Vinyl Flooring Wear Layer Thickness

Wear layers can range in thickness anywhere between 6 mil and 40 mil so how do you know which thickness you need for a project and what should you look for in a wear layer.

Vinyl flooring wear layer thickness.

Unlike traditional vinyl this style of flooring is comprised of layers which always include a core vinyl top layer and wear layer. The level of wear on a vinyl plank is measured in mil one thousandth of an inch a mil is not the same as a millimeter as roughly 40 mil equals 1 0 mm 39 4 mil to 1 mm to be exact. Well it s what protects your vinyl flooring from surface scratches and stains. Most lifeproof luxury vinyl flooring has a 6 mil wear layer.

The thickness of the wear layer is measured in mils and wear layers are typically 6 12 or 20 mils thick. Why is the wear layer important. 6 mils wear layer. In fact the 20 mil thickness can even stand up to commercial settings.

Better quality flooring tends to have the highest wear layers but is more expensive. If you have a space that will need a high resistance to scratches and wear a higher wear layer such as a 12 mil or 20 mil would be best for your. We are renovating a law office and are considering vinyl flooring that looks like wood. Vinyl plank flooring is an engineered floor covering designed to mimic the look of real wood.

Generally speaking the higher the wear layer the tougher the flooring will be. As you may have guessed the thicker the wear layer the tougher the flooring will be. The wear layer is urethane with ceramic beads for toughness. When purchasing vinyl flooring you should pay attention to the wear layer of the floor instead of the thickness.

For reference 1 mm is approximately the same thickness as 40 mil. Its warranty is lifetime for residential and 5 years for commercial use. But still 6 mils which is 06 inches is pretty thin. In lvt the product s wear layer is one of the first lines of defense against scratches and everyday wear and tear.

It is considered an entry level or builders grade flooring. However products with the highest wear layer tend to cost more. We were shown a vinyl plank by dalcoure diamond core lux collection that has a thickness of 5 7 mm and a wear layer thickness of 0 3or 12 mil. A thicker layer is more resistant to scratching and denting.

Armed with this information you should be able to find the perfect vinyl plank flooring for your home. When you re choosing your flooring you ll need to consider the thickness of the vinyl the wear layer and the installation method. The thicker the wear layer the better since once it wears through the printed pattern will become damaged and result in needing the vinyl flooring replaced. If you re using vinyl planks for a low traffic area you might not need the thickest wear layer.

Here are some factors to consider when evaluating the wear layer of a luxury vinyl product. Luxury vinyl flooring construction. It s the second half of the durability equation.