How Thick Should Luxury Vinyl Flooring Be

You should look for vinyl planks with a wear layer of at least 12 mil.

How thick should luxury vinyl flooring be.

Luxury vinyl flooring construction. Vinyl plank flooring is available in a number of thicknesses ranging from 2mm to 8mm thick. With most planks the width is about 6 inches though some go as much as 7 3 4 inches wide. Vinyl plank is commonly manufactured 4 or 6 inches wide by 3 or 4 feet long.

Like vinyl tile the vinyl plank product is waterproof. Testing and expert feedback reveals that click luxury vinyl tile should be at least 5 mm thick or more. Unlike traditional vinyl this style of flooring is comprised of layers which always include a core vinyl top layer and wear layer. A 20 mil wear layer can be expected to last about 5 years compared with a 28 mil wear layer which can last for up to 10.

Having new flooring that is either too tall or too shallow will create uneven floors that lead to awkward transitions between spaces. Thicker vinyl is a good option if you have a thin or uneven hardwood subfloor since it will smooth out imperfections. Manufacturers have also taken steps to improve on how the planks feel with added detail to its texture. Building professionals tend to stick with a minimum of 12 mil for residential and 28 mil for commercial.

The thickest vinyl planks can be anywhere from 5 mm 0 20 in to over 8 mm 0 31 in thick. But these products are more expensive since the planks need to be quite thick to handle such deeply textured embossing. If you have an active family or an assemblage of pets consider buying 20 mil or higher. Generally speaking the thicker the wear layer the longer it will last.

If not then it might not be as high quality as it claims. These planks cost the most but they are also the most durable and usually look the most like real wood. Vinyl plank flooring cost. Gaps need to be sealed in order to prevent moisture from seeping through your floor.

Vinyl flooring planks typically are 48 or 36 inches long. For heavy use commercial environments you will need to choose tiles with a wear layer of 28 mil 0 7mm thickness and above. Luxury vinyl is sold in multi ply planks or tiles with wear layers that range from 2 to 8 mm in thickness roughly 8 100 to 3 10 of an inch thick. It s worth noting that there isn t a defined industry standard for the word luxury usually though a luxury vinyl product includes a thick durable floor multiple layers a realistic image and a tough wear layer.

Just as laminate flooring the thicker the floor the sturdier it is but this is not the main factor in determining durability. Even with a thicker wear layer your floors may not last as long as you d think. Another thing to consider when choosing thicker over thinner lvt is the transitions between rooms.