How Thick Should Luxury Vinyl Flooring Be

These planks cost the most but they are also the most durable and usually look the most like real wood.

How thick should luxury vinyl flooring be.

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. Generally speaking the thicker the wear layer the longer it will last. But these products are more expensive since the planks need to be quite thick to handle such deeply textured embossing. Luxury vinyl flooring construction.

Testing and expert feedback reveals that click luxury vinyl tile should be at least 5 mm thick or more. For heavy use commercial environments you will need to choose tiles with a wear layer of 28 mil 0 7mm thickness and above. When you buy vinyl flooring it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Even with a thicker wear layer your floors may not last as long as you d think.

Vinyl flooring planks typically are 48 or 36 inches long. If you have an active family or an assemblage of pets consider buying 20 mil or higher. 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.

Vinyl plank flooring cost. 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. Manufacturers have also taken steps to improve on how the planks feel with added detail to its texture. Another thing to consider when choosing thicker over thinner lvt is the transitions between rooms.

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. The thickest vinyl planks can be anywhere from 5 mm 0 20 in to over 8 mm 0 31 in thick. Having new flooring that is either too tall or too shallow will create uneven floors that lead to awkward transitions between spaces.

Unlike traditional vinyl this style of flooring is comprised of layers which always include a core vinyl top layer and wear layer. If not then it might not be as high quality as it claims. This makes luxury vinyl planks considerably thicker than standard vinyl giving it a semi rigid nature. You should look for vinyl planks with a wear layer of at least 12 mil.

Gaps need to be sealed in order to prevent moisture from seeping through your floor. Building professionals tend to stick with a minimum of 12 mil for residential and 28 mil for commercial. 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.