Does the thickness of waterproof hardwood flooring matter? Is thicker flooring better than a thin one? Is it worth paying $1 more per square foot for thicker flooring? Let’s dive into this forest of wooden mystery.
These are good questions. Yes, thickness is important, as long as some other characteristics are met, and I will try to explain how thickness combined with other flooring features can make for a better flooring product.
Thickness of Solid Hardwood
How thick is hardwood flooring? Solid flooring is 3/4″ (Three Quarter-Inch) thick. There are no mainstream solid wooden products made in different thicknesses. That makes it pretty easy to figure out eh? The next part of this guide covers engineered wood floor thicknesses. There are two standards of engineered floors to dig into.
Thickness of Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered flooring is typically offered in either a 3/8″ (Three Eighth-Inch) thickness or a ½” (Half-Inch). Flooring that is imported may be measured in millimeters, so a 3/8″ floor would be about 10 mm, while a ½” floor will be approximately 12.5 mm.
So why are there different options of flooring?
For the same reason, burgers come in different-sized patties! In flooring, like burgers, bigger is better for the most part. The 2 most common thicknesses, as I said earlier, are 3/8 and ½. The thicker floor will typically have more layers in it so it will be a lot more stable. But why are there different profiles? Why not 1 standard size like in solid hardwood?
Why Different Hardwood Thicknesses Exist
Always follow the money, reason is purely based on the price. In the marketing of almost every product in the world, there is always someone that is the cheapest. Being the cheapest is the holy grail, and during the rapid growth of the big box stores over the last few decades we learned to what lengths companies will go to be able to offer the lowest price. Don’t believe for a minute that a box store can sell the same flooring as your local store at a lower price.
They seldom do, with the great service and guidance that is offered by most small family stores not even considered. If this were not the case the boxes would sell the products using the same name as the small retailers so you, the consumer could do price comparisons. Nope, that ain’t gonna happen!
So how can a business be cheaper than their competitors? By using less beef! Or a lower quality beef. Have I mentioned that I have not had a cheeseburger in months?
Hardwood Plys – Thickness & Wood Layers
What happened was the manufacturers started making cheaper flooring. First, it was 7/16”, then 3/8″ thickness. Most engineered floors had 5 or 6 plies back then. Now engineered flooring is made with 3 plies. The number of plys is very important. More plys usually means more thickness, as the hardwood's core makes it thicker.
Each ply is inserted into the construction on a core, perpendicular to the previous layer. This application of alternating grain directions is what gives the floor stability. Next then the lamella, or top layer is glued to the surface of the finished core. You cannot see the core after it is installed so many people will never know what thickness their wood floor is, if it was furnished and installed by the home builder.
On top of these plies, or core. in the veneer wear layer. This is the part that you walk on, so it is how you can tell if your floor is wearing well. While the amount of veneer will not affect the wearability a really thin veneer is a sign of a cheap floor.
Hardwood Plys – Stability
So why are the plies important? Why is stability an issue?
The number #1 problem that affects hardwood flooring is the lack of stability in extreme or somewhat extreme conditions. Excessive humidity, flooding, broken water lines, dry winters, wood heat, and even direct sunlight can cause engineered hardwood flooring to warp and buckle. The fewer plies that the floor has, the more likely that flooring is to move. In the photo below you can see what looks like regular plywood. Instead it is the cross-section of a Somerset piece of engineered wood flooring. That is alot of material packed into 1/2 inch, including the veneer layer.
Somerset Floors 8 Ply Engineered Hardwood
Did I mention that our Somerset hardwood flooring features 8 plies? That is more than any other mainstream hardwood manufacturer. 8 plies are more stable than 5 or 6, and a half inch thick floor will almost always have more plies than a 3/8 floor, thus it will be more stable.
But stability is not the only issue. Because you know, once someone decides they want to build a cheaper product, anything goes! There will be other ways to cut costs, and those opportunities cannot be missed.
The Hardwood Lamella (Top Layer) Secret
One way is to use a less expensive lamella (The Top Layer of Engineered Hardwood). This is an especially popular trick that is used by most of the imported hardwood floors from Asia. Chinese Birch and Malaysian Oak are especially popular. While they make a beautiful floor, their lack of density will result in small dents all over your flooring. You will not be happy with that, I assure you!
These lamella, also known as the top veneers, will have a Janka measurement of under 1000, while domestic Oak and Hickory will be anywhere from 1260 to 1820. In the wood flooring business that is a huge difference. And if you really want to compare the longevity of a floor, peck on a sample with a hammer. See if it dents easily. Keep in mind that there can be a difference in density between multiple boards of the same product due to different grain patterns, but you will get the idea.
The final characteristic that we will discuss is the composition of the core. And while it doesn’t seem very important, I assure you that it is, for 2 reasons: density and stability.
The Hardwood Core Composition Options
For the same reason, some manufacturers are willing to use a cheap top layer they will use that same soft lumber to make the core. Why? It’s cheaper! Unfortunately, it also is the last part of an inferior product.
A soft core will give you a floor that will dent more easily than a high-end hardwood core. And in the day-to-day struggles that take place on your floor, you want the best shot you have at keeping your floor looking great for decades. Don’t buy a cheaply made engineered floor!
The second aspect of the core quality is stability. Earlier we discussed why stability mattered and how the plies impacted a floor’s stability. Equally important is the type of material used to make the core.
All of our Somerset hardwood floors are built with cores that are at least as hard as Northern Red Oak. This will give you a finished product that will perform well for many years.
And lest ye think that I am trying to sell you a more expensive wood flooring product, fear not! Our Blue Label floors from Somerset may have the physical characteristics of a Cabin grade floor: shorter boards, more color variation, and small knots. At the heart of Blue Label, they are the same 8-ply, hardwood core performance champion as the first quality Somerset wood flooring products. But a lot less expensive. Knowing what you know now, you can get a floor that won’t dent and warp while still allowing you to save some big bucks.
Which Flooring Thickness is in My Home?
Well, it's kind of embarrassing, but I have 3/8" flooring in my home. When it came time to install the flooring in my home I wasn't ready. I knew that I wanted Hickory, as I am a fan of the species. I definitley wanted real wood but did not have air conditioning installed yet. Nor did I have plans to install a HVAC system, so I decided not to go with solid Hickory flooring. And, being the cheapo that I am, I just grabbed an inexpensive wood floor with a 3/8 thickness because it cost less than a dollar a square foot.
One good thing about the hardwood flooring is the ease of installation. Compared a tile or carpet install, wood is not difficult for a DIY project.
I hope this helped you learn a little bit more about hardwood flooring thickness and how important it is for a long-lasting, durable floor.
