Choosing the thickness of your laminate floor is a critical task. The thickness of a laminate floor is essential for its durability and aesthetics. It is also said that thicker is better in the case of laminate flooring, which I will discuss later in this article. So, what should be the thickness of a good laminate floor is a question that everyone asks before opting for a laminate floor for their homes and offices. 12mm laminate thickness is considered best among all options. A laminate floor ranges from 6mm thick to 12 mm thick, but it’s better not to settle on less than 8 mm.
Is Thicker Laminate Floor Better?
Thicker is better in the case of laminate flooring, as recommended by professionals. The thickness of the floor directly affects the aesthetics and indirectly affects the durability. Laminate floor thickness allows you to create intricate designs in heavier flooring. It becomes easy to crave multiple designs when the laminate floor is thick. Moreover, it can also hide the weaknesses and imperfections of the sub-floor. The thicker the laminate floor, the less echoey and squeaky it will be.
As I said, the laminate floor thickness indirectly affects durability because it is more impact resistant and can be more forgiving during installation. Also, the top wear layer plays a major role in floor strength. The top layer is mostly coated with an aluminum shield that protects the floor from scratches and scuffs. So, thicker laminate flooring is surely better in multiple aspects.
So! What Should Be the Thickness of a Laminate Floor?
The thickness of a laminate floor is counted from the base of the board to the top of the board. It should be measured in millimeters. If your laminate floor has an attached pad, it must not be included in the thickness.
The laminate floor thickness should be between 6mm and 12mm. The 12mm is the thicker laminate, so if you find any laminate more than 12mm thick, it must be inaccurately measured, or it will be measured along with the pad. Thus, if you want the highest quality hardwood to feel under your feet, you should probably go with 10-12mm thickness. Moreover, it is recommended not to have a laminate floor of less than 8mm thickness.
As far as the price of the laminate is concerned, with every millimeter increase in thickness, the price also increases. However, installation and labor costs remain constant for the 7-10mm floor. You can also add underlayment before installing laminate flooring to increase its thickness.
8mm vs. 12mm Laminate Flooring: Which Is Better?
12mm laminate flooring is better than 8mm laminate flooring overall. Here are the reasons why 12mm flooring is way better than 8mm.
Impact Resistance
12mm laminate thickness is more impact resistant than 8m. For heavy foot traffic, 12mm thickness is better because if any sharp item accidentally falls on the floor, it will have a little impact on the thicker floor.
Sound Absorption
The sound absorption level also increases with every increase in the millimeters of floor thickness. 12mm laminate contains a high-density fiber core, offering negligible sound transfer between the planks or boards. So, definitely, it is quieter than thinner planks.
Hides Imperfections
12mm thick floor is easy to install even if the subsurface is not leveled. It hides the imperfections of the subfloor quite easily. On the contrary, a thinner laminate floor like 8mm can be installed perfectly if the subfloor is leveled and flat.
Designs and Embossing
Thicker planks are easy for engraving heavy, detailed designs that look aesthetical and artistic. At the same time, it’s hard to create detailing on thinner planks. That’s why; 12mm laminate thickness is preferable to 8mm.
Cost
With every increase in millimeters, the laminate flooring cost will obviously increase. 12mm laminate floor is more durable than 8mm, so its price will also be more. Besides this, the cost of labor and installation is also more for 12mm laminate flooring. As the thicker laminate floor makes you feel like you have a hardwood floor under your feet, so you will have to pay more to get this premium quality floor.
Laminate Thickness Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should be the laminate thickness for the kitchen?
You can opt for 8-12mm laminate thickness for your kitchen floor. 12mm laminate floor thickness offers high quality and durability. As the kitchen floor is one of the busiest floors in the house, it’s better to have a 12mm laminate floor for your kitchen.
2. What are the different thicknesses of the laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring is available in between 6-12mm thickness planks. There are four standard planks famous in the market, including 6 millimeters (6 mm), 8 millimeters (8 mm), 10 millimeters (10 mm), and 12 millimeters (12 mm).
3. What is better, 10mm or 12mm laminate flooring?
10mm laminate flooring is as resistant and durable as 12mm laminate. Although there is only a 2mm difference between these two laminates but 12mm laminate is the closest you can get for a hardwood feel and look. The price of 12mm is more than 10mm, but the difference between installation and labor cost is negligible.
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