What is the best thickness for engineered flooring?

Engineered wood is a popular type of flooring, but many do not know precisely what the difference between it and solid wood flooring is.

The primary difference is that solid wood floors are entirely made of natural wood, while engineered ones combine a top layer of real hardwood with underlying layers of softer ones such as plywood.

Precisely how thick the layers should be is something else that’s not widely known. In fact, a number of issues will determine the thickness needed.

Will the room have underfloor heating?

If the engineered floor is being fitted on top of underfloor heating, it is generally best not to go for maximum thickness. In practice, that means no more than 15mm for all of the layers combined.

In this situation, the hardwood oak top layer should be on the thinner side of what is typical – roughly 3mm in thickness. If the engineered wood layers are too thick it will make it harder for the warmth from the underfloor heating to spread through the room efficiently.

How often will the room be used?

The amount of footfall the floor is likely to experience is another factor that will determine how thick the different layers need to be. This is particularly true if the floor is for commercial premises rather than a home, because then everybody walking on it will be wearing shoes.

That can lead to the hardwood veneer layer of the floor becoming scuffed and marked, which will be unsightly. Opting for a top layer of around 6mm thickness will ensure that the floor can be periodically sanded and refinished without wearing away.

Is it a replacement floor?

If the engineered wood is being put in to replace a previous floor, the easiest option is to go with a thickness that closely matches the old one.

A big disparity between the two will mean that everything from the height of the door in the room to the skirting boards would also have to be adjusted to accommodate the different thickness. Whether the floor is being fitted in a house or the premises of a business, this is a process that will cause a lot more disruption, as well as increasing the overall cost of the new floor.

If you are still unsure about what you need, it will make sense to talk to a flooring company with a good reputation and long experience of installing engineered floors.