor-for-kitchen/720799/2 "2015-05-26T04:52:34Z")

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Linoleum flooring is generally a commercial product, it is hard wearing and will last for decades but requires a lot of maintenance. You have seen janitors polishing floors with a big machine? That’s linoleum and it requires regular sealing and polishing. There are residential products like Marmoleum, some that have a low maintenance factory finish but they are not really common. The nice thing about linoleum is it isn’t printed to look like pretend tile or pretend hardwood like most vinyl is, the patterns are a feature of the product rather than a print.

Most resilient flooring is vinyl. There is actually a wide range in quality and some of the high quality residential or commercial products can be really nice. I don’t know if any is actually through colour but the good stuff comes in abstract ‘granite’ type patterns rather than trying (badly) to look like tile or hardwood. Good product will be much thicker with fabric backing and a more durable wear layer.

There is also composite tile and VCT, which are true tiles, just not ceramic. They can be grouted and offer a hard wearing surface like ceramic tile. Unlike ceramic they are ‘warm’ to the touch and are less likely to crack. They also have nowhere near the selection and variety of ceramic tile.

Another product you may consider is vinyl plank flooring. Similar to laminate but much harder wearing and a far better product. It comes in both floating click format like laminate or glue down. This is used in a lot of high traffic commercial applications.

Vinyl flooring has become a lot less common in recent years as hardwood and tile has become much more affordable.

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**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vinyl-or-linoleum-floor-for-kitchen/720799/3 "2015-05-26T05:36:26Z")

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Vinyl floor for residential applications is far better than linoleum, imho. I’ve done a lot of remodels and have some experience. Price can be high or low depending on many factors.

There are some great inexpensive porcelain tiles as well (my personal choice).