How To Choose Laminate Flooring Thickness?

Many flooring experts consider laminate flooring to be among the toughest types of flooring surfaces in the market. It is a popular method of flooring compared to hardwood flooring since it a bit cheaper and lighter. Like any other kind of material, it has many styles and grades. Laminate flooring copes well with day-to-day wear and tear and is easy to clean. This versatile flooring choice is becoming more popular everyday but how many of you are conversant with choosing laminate flooring thickness?

The thickness of a laminate floor is measured in millimeters (mm), a common assumption however is that the thicker the floor, the more durable it is but this is not always true. When a plank is thicker, it is almost always made so to compensate for the quality of material used to make it. A lot of factors are put into consideration when choosing the thickness. The thickness of an entire plank is measured from the upper through to surface layer i.e. all layers for example a plank measuring 11 mm with an underlay of 3 mm has a width of 14 mm.

Durability of a laminate floor depends on type of material used to make the wear layer, how well the floor is cleaned and taken care of, types of traffic and traffic density. The ability of the floor to withstand the force of a falling object is however determined by the width of the plank. The various thicknesses available for laminate flooring are;

6 mm
8 mm
10 mm
12 mm

A thicker plank is the easiest to install. This is because it can span minor subfloor diversions without any problems occurring later. Leveling planks is easier on a thick floor too. A laminate floor is basically a floating floor hence it must be consistent.

Thicker floors improve acoustic levels in a room since the thickness greatly insulates sound hence highly recommended for studios or entertainment areas. Walking on a thick floor does not produce the cracking sound felt on lighter floors making you feel as if you are walking on a hard floor.

AC rating is another factor to consider. This rating measures the laminate floor’s resistance to moisture, stains, impact, abrasion and burns such as cigarrates. Rating start from AC1 up to AC5. AC1 is more appropriate for use on bedrooms while AC5 is suitable for heavy commercial situations. Experts recommended AC3 or higher.

The thicker the plank the more expensive it is so when choosing laminate flooring thickness check your budget first, select a laminate floor that is pocket friendly and suits the location of the floor. The cost of delivery and installations should also be included here. Another issue is that patterns of a floor are also limited by the thickness of the floor.

An expert with laminate flooring Singapore suggests that choosing laminate flooring thickness will not only depend on your budget but the pattern you desire and where the floor will be placed. Any floor thicker than 7 mm is ideal since it provides good value for your money while anything over 12 mm will be categorized as luxury flooring.