Hardwood flooring not only looks great in any room but also adds resale value to your home. So when it’s time to replace your old flooring with engineered hardwood, you must consider what thickness will work best. Below you’ll find information on the best thickness for engineered wood flooring and if it will meet your standards. You’ll have to consider the foot traffic, the previous flooring thickness, and other factors so that your flooring is seamless and long lasting.
What Is Engineered Wood?
Engineered wood looks similar to hardwood, but the manufacturing process differs. Engineered wood consists of a substrate of plywood. Once the substrate is made, a thin layer of hardwood is bonded to the plywood surface.
Engineered hardwood flooring for sale also comes prefinished with a few color options to choose from. Lastly, it has a lower price point than solid hardwood, making it more affordable for people on budgets.
What To Consider for Wood Thickness
Knowing the best thickness for engineered wood flooring will give you the best quality and layout. Here are some factors that will help you determine what thickness you should choose for your floors.
Previous Floor Thickness
In many cases, the thickness of your previous flooring will determine the thickness of your new flooring. If you go for the same thickness, you won’t have to change skirting boards or door heights due to the slight change. This will reduce costs and improve overall convenience.
Heated Flooring and Foot Traffic
If you have heated flooring, a maximum flooring thickness of 1/2 inch is recommended. This allows heat to more easily pass through the flooring into the room.
Additionally, you must make sure your boards are thick enough to handle heavy foot traffic. Whether in a bedroom or kitchen, the flooring must be thick enough for additional sanding and refinishing for years to come.
What’s the Best Engineered Flooring Thickness?
In short, when it comes to engineered hardwood flooring, the best standard thickness option ranges between 3/4 and 5/8 of an inch. Engineered hardwood features a “wear” layer and a “backing” layer beneath it. So the wear layer can measure out to 3/16 of an inch, and the backing layer can measure to 9- or 11-ply.
Engineered hardwood flooring can bring a lot of benefits to your home. But knowing the necessary thickness for long-lasting, sturdy floors will benefit you even more.