The range of vinyl bases is diverse – they are available not only in countless colours and designs, but also in various thicknesses.
It is not so easy to keep an overview and to make the right choice, especially not.
The following summary of commercially available vinyl flooring thicknesses and their areas of application should help you to make a decision.
What does the vinyl floor thickness depend on?
With regard to the thickness of vinyl floors, two factors must be taken into account: the substrate and the wear layer.
Thickness of the carrier material
As regards the carrier material, a basic distinction is made between vinyl on HDF carrier boards and solid or solid vinyl.
Vinyl on HDF has a structure similar to laminate and is equipped with a click system.
Such a vinyl floor can only be laid floating and has a thickness of approx. 10 mm.
In contrast, solid or full vinyl only between 2 and 5 mm thick, is available with and without click system and is suitable for both floating and glued installation.
The thickness of the base material has an effect on the construction height of the floor, which is particularly important when renovating existing buildings.
If the vinyl floor is laid on an existing floor covering, such as on tiles, thinner variants are particularly suitable.
However, even if the old vinyl floor is removed, the overall height of the existing floor must be taken into account in order to avoid difficulties in tricky places (e.g. door sills). If in doubt, the door must otherwise be shortened.
Thickness of the wear layer
What is commonly understood by the thickness of the vinyl floor refers mainly to the top layer.
This surface, which is usually made of polyurethane, not only determines the appearance of the floor due to the incorporated decoration, but also protects the vinyl primarily against external influences such as wear, damage, moisture, e.g. with vinyl flooring in the bathroom or dirt.
The fact that the vinyl flooring is basically all the more hard-wearing and durable, the stronger this protective wear layer is, seems hardly surprising.
But which strengths are suitable in practice for which areas of application?
Vinyl flooring in practice: Which thickness for which room?
The thickness of the wear layer has a decisive influence on the resistance and robustness of the soil.
Commercially available vinyl floors are available in four different designs:
- 0.2 mm
- 0.3 mm
- 0.55 mm
- 0.7 mm.
When selecting a suitable floor, the daily stress and strain of the respective room plays a decisive role.
In living areas with low levels of wear and tear, such as bedrooms or offices, floor coverings with a 0.2 mm or 0.3 mm wear layer are completely sufficient.
If the floor is exposed to higher loads, as is the case in corridors, kitchens, living rooms and children’s rooms, but especially also in damp rooms such as bathrooms, the use of vinyl floors with 0.55 mm wear layer is recommended.
These are not only easier to clean, but are also more durable and more resistant to moisture.
Vinyl floors with a wear layer of 0.7 mm are ideal for the contract sector in particular.
Whether office, doctor’s surgery, salesroom or warehouse – floorings with a very high wear layer withstand even heavy loads and street dirt, brisk customer traffic or punctual loads from heavy shelves or desk chairs do not leave marks so quickly. Nevertheless, you should use a office chair underlay.
