Selecting the right engineered wood flooring thickness is crucial, impacting everything from installation to longevity. With various options available in the UK market, understanding which thickness will best suit your specific needs and living spaces can make all the difference in your flooring investment.
Engineered wood flooring consists of multiple layers – a solid wood top layer bonded to a plywood core – providing exceptional stability while maintaining the beautiful appearance of real wood. In this guide, we'll explore different thickness options and help you make an informed decision.
What is Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood flooring is a sophisticated type of wood flooring that combines the beauty of real wood with enhanced durability and stability. Unlike solid wood flooring, which is made from a single piece of timber, engineered wood flooring consists of multiple layers. The top layer is a solid wood veneer, providing the authentic look and feel of solid wood. Beneath this veneer are several layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard, which are bonded together in a cross-grain configuration. This construction method significantly reduces the natural movement of wood, making engineered wood flooring less prone to warping, shrinking, or expanding due to changes in humidity and temperature. As a result, engineered wood flooring offers a reliable and attractive option for homeowners seeking the elegance of wood floors with added resilience.
Benefits of Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring offers a multitude of benefits that make it a popular choice among homeowners. One of it's primary advantages is it's durability. The multiple layers of engineered wood provide a robust structure that can withstand daily wear and tear, making it suitable for high-traffic areas in the home. Additionally, engineered wood flooring is highly versatile. It can be installed in various rooms, including living rooms, hallways, and even on stairs. Its resistance to moisture and humidity makes it an excellent choice for kitchens and bathrooms, where solid wood flooring might not be suitable. Another significant benefit is its cost-effectiveness. Engineered wood flooring provides the luxurious appearance of solid wood at a more affordable price point. Moreover, it can be sanded and refinished multiple times, extending its lifespan and maintaining the aesthetic appeal over the years. Overall, engineered wood flooring offers a perfect blend of beauty, durability, and value.
Understanding Engineered Wood Flooring Thickness
Before diving into specific options, it's important to understand what we mean when discussing engineered wood flooring thickness. There are two key measurements to consider.
Total Board Thickness
The total board thickness refers to the overall depth of the engineered wood board, typically ranging from 10mm to 20mm in the UK market. This measurement includes both the wear layer and the core layers combined, affecting installation options, floor height, and overall stability.
While engineered floors are more resistant to moisture, solid wood floors have distinct aesthetic qualities and characteristics that many homeowners find appealing, such as unique grain patterns and visual appeal. Thicker boards generally provide better sound insulation and a more solid feel underfoot. They can also help even out minor subfloor imperfections and provide better thermal insulation, though the right choice ultimately depends on your specific requirements.
Wear Layer Thickness
Perhaps even more important than total thickness is the wear layer – the solid wood veneer on top of the engineered board. This layer determines how many times your flooring can be sanded and refinished, directly impacting it's longevity.
A thicker wear layer, such as 3mm or more, facilitates multiple refinishing processes and enhances the floor's durability against wear and tear.
Wear layers typically range from 0.6mm to 6mm. For residential use in the UK, wear layers of 3mm-6mm are considered premium quality, offering multiple refinishing opportunities over the lifetime of the floor.
Common Engineered Wood Flooring Thickness Options
Different wood species, such as Oak and Walnut, are used in engineered wood flooring, each offering unique grain patterns, color, and durability. Understanding these characteristics helps consumers make informed choices based on their style and needs.
14mm Engineered Wood Flooring
14mm engineered flooring sits in the middle range of thickness options, typically featuring a wear layer between 3-4mm thick. This versatile option works well with underfloor heating, provides good stability, and can be installed using multiple methods, though it may not feel as substantial underfoot as thicker options.
Best for most home environments, particularly living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms with moderate foot traffic, 14mm offers a good balance of performance and value.
15mm Engineered Wood Flooring
15mm engineered flooring offers slightly more substance than 14mm options while maintaining versatility, typically coming with a 4mm wear layer. It provides a good balance between affordability and quality, it's suitable for most installation methods, works well with underfloor heating, and provides good sound insulation.
Engineered floors are highly versatile and beneficial, making them suitable for various areas in a home such as basements, kitchens, and hallways. Ideal for family homes where durability is important but budget constraints exist, 15mm flooring works well in most living spaces, including kitchens with moderate foot traffic.
