When it comes to flooring and the whole flooring industry, laminate is the most reliable and most rigid material one can use. It is cheaper than a hardwood floor but more durable. Gone are the days where there was a standard for laminate thickness. Now, different laminate thicknesses can be seen in the market—these range from 6mm to 12 mm.
This article mainly compares two of the most widely used thicknesses of laminate flooring; 8mm and 12mm. Firstly, we will compare the 8mm and the 12mm laminate flooring. We will discuss the features of each thickness and why we think 12mm laminate thickness is better than 8mm laminate thickness.
Although both the 8mm and 12mm laminate thicknesses have some qualities that make them best, there are also some flaws in both the thicknesses.
Our Pick: 12mm Laminate Flooring
We have chosen the 12mm laminate flooring thickness as the best one for several reasons. Some following advantages of thick laminate flooring are that thicker flooring will offer more stability, better quality, and durability. A good quality 12mm laminate thickness will ultimately provide you with a sturdier feel while walking on it.
About the 8mm Laminate Flooring
The 8mm laminate flooring is one of the more decent laminate flooring thicknesses. It lies somewhere between the thick and thin floorings. It is why it provides you with the proper stability. This thickness is all you need to surpass the subfloor imperfections.
Features:
With thinner laminate flooring, you can get your hands on a sleek flooring solution. The 8mm laminate flooring thickness keeps your floor safe from scuff. Its scratch resistance feature protects your floor when sliding or rearranging furniture, no scuffs from tripping off, etc. Another essential factor about the 8mm floor is its hassle-free installation. The 8mm is also a budget-friendly solution to your chipped floor.
About the 12mm Laminate Thickness
The 12mm laminate floor thickness is highly durable and comes in incredible quality. This thicker laminate is the ultimate one to go for in high foot traffic areas. In addition, the thicker laminate makes it more robust; this flooring can also resist the impact of dropped objects. Regarding sound absorption, which is the primary goal of laminate flooring, 12mm serves well compared to the 8mm laminate thickness.
Features:
The 12mm flooring is more impact resistant and is less likely to be affected by the items falling on them. Also, the designs and embossing of a 12mm thicker laminate flooring are much more fantastic and give the feel of hardwood flooring, which you will not see with other thicknesses. Although the 12mm laminate flooring has all the features one can ask for, it is a bit on the expensive side.
Similarities between 8mm and 12mm
The 8mm and 12mm laminate flooring thickness have a few things in common. Let us look at the similarities between the 8mm and 12mm laminate flooring:
- Components: Both the 8mm and 12mm laminate boards are made of the same component called laminate, and this usually consists of multiple layers of materials made to mimic wood.
- Durability: The best thing about these two thicknesses is that they are highly durable. Moreover, compared with other types of floorings, both 8mm and 12mm prove high durability.
- Other Similarities: Both 8mm and 12mm can tolerate scratches, hide imperfections, and prevent you from tripping off on the slippery floor.
Differences between 8mm and 12mm
There are a lot of differences between the 8mm and the 12mm laminate floorings, and these are:
- Thermal Conductivity: The first one is thermal conductivity. The 8mm, being a thinner laminate, is more conducive than the 12mm variant, which is a thicker laminate.
- Firmness: The 12mm variant is more firm and provides excellent comfort to your feet than the 8mm flooring. It is stable and provides your feet with a firm grip and thus prevents tripping.
- Sound Absorption: Another significant difference between 8mm and 12mm thickness is the sound absorption ability. The 8mm thickness has less sound absorption ability due to the thinner laminate. On the other hand, the 12mm offers better sound absorption and, therefore, less noise.
- Cost: The 12mm laminate flooring thickness has a slightly higher cost than the 8mm thin laminate flooring.
Conclusion
Have you decided between 8mm vs. 12mm laminate flooring thickness? It all depends on your personal preference. If you want to go for environmentally-friendly, durable and affordable flooring, then 8mm is the one for you. However, if you are someone who does not mind spending a few extra bucks but cannot compromise on the design, impact resistance, and quality of the flooring, the 12mm laminate planks are the one to go for.