Wear Layer Vinyl Flooring

This top layer of pure vinyl is called the wear layer and is the most expensive part of the flooring since it is the only thing protecting the paper print film.

Wear layer vinyl flooring.

The most popular is a urethane based layer that protects the floor against scratches stains and scuff marks. Opt for a 20 mil wear layer for commercial spaces. Typically the wear layer is given some level of texture or embossing to better compliment the look of the print film being used. A thicker layer is more resistant to scratching and denting.

In the middle is a slice of vinyl plank flooring from the home decorators collection in noble oak. Vinyl floor layer diagram courtesy of. The level of wear on a vinyl plank is measured in mil one thousandth of an inch a mil is not the same as a millimeter as roughly 40 mil equals 1 0 mm 39 4 mil to 1 mm to be exact. It s slightly thicker at 4mm with an 8mil wear layer while the bottom sample is shaw matrix at 3 2mm thick with a 6mil wear.

The wear layer is the protective coating on top of the decorative layer of the vinyl flooring. The wear layer keeps the original look of the floor longer providing a maintenance free finish. This will ensure that your flooring is sufficiently durable to last for several years. If you are going to be installing your vinyl plank flooring in an area with high foot traffic such as a restaurant or retail space choose flooring with a wear layer of at least 20 mil 0 02 in.

Made of clear pvc film and applied to the top of the photographic layer the wear layer adds an extra boost of durability and extends the life of your resilient flooring. The thickness of the wear layer is measured in mils and wear layers are typically 6 12 or 20 mils thick. Well it s what protects your vinyl flooring from surface scratches and stains. If you re using vinyl planks for a low traffic area you might not need the thickest wear layer.

Put simply the wear layer is the top surface that provides the durability stain and scratch resistance of vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is a product composed of several layers of different materials sandwiched together to form a highly durable practical and affordable floor covering. Better quality flooring tends to have the highest wear layers but is more expensive. It s simple the wear layer helps your floor last longer.

In the photo below the top sample carries the trafficmaster allure branding and is 3 8mm thick with a 4mil wear layer. Thick vinyl thick wear layer higher quality. It s the second half of the durability equation. The two main types of vinyl flooring are luxury vinyl tiles lvt and vinyl roll.

Thicker longer warranty. While most wpc vinyl plank flooring is designed for residential use shaw is confident enough in this product to provide a commercial warranty of 5 7 10 or 20 years depending on thickness of the wear layer. Why is the wear layer important.