Laminate flooring is becoming a trend, and professionals and DIY installers are taking up the installation challenge. A critical factor in this installation is the laminate width, as it acts as a guideline for the number of planks you will need depending on your floor space.
So, how wide is laminate flooring? Laminate flooring is available in widths from 5 inches to 8 inches, but you can break the planks to achieve an appearance of 2 or 3 inches patterns. If you want to install your planks in smaller areas, consider 3-5 inches planks and 6-8 inches planks in larger spaces. These planks are also available in different thicknesses from 6-12 mm. Most laminates above 12 mm have the pad width included in the measurements. Thus, if you are looking for the best quality laminate, consider a 10-12 mm thickness and if the price is the limiting factor, consider a 7-8 mm laminate flooring.
Installing laminate flooring requires you to understand the sizes available in the market to enable you to calculate your requirements for your space. Like other types of flooring, laminate is available in standard sizes.
Different manufacturers will pack them in different sizes, but most will stick to the market average sizes. Read on to understand the different laminate flooring widths to guide your next flooring installation.
A standard laminate flooring width will fall between 5 and 8 inches, but you can achieve smaller sizes by breaking the planks. These laminates are available in thicknesses from 6-12 mm. Above this thickness range, the manufacturer will include padding for the laminate and its width.
You should not consider the padding thickness when calculating the measurements during installation. Thicker laminates are usually high quality and durable, unlike thinner ones. They will also hide most of the imperfections in your home for a perfect finish. The price of a thicker laminate is equally higher, but given the variety in the thickness, you can select one to match your budget.
Now that you know the width of laminate flooring, your next step will be to determine how much laminate you need for your space. To do this, you will need to establish the area of the space you want to install.
You can use a tape measure to determine the length and width of the room and multiply to get your square footage. This process is straightforward for perfect square and rectangular rooms. If your room is irregularly shaped, you will first determine the standard length and width, then measure the irregular spaces individually and add them to your total square footage.
On your room’s total area, add the waste factor since no room will utilize the exact planks or tiles you estimated. Mistakes are prone to happen and leaving room for this means ordering extra laminate.
Generally, you should allow up to 10% waste to ensure you have enough material. While you may not use all the material, you will thank me later when your laminate gets damaged and you need replacement, as your current design may be out of stock, making the extra laminate in your store a lifesaver.
You can then add the total area and divide it by the surface area of your laminate flooring to determine how many planks you will buy. You can check the packaging to know how much laminate is in a package.
Now that you know how much of the laminate flooring you need to buy for your space, you can proceed with your purchase decision and install the flooring. Before installation, acclimate your laminate to your room temperature and humidity for at least 48 hours. As you do this, check that aspects in the installation, including the underlayment, moldings, and concrete, are in order.
The underlayment is ideal as a water and sound barrier. Finish moldings are useful in securing your laminate at the edges, not to mention their designer touch and protective role. If your subfloor is uneven, level it first, especially if you plan to install a thin laminate.
If you plan to install laminate over new concrete, you should wait for about two months for the concrete to dry. For the older concrete, check the moisture level and slope. A flat concrete floor is ideal for this installation.
If you plan to install laminate over ceramic or porcelain tiles, ensure the surface is flat and in good shape by making the necessary repairs to your existing floor.
What Are the Sizes of Laminate?
Selecting laminate for your flooring requires you to consider the dimensions. These dimensions will not impact the quality but will affect durability and the floor appearance after installation. Read on to understand the sizes that laminate comes in to guide your decision.
Laminate is available in different widths and thicknesses. The thickness can range from 6 mm to 12 mm, while the width ranges from 3 to 6 inches. Since there is nothing like custom laminate, knowing your plank dimension and color is vital to your installation. Luckily, there are many size combinations available that you can choose from.
Among the three factors to consider in laminate flooring are your laminate’s length, width, and thickness. The width determines the visual look and ease of installation. Narrower laminate will add a spacious feel to a smaller room, and you will spend less time cutting them during installation.
The length of your laminate will affect the floor appearance and room ambiance. If you want a spacious feel in a larger room, consider longer laminates. The standard length of laminate flooring will be anywhere between 126 to 138 cm, but there are exceptions with long boards of up to 185 cm.
Very long laminate boards are difficult to work with, and attempting an even layout can be challenging, especially through DIY installation. However, if you lay long boards in a spacious room, the struggle will be less.
The laminate thickness will vary depending on the manufacturer, and just like the length and width, it will impact the durability of your floor. Generally, a thicker laminate will last longer and if you consider laminate flooring for a high traffic area, always go for thicker options.
Thick laminate is also advantageous as a poor heat conductor as your floors will be warmer. These boards are available in different lengths, making installation easy.
