You've seen the glossy ads. You've heard the pitch. But let me tell you the secret the other guys won't: the real deal-maker in a vinyl plank floor isn't the wood grain you can see, it's the invisible forcefield you can't. It's called the wear layer, and it's the personal bodyguard for your floor's good looks. This transparent champion takes the punches from stilettos, the scrapes from dragged furniture, and the spills from your 'relaxing' glass of Cabernet. Before you buy any LVP, know this: the thickness of that bodyguard is the single best indicator of whether you're buying a long-term asset or a short-term headache. So, is the 12 mil wear layer tough enough for a busy living room or is it best used in the corner office? Lets begin.
The 12 mil wear layer refers to the thickness of the protective layer on top of the vinyl plank, with one mil being equivalent to one-thousandth of an inch or 0.001 inch. the most popular wear layer thicknesses on the market are 6mil, 12, and 2o mil wear layers. However, the lifespan of a 12mil wear layer can vary depending on several factors. The quality of the wear layer material, the installation method, the level of foot traffic, the maintenance routine, and the exposure to sunlight all play a role in determining how long it will last. To directly answer the question, a 12 mil wear layer vinyl plank should last anywhere from 8 to 12 years. They can last even longer if you purchase a quality brand. Remember to consider the other factors mentioned to accurately gauge the overall lifespan of your vinyl plank flooring.
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