Rubber Flooring VS Vinyl Flooring - What's The Difference

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Table of content

Both rubber and vinyl planks are popular, budget-friendly, and durable flooring solutions with a wide range of design options. These flooring materials are perfect for various settings, from gyms and healthcare facilities to commercial spaces and residential areas. In this guide, we’ll look closer at Rubber vs Vinyl flooring to explore their fundamental differences and help find the best surfacing for your renovation project.

Rubber Flooring

Why Do You Need to Compare Vinyl vs Rubber

The fact is that the question of Rubber flooring vs Vinyl is one of the most frequently encountered. Since people are usually looking for something that may offer a comfortable walking surface, cushioning underfoot, reasonable installation cost, and resistance to wear and tear, they often come to the topic of Vinyl vs Rubber one way or another. And here the comparison of their features, advantages, and disadvantages plays a decisive role. So, let’s dive into the difference between rubber and vinyl flooring options!

A List of Key Characteristics for a Great Flooring Option

First, it’s worth defining what features a good flooring solution should have:

  • It is extremely durable, especially in high-traffic areas
  • It is water and moisture-resistant
  • It is easy to install and easy to maintain
  • It is a comfortable and slip-resistant surface
  • It is good noise reduction
  • It is an eco-friendly and safe option
  • It is customizable to suit aesthetic preferences
  • It is reasonable in cost
  • It is versatile, from the kitchen to home gyms
How Rubber Flooring Is Made

Let's Compare in Details: Rubber Flooring vs Vinyl

1. Material Composition & Manufacturing

  • Rubber is a natural and synthetic elastic material known for its flexibility and resilience. Natural rubber comes from sap and rubber trees and is widely used in waterproofing and creating elastic bands; synthetic rubber is manufactured through chemical processes. Often, rubber flooring is made from recycled materials to help minimize waste. You can mix rubber material with additives and colorants to achieve the desired look and feel. The vulcanization process guarantees that the rubber mixture becomes extra resilient. 
  • Vinyl is a synthetic product alternative to natural linoleum. It comes in various forms, including vinyl sheets, tiles, and luxury vinyl planks (LVP). The manufacturing process is complex. PVC resin is mixed with plasticizers and additives for color, durability, and flexibility. This PVC-based material mixture is passed through rollers, resulting in vinyl sheets of needed texture.  Multiple layers are fused together, including a wear layer for protection, a decorative one for design, and a core one for integrity. Finally, the material is cut into vinyl sheets, or vinyl tiles and planks.

2. Durability and Service Life

  • Rubber has an outstanding lifespan. It’s resistant to severe weather conditions, heavy foot traffic, and wear & tear over time. Also, rubber is naturally resistant to moisture, making it an excellent option for bathrooms, pool decks, or outdoor areas. Certain rubber surfaces are slip-resistant, keeping people safe and minimizing the risk of falls and trips with drastic consequences. 
  • Vinyl floors are made to withstand everyday wear and tear. Usually, it has many protective layers that resist scratches and stains. Yet, vinyl flooring can be damaged by sharp objects or heavy furniture. Also, it can expand and contract with temperature changes and might not be the best option for uncontrolled environments with extreme temperatures.

3. Comfort, Safety, and Acoustics

  • Rubber flooring offers superior shock absorption, making it an excellent choice for spaces with kids, aging citizens, or when people are physically active. The American Standards Testing Methods proved that rubber tiles are safe for falls from 6 feet. 
  • Vinyl is not as hard as wood or stone, guaranteeing noise reduction and comfort, making it perfect for areas where people stand for long periods. 

4. Ease of Maintenance

  • Rubber floors are super easy to clean and maintain. Such surfaces require regular sweeping and occasional damp mopping. However, there are product challenges. You should avoid chemical products, as they can be harmful. Additionally, certain rubber types require periodic sealing and waxing to maintain the brand-new look.
  • Despite the different types of vinyl flooring, they all require occasional sweep and mop of the floors to keep them looking good. 

5. Environmental & Health Considerations

  • Some manufacturers use recycled rubber, offering sustainable and environmentally conscious flooring solutions. 
  • Vinyl is a synthetic material made from non-renewable resources. Therefore, its production is harmful to the environment.

6. Design Flexibility

  • Rubber flooring companies offer customizable color and pattern options. Yet, the final look suits better commercial places, outdoor areas, and particular rooms in households. 
  • Vinyl surfacing offers customizable design options. It can mimic the appearance of natural wood, stone, tile, and other materials. Such patterns and color diversity allow the use of vinyl in working and living settings.

7. Cost & Value Analysis

  • High-quality rubber flooring is relatively expensive, especially compared to vinyl or other budget-friendly options. However, rubber can offer unbeatable durability in high-impact settings, making it a good long-term investment. 
  • Hands down, among all the flooring types for indoor spaces, vinyl is the most budget-friendly option.

8. Ideal Applications

  • Rubber is ideal for gyms, play areas, commercial & industrial spaces, and other areas with heavy traffic where shock absorption and slip resistance are required.
  • Vinyl is perfect for bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, offices, and basements, where moisture resistance, customization, and lower cost are a priority.

9. Installation and Compatibility

  • Rubber is a heavier and more difficult type of flooring to install. You will need specialized adhesives to ensure a secure and long-lasting bond. Additionally, rubber has good chemical resistance to many solvents, but can deteriorate under the influence of UV rays, and is also exposed to vinyl chloride, which often leads to joint cracking.
  • Vinyl is more lightweight and flexible, so it’s easier to cut and install. In most cases, you will only need adhesive or mechanical fasteners during the installation process. Vinyl is known for it’s high resistance to acids, alkalis, and most chemicals, which makes it popular for industrial applications. However, when rubber and vinyl come into contact, migration of plasticizers from vinyl into rubber can occur, which leads to changes in the properties of both materials. Therefore, it’s worth using barrier layers or specially compatible compounds.
Pros and Cons of Rubber Floor

Summary on Pros & Cons of These 2 Flooring Types

Let’s sum up Rubber vs Vinyl flooring on the following points: durability, comfort, resistance, customization, installation, and application.

  • Durability. Rubber holds a slight edge in resisting heavy wear and tear, so in the question of commercial rubber flooring vs. commercial sheet vinyl flooring, the first option is preferred.
  • Comfort. Rubber and vinyl are both comfortable, but rubber flooring can offer excellent cushioning without the need for added underlayment.
  • Resistance. Vinyl has excellent waterproof properties, while rubber is simply water-resistant, so when choosing Vinyl vs Rubber for wet areas, vinyl is a better option.
  • Customization. Vinyl is the undisputed leader due to its countless variations in patterns and styles, including a realistic imitation of hardwood and stone.
  • Installation. In terms of installation, Vinyl vs Rubber flooring are roughly on par; the only difference is that vinyl can be more DIY-friendly.
  • Application. Rubber flooring is better for gyms, playgrounds, healthcare facilities, commercial and industrial spaces, as well as areas with high traffic. In turn, vinyl is an excellent option for kitchens, residential spaces, bathrooms, and other areas with high humidity.

Finally, if we talk about Rubber flooring vs Vinyl disadvantages, the situation is as follows:

  • Rubber is a more expensive material, and installation costs are also higher
  • Freshly installed rubber flooring has a distinct odor that typically fades over time
  • Rubber is susceptible to damage from sharp objects and stain formation
  • Vinyl can emit volatile organic compounds (VOC)
  • This material is susceptible to dents from heavy furniture
  • Vinyl can be problematic in repairs, often requiring the complete replacement of sections
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