Today’s commercial design industry offers a variety of flooring options to take into account, including hardwood, ceramic, carpet, laminate, and more. Luxury vinyl, which is increasingly popular for commercial interiors, is a strong competitor among these options. What sort of luxury vinyl should you select, though?
The best vinyl planks are those that are 5mm thick or more. They can be 5mm or 8mm vinyl planks.
3mm Vinyl Planks Vs 5mm Vinyl
3mm Vinyl Planks
The 3mm thick vinyl planks are typically used in areas with low traffic volumes. If you need to cover a smaller, low-traffic area, you can even choose vinyl planks that are less than 3mm thick. People on a tight budget will typically choose a thinner variety of vinyl planks to update the floors of their small rooms in a very economical way. However, you need a level concrete subfloor if you want to use thin vinyl planks because they might not be able to hide any imperfections.
Read More: Can You Use a Steam Mop on Vinyl Plank Flooring – Will It Damage Vinyl
5mm Vinyl Planks
The highest quality vinyl planks are those with a thickness of 5mm or more. They come in a variety of thicknesses, from 5 to 8 mm. Despite their high cost, these planks are very strong and durable. Since all of their flaws can be successfully concealed, they can be used even on subfloors that are thin or uneven.
3mm Vinyl Planks Vs 5mm Vinyl Planks – Conclusion
Accordingly, you can purchase 3mm vinyl planks or 5mm vinyl planks for your Singapore residential or commercial property’s floors to give them a distinctive look based on your needs and price range. 3mm planks can be best for residential properties whereas for commercial properties vinyl planks of 5mm and above thickness can be the best choice.
How Vinyl Flooring Thickness is Calculated
Vinyl flooring manufacturers use a wide range of specifications, but the one you need to look for when determining thickness is millimeters, or mm. It’s important not to confuse this measurement with “mils” which is used in regards to the thickness of the wear layer on hard flooring surfaces. You can quickly determine the exact thickness of the different types of vinyl listed below if you have a ruler or tape measure on hand. Although there isn’t a true average because there are different types of vinyl, most high-quality flooring falls between 4mm and 8mm.
Also Read: How to Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring – Best Way to Cut
Peel and Stick Vinyl Thickness
The thinnest type of vinyl flooring sold comes in a “peel and stick” format. These tiles have an adhesive backing layer and are thin enough to be cut with a utility knife as opposed to a saw. Peel and stick tiles come in a variety of thicknesses depending on the brand, but most fall between 1mm and 1.5mm.
But because of how thin it is and how it’s typically installed, seams can be a problem, and it won’t be very comfortable underfoot. Not waterproof, but water-resistant is how most peel and stick flooring is classified. (Read More: Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Waterproof – What You Should Pay Attention)
When installed Vinyl Plank Flooring properly, this kind of thin vinyl is ideal for mudrooms and other high-traffic areas. It’s a good option for smaller spaces on renovation projects that aren’t too expensive, like bathrooms or closets.
Vinyl Plank Thickness
Whereas vinyl tiles that are peel and stick are thin, things get a little more complicated when you move up to a “standard” vinyl plank. Prior to the introduction of luxury vinyl and engineered products, this form was the most widely used. Its thickness usually falls between 2 and 3 mm.
Tiles and glue-down planks are the other two types of flooring that fall under this category. Planks are scarce because LVP, which is more affordable, has largely taken their place in construction. However, Armstrong and other manufacturers offer a number of collections of vinyl composite tile (VCTs) in the 2-3mm range.
Although we believe it is best suited for areas with low traffic, standard or traditional vinyl plank flooring can be used in any room of your home. It isn’t as long-lasting as luxury vinyl, but it is available in enough styles to be a good option for living rooms, bedrooms, and home offices.
LVP and LVT Thickness
Homeowners who are certain they want thick vinyl flooring should start their search in the luxury vinyl category. The thickness range for luxury vinyl planks and tiles is 5mm to 8mm. A few companies make tiles that are 4mm and 4.5mm thick, but luxury vinyl planks are typically thicker.
In light of this, we discovered that the majority of low- to mid-range lines fall within the 5mm to 6.5mm range. 8mm thick premium luxury vinyl plank collections are available. The best candidates for flooring in this tier are homeowners seeking vinyl with a long lifespan or a limited lifetime warranty.
8mm luxury vinyl flooring can be used anywhere from kitchens and dining rooms to bedrooms or hallways. Although 5mm and 6mm can be just as sturdy and are a little less expensive in those same areas, it’s one of the more popular sizes to run throughout an entire home.
EVP Thickness
EVP is a subcategory of the most recent vinyl flooring option for homeowners. This is an abbreviation for engineered vinyl planks, which are a hybrid of luxury vinyl planks and tiles and engineered hardwood flooring. It is also the thickest variety of vinyl flooring currently available.
The two most popular types of EVP are SPC and WPC flooring, which both come in tile and plank formats. You can anticipate planks between 5mm and 6.5mm thick from brands like Home Decorators Collection and Montserrat. Stone polymer composite flooring typically comes in planks and tiles from SmartCore, Cali Longboards, and Shaw Vinyl Plank that are 7mm to 8mm thick.
Engineered vinyl plank and tiles are excellent for areas with high foot traffic because they are the most durable type of vinyl flooring currently available to homeowners and businesses. Since their cores are thicker than those of other styles, these floors can withstand more minor abuse. SPC and WPC flooring is ideal for any room, but it can be quite pricey.
How Thick Are Wear Layers?
Although it’s crucial to be aware of the vinyl board or tile’s thickness, there are other dimensions to consider as well. As previously mentioned, the wear layer thickness is expressed in mils and can vary as widely as the vinyl flooring’s own thickness.
Residential flooring wear layers can begin at 5 mils or less and reach a maximum of 22 mils for commercial flooring. However, as some of the brand comparisons in our guide demonstrate, thicker vinyl does not necessarily mean a thicker wear layer. Underlayment is something else you should think about.
The layout of new flooring in a room can be affected by significant changes in height, but a thick wear layer won’t. For pre-attached underlayment on board or tile with vinyl flooring, there should be a separate measurement. If not, take into account the thickness of the underlayment you intend to use as well as the thickness of the board around doorways and baseboard.
Final Thoughts
According to our experience, a homeowner’s sense of style and budget will usually determine the vinyl thickness that is best for their home. While thinner flexible versions are excellent for projects that are on a tight budget, engineered vinyl flooring will feel firmer underfoot than LVP. This guide dissects the price of material and installation if you’re interested in learning more about the cost of vinyl plank flooring.
FAQs
Is 5mm Thickness in Vinyl Plank Flooring Good?
Click luxury vinyl tile should be at least 5 mm thick or more, according to testing and professional opinions. The transitions between rooms should be taken into account when deciding between thicker and thinner LVT.
What is the Best Thickness for Vinyl Plank Flooring?
A higher thickness, such as 20 mil, is advised if your household is active or has a lot of pets. The most typical LVP thickness used in typical households is 12 mil. The majority of thicker planks, like 28 mil, are used in commercial installations rather than residential ones.
What Size Vinyl Plank is Best?
Wider luxury vinyl planks are ideal for larger or wider rooms because they give off a more contemporary tile feel. Larger rooms can use wider 6- to 8-inch planks because smaller planks would look cluttered. Narrower planks may give a more traditional feel and be better suited for smaller spaces.
