Q: I searched your entire site but cannot find the answer to this question…Why the different thicknesses of the products and how do I know what thickness of (say, a laminate or bamboo) to buy?
By the way – this is really a good, helpful website. And, very well laid out.
K
A: Products are made in various thicknesses for different reasons. It is heavily dependent on the product itself. For bamboo and laminate, the rule of thumb tends to be that thinner products are of lower quality. Many 7mm laminates are great economical choices, but they don’t stand the test of time of something over 10mm. In the case of bamboo, solid bamboo is normally 5/8” thick and anything thinner is normally cheaply made product, so beware.
Hardwood is where things get a bit more technical. For solid hardwood the standard is 3/4”. Another important thickness is 5/16” and although it is much thinner than 3/4” it is more stable and able to be glued down to a concrete subfloor unlike 3/4” solids.
For Engineered floors, thicker floors tend to have more plies and a thicker species layer. Some manufacturers will use less plies, but use higher quality substrate with each ply being thicker than less expensive floors with more plies. In the end, the rule here is the more plies the better and a thicker species layer will be your best bet.
So to sum it up, thinner laminate and bamboo tends to be a bit more economical and lesser quality. For solid hardwood a thinner solid has more stability and can be installed in areas a normal 3/4” solid can’t. For engineered floors, try to find a floor with more plies and a thicker species layer.
