The wearlayer, measured in mil, refers to the second clear vinyl layer. It ranges in thickness from 8 mil to 12 mil, suitable for residential needs, and 20 mil to 40 mil, suitable for commercial needs. The thicker the wearlayer, the more protection your print layer has against scratches, scuffs, and dents.
The rule of thumb is to use 4mm to 6mm thickness in heavily used areas of the house and 4mm and below for areas like the bedroom.
First and foremost, 12 mil wear layer vinyl plank flooring provides a balance between durability and affordability. This thickness offers reasonably good protection against daily wear and tear, making it suitable for rooms that experience moderate traffic, such as bedrooms or living rooms.
The overall thickness of your vinyl floor is generally a less important specification since it has little to do with durability (the wear-layer thickness is what determines how long the floor will last). That said, overall nominal thickness does matter in one specific case: Click flooring.
A 12 mil wear layer is considered to be a standard thickness for a vinyl flooring wear layer and is generally considered to be a good option for residential use. It provides a good balance between durability and affordability.
Among the various thickness options available in the market, 20 mil vinyl plank flooring is considered one of the best choices due to its impressive performance and benefits. This type of flooring offers superior resistance to wear and tear, scratches and stains.
A thicker wear layer provides better durability and resistance to scratches and scuffs. Often used in the context of vinyl flooring to measure the thickness of the wear layer, which typically ranges from 6 to 28 mils. Abbreviated as "mil"
The thicker the wear layer, the better the overall quality and the longer the flooring will last. Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for the wear layer. As a rule of thumb, 8 mil is a good choice for a residential area with moderate traffic.
Luxury vinyl planks range in thickness from 2 mm to 4 mm to 8 mm and above for higher quality products. Thinner versus thicker products require certain subfloors and will also be installed differently and discussed in more detail below.
How thick of a wear layer you choose should be based on how high or rough your foot traffic may be from household members and guests to pets. Residential projects with foot traffic in an entryway or households with pets should stay in the 12-mil to 20-mil range, while lesser-used areas could handle a lower wear layer.
The 12mil is good enough for two 'empty nesters' who are NOT in wheelchairs, do not use canes and do not need walkers. And who do NOT have pets. Even in this setting the 12mil floor is worth about 12-15 years. I've heard of vinyl with 12mil wear layer looking HIDEOUS after 5-7 years of regular life (as in your family).
This means that if you want more durability and last longer, then choose a vinyl flooring that's around 12 mil to 20 mil. It's suggested to have a wear layer of at least 12 mil for residential spaces and 28 mil for commercial spaces.
Additionally, consider thicker planks are a good choice in areas with heavy items occupying them, whereas thinner planks are suited to areas with low traffic. And, because thinner planks usually cost less, they're a good option for those on a tighter budget.
In recent years, LVT (luxury vinyl tile) has established itself as one of the toughest surfaces in the flooring world. Major manufacturers, including Armstrong (with their Diamond 10 Technology), Shaw, Mannington and Congoleum have embraced its durability, stability and wide range of design options.
The most common vinyl record sizes are 7, 10, and 12 inches. The most frequent size of the vinyl records is 12”. Both sides of these records can store 45 minutes of music in total. The smaller sizes of 7” and 10” – consequently allows storage of less music.
Consider the Plank Size
Wider luxury vinyl planks provide a more modern tile feel and are excellent for larger or wider rooms. Bigger rooms allow for wider 6- to 8-inch planks since smaller planks will make it appear too busy. Narrower planks may give a more traditional feel and be better suited for smaller spaces.
Additionally, lighter-colored flooring will make a room feel larger and more open, contributing to a feeling of cleanliness. Light vinyl flooring tiles and planks can help hide debris, such as dust and pet hair. These floors will also hide scratches better than dark ones, making them ideal for households with pets.
Con: LVP May Dent
Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects. Just because it's resistant to something doesn't mean it's impervious to it. However, do know that LVP resists scratches better than real hardwood.
The more MIL's a product has the stronger the wear layer is. So, a 6 or 12 MIL product will work for your home, but not for a commercial setting.
Measured in mils, generally speaking, the lifetime of a wear layer is one year per mil.
Vinyl is a soft material: One of its advantages is also its greatest weakness: its lightness. Heavy furniture can dent and mark vinyl floors, while sharp objects can pierce the upper layers. Discolouration: LVT flooring can suffer from sun damage if laid in conservatories or near south-facing doors/windows.
The most common thickness of LVP used in common households is 12 mil, but if your household is fairly active, or has a number of pets, a higher thickness is recommended – such as 20 mil.
Keep in mind that the wear layer thickness is measured in mil, which is one thousandth of an inch. This is not a millimeter, so don't get confused. At a minimum, you should choose a wear layer that is at least 12 mil, but if you have an active family or pets, it should be at least 20 mil.
If you plan to install LVP flooring in high-traffic commercial spaces or areas in your home, a thicker wear-layer is recommended. A 20 mil wear-layer or higher is ideal for maximum protection. For residential spaces with moderate foot traffic, a 12 mil wear-layer should suffice.