Wear layer thickness, explained
The wear layer is the part of a vinyl plank floor that takes the abuse. Here is what the numbers mean and how to pick the right one, in plain English.
What a wear layer is
A vinyl plank floor is built in layers. The bottom is the core, which gives the plank its strength and (in many planks) its waterproofing. Above that is a printed layer with the wood or stone pattern. On top of everything is a clear coating called the wear layer.
The wear layer takes the scuffs, scratches and foot traffic, so it is what protects the look of the floor over the years. A thicker wear layer has more material to wear through.
Wear layers are measured in mils. One mil is one thousandth of an inch, so a 20 mil wear layer is 0.020 inches thick. A mil is not a millimeter. The overall plank thickness is given in millimeters and is a separate number.
Which thickness do you need
These are the common ranges. Brands label them a little differently, so use them as a guide, not a rule.
6 milLight residential
Fine for a guest room or a low-traffic space. Not where we would put a floor in a busy household.
12 milTypical residential
A common choice for living areas and bedrooms in a home without a lot of wear.
20 milHeavy residential and light commercial
A good fit for busy homes, rentals and flips, and small offices.
28 milCommercial
Built for retail, medical and office spaces. It also suits a home where you want the most wear protection you can buy.
For a busy home, a rental or a flip, we point people to 20 mil or more. If you have dogs, kids, or a lot of foot traffic, go thicker. If it is a guest room, you can go thinner and save money.
A thick wear layer will not save a dragged floor
This part surprises people. A wear layer is built to handle everyday traffic, not a heavy load being pulled across it. If you slide a heavy dresser, bookcase, sofa, appliance or piano across the floor, you are likely to scratch, gouge or tear it. That is true whether the wear layer is 6 mil or 28 mil. Commercial floors are not immune either.
How to move things without damaging the floor:
- Lift, do not drag. Get a second person for anything heavy.
- Use furniture sliders or a moving blanket under the legs, and a dolly with soft wheels for appliances.
- For a very heavy item, lay a sheet of hardboard or thin plywood on the floor and move it across that.
- Put felt pads on the legs of chairs and tables, and replace them when they wear out or collect grit.
- Sweep or vacuum before moving anything. A bit of grit under a leg acts like sandpaper.
What a wear layer does not do
- It does not make the floor waterproof. That comes from the core of the plank.
- It does not stop dents from heavy, narrow loads, such as the legs of a heavy piece of furniture sitting in one spot. Wider pads help spread the weight.
- It does not replace good care. Grit, sharp heels and rolling office chair wheels all wear a floor, so a mat at the door and a soft chair mat help.
Questions people ask
- What is a wear layer?
- It is the clear top coating on a vinyl plank. It sits over the printed pattern and takes the scuffs, scratches and foot traffic, so it protects the look of the floor.
- What does a mil mean?
- A mil is one thousandth of an inch. A 20 mil wear layer is 0.020 inches thick. It is not a millimeter, which is a different and much larger unit.
- Is the wear layer the same as the plank thickness?
- No. Plank thickness, usually given in millimeters, is the whole board. The wear layer is only the clear top coat, given in mils. A thick plank with a thin wear layer will still wear like a thin wear layer.
- Does a thicker wear layer make the floor waterproof?
- No. Waterproofing comes from the core of the plank, not the wear layer. The wear layer is about surface wear.
- Can I drag furniture across a vinyl plank floor?
- Please do not. Sliding a heavy dresser, sofa, appliance or piano can scratch, gouge or tear the surface of any floor, whatever the wear layer. See the section above for how to move things safely.
See the vinyl plank in stock
9206 United Dr, Austin, TX 78758. Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 512-339-4145