Understanding the Wear Layer of an Engineered Hardwood Floor (2024)

FAQs

Understanding the Wear Layer of an Engineered Hardwood Floor? ›

With some engineered wood floors, the wear layer for engineered wood is a part of the real wood veneer. Therefore, the thickness of the veneer and the wood's finish determines how long-lasting and high-quality your engineered wood floor is. It's recommended that an engineered wood wear layer is between 3mm – 5mm thick.

For residential settings, engineered wood flooring with a wear layer of 3mm or 4mm is generally recommended. This thickness offers a balance between durability, longevity, and cost, making it suitable for most homes.

Is a 1.2 mm wear layer enough for hardwood flooring? A 1.2 mm wear layer may be sufficient for low traffic areas, but higher traffic spaces require thicker wear layers of at least 2 mm for durability and longevity.

As the sanding process usually removes a 1mm layer, a 3mm wear layer engineered wood flooring can endure at least three sandings, translating into a lifespan of 45 to 60 years. Therefore, in domestic settings, a 3mm wear layer is more than adequate.

Lacquered and oil finishes stand as indicators of high-quality engineered wood flooring. A lacquered finish provides a robust, protective layer that is both durable and low-maintenance. An oil finish penetrates the wood, enriching its natural colour and highlighting its grain.

However, if your engineered wood floor has a 2mm wear layer, you can generally refinish it once or twice. A 3mm wear layer can be refinished up to three times and a 4mm or greater wear layer should not be refinished more than five times.

A wear layer is measured in “mils.” A mil is one-thousandth of an inch. It is not the metric measurement of a millimeter(mm). Generally, the number of wear layer “mils” is expected to last the same number in years. A 6 mil wear layer can last 6 years and a 20 mil wear layer can last up to 20 years.

The 20-22 mil thickness can actually withstand commercial environments. Choose flooring with a middle or higher wear layer if it will be in a high-traffic area of your home. A thinner thickness will be fine if the room in issue is unlikely to have substantial foot traffic. 12 mil works just fine in residential homes.

WEAR LAYER AND YOUR NEW FLOOR

In particularly high traffic residential and commercial applications we recommend 20 or 22mil wear layer. In our experience anything over 22mil only makes sense for high volume commercial projects.

The 4mm wear layer is able to be sanded and refinished several times over its lifespan. On average, a 4mm wear layer can be sanded and refinished three to four times over its 50 to 80 year lifespan.

How thick is the wear layer on Bruce engineered hardwood flooring? ›

A wear layer is used on the plank's surface. It consists of a 100% hardwood veneer. So if you purchase hickory engineered flooring, it features a layer of genuine hickory for the wear layer. Typically that layer is at least 2mm thick, though it can be as thick as 7mm.

3mm Layer- Can be sanded and refinished 2 to 3 times. Lifespan is approximately 40 to 50 years. 4mm Layer- Can be sanded and refinished 3 to 4 times. Lifespan is approximately 50 to 80 years.

Normally, we recommend a wear layer of at least 2mm, with 3mm being the most common thickness nowadays on high-quality engineered floors.

Ipe or Brazilian walnut is top-notch if you want the hardest and most durable flooring on the market. It boasts a Janka rating of 3,680, making it extremely hard to dent. Aside from its extreme hardness, it's good for a few other reasons as well. One reason is that it's available in many colors.

The top layer of the floor protects the floor from wear and tear, and prolongs the livelihood of engineered wood. Therefore, it's standard for wear layers and veneer to range from 3mm-7mm thick to ensure long-lasting flooring beauty. Remember, the thicker the wear layer and real wood veneer the better.

It is always recommended to roll a felt underlayment over the subfloor before this kind of installation takes place. It keeps moisture from being absorbed from the subfloor and makes all the difference between having a hardwood floor that warps and one that maintains its beauty throughout the years.

The protective coating on most engineered wood is aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide is an extremely tough finish that will give you great ware but is also very hard to sand.