When it comes to your laminate flooring thickness, there will be no noticeable difference if you buy from the same manufacturer despite the thickness. You will notice a slight difference in the pricing, and the ultimate durability may not also be affected if you choose well. However, you should consider the evenness of your subfloor. If your subfloor is uneven, it will pay to choose a thicker laminate.
Thicker laminate is also ideal if you live in an apartment and want to reduce noise from the other floors. However, if your subfloor is perfectly even and noise is not an issue, you can get away with the thinner laminate options. Even then, always seek your manufacturer’s approval before purchase.
This is because laminate has an AC resistance level, and choosing the best is necessary depending on your footfall. However, you should note that the quality of laminate flooring does not degrade with thickness. Rather, your demand for having an even subfloor will increase with an uneven subfloor.
Comparing the different laminate sizes will give you an idea of the effect of thickness on durability, enabling you to settle for the best size depending on your project. The 6mm-8mm laminate floorings are thinner and will feature setbacks such as less durability, more imperfections, low impact resistance, and echo.
Even then, their lower cost makes them popular among users. The 8 mm laminate is specifically common for its durability and comfort at its price. The 10-12mm thick laminate flooring eliminates most problems from the thinner flooring.
Regardless of the laminate size, the model of the board does not change. The laminate manufacturing process includes four layers on the board. These include the core, backing, décor, and wear layer. The core layer gives the board strength and stability, explaining the laminate’s stronger dent resistance than hardwood flooring.
The backing layer offers stability and extra support, while the décor layer gives the floor its aesthetics. Décor layers feature a printed image recreating the natural look of stone, wood, or tile. The wear layer protects against scratches and daily wear. It features an easy to clean and stain-resistant surface that retains a shine after cleaning.
How Wide Is Wide Plank Flooring?
When shopping for planks, you will probably ask yourself whether to go for wide or narrow planks, depending on your space. Read on to understand how wide plank flooring is to guide your installation.
Dimensionally, wide planks are anywhere between 5 and 14 inches wide. This is unlike the normal range of the commonly used planks between 5 and 8 inches. On the other hand, narrow planks are between 2 and 4 inches wide. In most cases, the wide planks will also be longer as their source is longer trees. Manufacturers obtain such planks from the thickest part of the trees. Wide planks also mean fewer seems between the boards, hence fewer interruptions of the wood and room’s natural lines.
Generally, wide planks are more expensive than other forms of wood flooring, given the material and labor requirements. These costs will exceed greatly for planks above 10 inches. Installing such floors will require skill in matching the wood grains and eliminating gaps between the boards.
As such, you should consider professional rather than DIY installation. The cost is higher for newly manufactured planks than reclaimed flooring, with the type of wood also impacting the prices.
In addition to price, wide planks feature limitations in their design, hence the spaces you can install them. Given its highly textured and dark tone, installing this flooring in homes with rustic décor or traditional styles will be best. Manufacturers are shifting this by creating lighter shades, making these floorings fit in modern-style homes.
When it comes to maintenance, your wide planks are no different, and you should follow the same routine as any other wood floor. Wipe spills immediately and avoid too much water or a steam cleaner on your wide wooden planks.
Instead, use a damp duster and seal the floor periodically with vanish. If possible, purchase extra planks in case of future replacement, as your current design may be out of stock by the time it wears out.
Whether to lay the wide or narrow planks on your space is a choice. The floor you lay in your room can make your space cozier, bigger, and more relaxed. To achieve your desired look, the width will come in handy. Hence, besides the budget and size of your room, you should factor in the size of your room and style.
If your room is small, consider narrow planks for an elongated look, making the room appear bigger and more formal. Installing wide planks in a small room will make it feel cramped, given the many knots and grains in wide planks that can affect the room ambiance.
If you insist on the wide planks in small rooms, consider cleaner grades instead. Also, you should lay these planks parallel to the longest wall for an airier and longer look. Wide planks are generally safe for bigger rooms and will create an even bigger illusion.
When it comes to your style, consider narrow planks for a cleaner and contemporary feel. Wide planks may also work in this style if you pick the cleaner and lighter grades. On the other hand, if you love the rustic, traditional style, the darker wide planks are ideal. These planks feature more grains and knots, enabling you to achieve a traditional touch in your modern home.
Wrap Up
Laminate flooring is becoming popular among DIY homeowners, and many are switching to this option, given its durability and style. Knowing the size of your laminate is necessary to determine how much you require for your space.
Laminate is available from 5 to 8 inches widths, and you can adjust the width downwards by slicing the laminate to fit the smaller areas. Besides the width, you should also consider the laminate length and thickness for the correct measurements during installation.
Finally, if you are a traditional rustic lover, the wide planks should top your flooring list. These planks range between 5 and 14 inches wide and are usually longer. With this installation, you should factor in your room size.
The wide planks fit well in larger rooms, given their many knots and grains. You should consider the lighter shades of wide planks for smaller rooms to avoid a crowded look.
