Are you out there shopping for the flooring to laminate your office or home? Choosing the right style that suits your home decor is essential, but have you thought about the thickness? You probably have questions like how thick your laminate flooring should be and which thickness is best. Laminate flooring is one of the modern flooring systems these days. Every homeowner that wants to add aesthetic appeal and luxurious touch to their home needs to install laminate flooring.
Are you wondering how important the depth of the floor is? Or what is the difference between 8mm and 12mm laminate flooring? Without professional help, it can be hard to differentiate between the two. To the untrained eye, you might wonder if the thickness really matters. So how do you choose the right consistency for your laminate flooring installation? We are here to put you through, simply read on.
Overview of 8mm vs. 12mm Laminate Flooring
The 8mm Laminate Flooring
The 8mm laminate flooring is one of the most common flooring options available in the market. It provides excellent stability and easy installation. That’s not all. It is also affordable. 8mm laminate floors are not as durable and sturdy as the 12mm. However, they make up for this with their versatility. If you are on a budget and you are looking for an easy option, this will be perfect for you. The 8mm laminate flooring is neither too thin nor too thick. But, it has low impact resistance and a plastic feel underfoot. Many homeowners typically choose it because it minimizes the amount of added weight.
Pros
- Ideal for budget projects
- Best for flat cement floors
- Suitable for residential use
- Easy to install
Cons
- It does not provide a sturdy feel
- It does not dampen sound
- Less strength and stability
- Not ideal for imperfect subfloors
The 12mm laminate Flooring
The 12mm laminate flooring is an excellent option if your unique needs are strength, durability, and insulation. This thickness is perfect for high-traffic floors, commercial installations, and imperfect subfloors. It makes your floor more even, and it is usually recommended as 12mm floors generally come with AC 5 Coating. Even though it is not the thickest laminate in the market, it is an ideal type of laminate you should consider if you are going for long-lasting quality. With its thicker base material, sharp objects and small appliances that accidentally drop on it will have minimal effect.
Pros
- Effective Sound Absorption
- Softer Feel
- Allows for deeper embossing
- Impact-resistant
Cons
- It is more expensive
- It is heavy to move and work with
- It can create problems with doors or trim
Differences between the 8mm and the 12mm laminate floor
| 8mm Laminate Flooring | 12mm Laminate Flooring | |
| 1 | It is budget-friendly | Costlier than the thinner options |
| 2 | Can be noisy | Better Sound Absorption |
| 3 | Less impact resistance | More impact resistance |
| 4 | It is thinner on the floor | Feels more comfortable when you walk around |
| 5 | It’s a short term solution for hiding floor imperfections | Hides subfloor imperfections excellently |
Why is the thickness of your laminate floor essential?
The thickness of laminate planks is known by the distance between the base and top of the board. Unfortunately, most house and business owners are not informed about the effect of choosing a thinner laminate floor product. While the thickness impacts how your laminate looks and feels, it also has an impact on the durability and lifespan of the boards. Here are more reasons why it is important
Sound Absorption
With every bit of thickness, the sound absorption capacity increases. This is because thicker floors contain more High-Density Fiber core (HDF) which offers sound transfer through the planks. This makes it less noisy when compared to thinner planks
Impact Resistance
Sharp items that fall on floors with thicker bases have little effect. That’s why people prefer to use thicker options for high-traffic areas. Thicker flooring may be heavy, but they provide structural stability and are less susceptible to chipping when they are rightly cut than thinner options. The more integrity it has, the extended the lifespan
Detailed Design & Embossing
Thicker laminate planks offer some exquisite designs that feel and look like hardwood. When you get the thicker versions, there is a wide range of designs to choose from, such as the painted v groove and pressed v groove. Thinner planks look cheap and sometimes feel like plastic.
Hides Imperfections
When it comes to hiding the imperfection of your floors, the thicker plans have the upper hand.
Thickness means longevity and delivers long-term solutions. For an uneven subfloor, it is best to choose a thicker laminate. It is also advisable that if you are flooring a room upstairs, a laminate of 12mm will do the job.
Do you have a perfect subfloor, and do you have no reservations about noise transfer from floor to floor? Then you can get away with a thinner option like the 8mm. Slimmer options are tremendous and budget-friendly, but they only provide short-term solutions. This is an essential consideration before making your last buying decision.
Does the thickness make a difference?
While thickness does not translate to instant durability, it can prevent your floors from chipping and warping.
What you’ve been missing
Can You Change the Color of Laminate Flooring
Do I Need Underlayment For Laminate Flooring
Conclusion
The decision to choose laminate flooring with the right thickness is dependent on your specific needs; however, as a rule of thumb, your budget should come first. Remember, the thicker the board, the more expensive it is. Thicker laminate is also heavy to handle and lay down.
If you are installing the flooring in just one room, this challenge should not be an issue. But if you are installing the new flooring in your entire house, the extra weight can be difficult. Another factor you should consider is the level of noise your floor will produce when walked on. If you are planning to laminate the flooring of your apartment, you should invest in a laminate of at least 8mm. By considering all the advantages of thick laminate flooring, you’ll be able to decide what is best for your situation.