18mm Engineered Wood Flooring
18mm engineered wood flooring represents a step up in quality and performance, typically featuring wear layers between 4-6mm thick. These boards offer excellent stability, substantial feel underfoot, good sound insulation, and ability to be refinished multiple times, though at a higher price point.
In terms of feel and appearance, 18mm engineered wood flooring closely resembles traditional hardwood floors, showcasing the unique characteristics typical of any hardwood floor, including variations in color, the presence of knots and mineral streaks, and other natural wood features that enhance the visual appeal.
Best for high-end residential installations, master bedrooms, living rooms, and areas where maximum durability and longevity are desired, 18mm flooring delivers premium performance.
20mm Engineered Wood Flooring
20mm engineered flooring is a premium option with wear layers often reaching 6mm thick. It provides maximum stability, excellent sound insulation, solid feel comparable to traditional hardwood, and can be refinished numerous times for superior durability.
Ideal for luxury homes, heritage properties, and environments where the highest quality flooring is desired regardless of budget constraints, 20mm represents the top tier of engineered wood flooring.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Thickness
When selecting the ideal engineered wood flooring thickness for your home, several factors should influence your decision.
Subfloor Conditions
The condition and type of your subfloor plays a significant role in determining suitable thickness options. Concrete subfloors generally require thicker engineered boards (15mm+) to provide adequate insulation, while wooden subfloors can accommodate thinner options, though thicker boards may provide better sound insulation between floors.
Choosing the right thickness of engineered wood floor is crucial based on subfloor conditions to ensure durability and performance.
Uneven subfloors may benefit from thicker boards (18mm+) to help bridge minor imperfections, while severely uneven subfloors will require levelling regardless of flooring thickness.
Installation Method
Different thickness options lend themselves to particular installation methods. Floating installation works well with click-system engineered flooring of 14mm+ thickness, while glue-down is suitable for all thickness options but particularly effective with 14-15mm boards.
Engineered hardwood flooring offers versatility in installation, making them suitable for various areas in a home such as basements, kitchens, and hallways. Nail-down installation generally requires thicker boards (18mm+) to provide adequate depth for secure nailing.
Room Usage and Foot Traffic
The intended use of the space should heavily influence your thickness decision. High-traffic areas benefit from thicker boards (18-20mm) with substantial wear layers (4-6mm), while moderate-use areas typically do well with 14-15mm boards with 3-4mm wear layers.
Choosing the right thickness of engineered wood floor is crucial based on room usage and foot traffic to ensure durability and longevity.
Low-traffic areas can work well with thinner options, though many homeowners prefer consistent thickness throughout the property for continuity.
Underfloor Heating Compatibility
Underfloor heating systems have become increasingly popular in UK homes. Thinner boards (14-15mm) generally conduct heat more efficiently, with a maximum recommended thickness for underfloor heating typically being 18mm.
Always check manufacturer specifications regarding maximum floor temperature and heating system compatibility before installation.
Maintenance and Longevity Considerations
Refinishing Possibilities
One of the most significant benefits of choosing the right engineered wood flooring thickness is the ability to refinish the surface. A 2-3mm wear layer typically allows for 1-2 refinishing processes, while a 4-6mm wear layer can support 3-5 refinishing cycles over its lifetime.
A thicker wear layer, such as 3mm or more, not only facilitates multiple refinishing processes but also enhances the floor's durability against wear and tear, contributing to the overall longevity and performance of the flooring.
Impact on Long-Term Value
Quality engineered wood flooring is an investment in your property. Mid-range thickness (14-15mm) typically adds modest value, while premium thickness (18-20mm) is often perceived similarly to solid hardwood by potential buyers, with properties featuring premium engineered wood flooring typically recouping 70-80% of the flooring investment cost. In comparison, solid wood floors are known for their distinct aesthetic qualities and grain patterns, which can also significantly enhance a home's long-term value, though they may require more maintenance.
Conclusion
Selecting the right engineered wood flooring thickness is about finding the perfect balance between durability, practical considerations, and budget. For most UK homes, 15mm flooring with a 4mm wear layer offers an excellent middle ground, while 18-20mm boards provide exceptional longevity for premium installations.
For expert advice tailored to your specific needs or to see and feel different thickness options in person, visit Lumber King today. We offer free samples of our entire engineered wood flooring range, allowing you to test different thickness options in your own home before making your final decision.
