Why Is the Wear Layer on Wood Flooring So Important?

Anyone in the market for new floors should definitely consider either solid hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring. While both options are a bit more expensive, they’re much longer lasting than their vinyl or laminate counterparts. Additionally, it’s impossible to top the look of wood floors!

But before you rush into buying solid or engineered hardwood flooring, it’s important to understand a bit about these floors, especially when it comes to wear layers.

The wear layer is the top layer of the board, and is the part of the floor that can be sanded and refinished throughout your floor’s lifetime. Solid hardwood floors typically have wear layers of six to seven millimeters. Engineered wood floors, on the other hand, may have much thinner wear layers—the wear layer for some lower-quality floors can be as little as one millimeter.

The benefits of a thicker wear layer

The main reason to shop for floors with a thicker wear layer is that a thick wear layer is directly correlated to the number of times a floor can be sanded and refinished. Floors with thicker wear layers can be sanded and refinished more times than those with thinner layers.

Engineered floors with a wear layer of less than one millimeter can’t be refinished at all. A four-millimeter wear layer, meanwhile, can be finished up to five times, and the number of refinishes only goes up from there.

Why does refinishing matter?

If you’re unfamiliar with hardwood flooring, you might be thinking, “Who cares about refinishing?” But sanding and refinishing are crucial when it comes to keeping your floors looking their best.

Refinishing your floors is the only way to get rid of those ugly scuffs and scratches, and this process extends the lifespan of your floors. Hardwood flooring is usually refinished every 15 to 20 years, but that age depends on factors like having pets or kids around. Once wood floors are sanded and refinished, they’re restored to like-new condition.

How thick should my wear layer be?

Experts agree that the thicker your wear layer, the better. With a thick layer, you can rest easy knowing your floors will be protected and will stand the test of time. We don’t recommend buying floors with a wear layer of less than six millimeters. In worst-case scenarios, flooring with thin wear layers may need to be replaced in just a few years, which is a big waste of money.

If you live in a household with pets or young children running around, we recommend looking for a wear layer of at least seven millimeters. These floors may cost a bit more, but they won’t be damaged by your kids or furry friends.

Your dedicated flooring contractor will be able to recommend the perfect floors and wear layer for your living situation.

Get the best floors at The Wholesale House

Come to The Wholesale House for the best deals on high-quality hardwood flooring. Give us a call today to learn more about wear layers on our products or to see all of the flooring options we have in stock.

Categorised in: Hardwood Flooring

This post was written by Writer