How to Choose Thickness of Vinyl Flooring for Your Toronto Home

How to Choose Thickness of Vinyl Flooring for Your Toronto Home

Congratulations! You’ve decided to choose vinyl flooring for your Toronto home. It is one of the most long-lasting and cost-effective flooring options available.

However, selecting the appropriate thickness can be challenging since vinyl flooring ranges from 2 mm to over 8 mm thickness.

The general idea that thicker is sturdier may not be true for vinyl flooring. There are a couple of factors you need to consider. AA Floors understands this dilemma, so we present this guide on choosing the right vinyl flooring thickness for your Toronto home.

Let’s get started.

Choosing the Right Thickness of Vinyl Flooring for Your Toronto Home

Selecting the proper flooring for your home is crucial. So is determining the appropriate thickness of said flooring. Choosing vinyl flooring for your Toronto home will be easier if you keep reading, but let’s start at the beginning.

Construction of Vinyl Flooring

Top-quality vinyl flooring is composed of several layers. There are three to four base layers in luxury vinyl plank flooring, as follows.

1. The Wear Layer: This topmost layer guarantees the flooring’s long-term durability. Scratch resistance is provided by this clear layer, which also has UV protection. The wear layer typically measures between 4 and 40 mil (thousands of an inch). Any vinyl flooring you purchase may have the wear layer measured in mils, millimetres(mm), or both.
2. Decor Layer: This thin, digitally printed layer gives the flooring design, colour and texture.
3. Core Layer: This layer determines the thickness of the vinyl flooring, whether it is luxury vinyl or vinyl plank. Depending on the type of core and thickness of the vinyl product, this layer increases dimensional stability and rigidity.
4. Underlayment: By putting underlayment under your vinyl flooring, you can increase comfort, improve insulation, and safeguard against moisture. Vinyl flooring can be given underlayment, which can thicken it by about 1 mm.

Asking the Right Questions Before Choosing the Thickness of Your Vinyl Flooring

As mentioned, the thickness of vinyl flooring can range from 2 mm to over 8 mm. Before selecting the thickness, there are several questions you need to ask yourself, such as:

• Where are you installing the vinyl flooring?
• How much foot traffic are you expecting in that area?
• What type of subfloor do you have?
• What is the existing condition of your subfloor?
• What type of vinyl flooring are you installing?
• Do you have or are you planning to install underlayment?

Asking questions such as these will help you understand your personal requirements and enable you to choose the right product. Answering them will also save you money and time.

Your home’s high-traffic areas will benefit if the wear layer thickness is higher and thus more durable. By contrast, a thinner wear layer provides enough comfort in low-traffic areas.

Now, let’s inspect the various thicknesses of vinyl flooring and what they mean.

Exploring the Thickness of Vinyl Flooring and What They Mean

Different thicknesses of vinyl flooring are suitable for different situations.

• 2 MM Vinyl Flooring

This is one of the most commonly found thicknesses. If you are looking at a luxury vinyl plank or tile with a 2 mm thickness, it is usually meant for low-traffic areas of your home.

They are ideal for laundry rooms, bedrooms, and closets. 2 mm of flooring is usually installed via the glue-down method, as it is too thin for a click-lock type of installation. As a result, they can be installed directly on the subfloor and do not require a layer of underlayment. Professional installation is recommended, as glue-down can be tricky.

• 4 MM to 6 MM Vinyl Flooring

4 mm to 6mm vinyl flooring products usually have a click-lock installation and work well in medium to high foot-traffic areas. Installing a vapour barrier underlayment option will offer additional protection.

Check your existing subfloor when buying top-quality vinyl, like waterproof Torlys vinyl flooring. If it is even, you can install it directly on your existing subfloor; an uneven subfloor will require fixing before installation.

4 mm and 6 mm vinyl flooring are recommended for busy and active households. You can confidently install them in areas such as your kitchen or living room.

• 6 MM to 8 MM Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring between 6 mm and 8 mm is meant for very heavy traffic areas, less so residential areas.

When selecting vinyl flooring for your Toronto-area home, it is crucial to remember that the thicker it is, the more expensive it will be. The condition and type of subfloor you have is also very important when choosing the thickness of your vinyl flooring. Always make sure that the subfloor is completely clean, level, and has no dents, loose tiles or damage prior to installation, as installing directly over it will damage your floors. To ensure proper installation and stability, add a layer of wood with a minimum thickness of ¼” if your subfloor is made of wood. A thicker vinyl floor is advisable for tile, wood, ceramic, or terrazzo subfloors.

 

Finally, before selecting the thickness, you should carefully consider your lifestyle requirements and the installation area. For increased stability, durability, and support in high-traffic areas, thicker vinyl flooring should be installed. Hiring reputable flooring services from AA Floors is best if you have never installed flooring before. Contact our team if you have questions or need guidance on choosing the best flooring for your home.