How Thick Should Luxury Vinyl Flooring Be

Before we take a look at wear layers or the overall thickness of a plank or tile it s important to understand what luxury vinyl is and how it s made.

How thick should luxury vinyl flooring be.

With most planks the width is about 6 inches though some go as much as 7 3 4 inches wide. This makes luxury vinyl planks considerably thicker than standard vinyl giving it a semi rigid nature. Having new flooring that is either too tall or too shallow will create uneven floors that lead to awkward transitions between spaces. Just as laminate flooring the thicker the floor the sturdier it is but this is not the main factor in determining durability.

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. Luxury vinyl flooring construction. 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. Another thing to consider when choosing thicker over thinner lvt is the transitions between rooms.

Unlike traditional vinyl this style of flooring is comprised of layers which always include a core vinyl top layer and wear layer. For heavy use commercial environments you will need to choose tiles with a wear layer of 28 mil 0 7mm thickness and above. Thicker vinyl is a good option if you have a thin or uneven hardwood subfloor since it will smooth out imperfections. Vinyl plank flooring cost.

Vinyl plank flooring is available in a number of thicknesses ranging from 2mm to 8mm thick. You should look for vinyl planks with a wear layer of at least 12 mil. Vinyl plank is commonly manufactured 4 or 6 inches wide by 3 or 4 feet long. Manufacturers have also taken steps to improve on how the planks feel with added detail to its texture.

Even with a thicker wear layer your floors may not last as long as you d think. Gaps need to be sealed in order to prevent moisture from seeping through your floor. 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. But these products are more expensive since the planks need to be quite thick to handle such deeply textured embossing.

These planks cost the most but they are also the most durable and usually look the most like real wood. Vinyl flooring planks typically are 48 or 36 inches long. Generally speaking the thicker the wear layer the longer it will last. The thickest vinyl planks can be anywhere from 5 mm 0 20 in to over 8 mm 0 31 in thick.

Building professionals tend to stick with a minimum of 12 mil for residential and 28 mil for commercial. If you have an active family or an assemblage of pets consider buying 20 mil or higher. Testing and expert feedback reveals that click luxury vinyl tile should be at least 5 mm thick or more.