How Thick Is A Floorboard?
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Floorboards are an essential element of a flooring system. As a homeowner, while flooring any space, it’s your responsibility to look beyond the design and aesthetics.
Yes, those are also important attributes but when it comes to functional aspects, Floorboard Thickness is something you ought to consider. Every wooden plank you see at the hardwood flooring showrooms comes in different sizes and thicknesses.
There is a wide range of floorboards available in the market including Solid Hardwood Flooring, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,white oak hardwood flooring , Laminate Flooring, Parquet Flooring, Vinyl Flooring, and so on. Choosing the right thickness is critical for your floorboards to ensure their stability, durability, and longevity. But with so many options available, it seems to be challenging to determine the perfect thickness that satisfies your needs.
In this comprehensive guide, we will be exploring everything you require to know about hardwood flooring thickness. After going through this guide, you will be able to make an informed decision about the ideal floor width for your home.
From understanding the factors determining the thickness of wood flooring to the effects of choosing the wrong thickness, we have covered all the essential aspects in this blog.
Stay tuned and keep reading to know how thick is a floorboard…..
When you see a luxurious hardwood floor and examine its properties, rarely do you pay attention to its thickness…leave aside the factors affecting it!!! Thickness is one of the crucial properties you need to look at while purchasing a floorboard for your space. And let us tell you that selecting just any random thickness won’t work.
You have to select the width that exactly matches your installation method, type of subfloor, weather, and wood material. Furthermore, you also have to take into account its ability to be refinished and sanded. To help you make a perfect selection, we have jotted down the factors affecting the thickness of a floor:
The type of hardwood you use impacts largely the thickness of the floor. Different types of species differ according to the density which affects the overall thickness of hardwood flooring. The hardwoods with higher density are stronger and more durable which makes them thicker to provide additional support.
For instance, Hickory and Oak woods are known for their sturdiness and durability. Hence, the boards are usually thicker and used for high-traffic areas. On the contrary, Pine and Fir belong to the category of softer woods that may require thinner boards to avoid warping.
In a flooring project, the grade of the hardwood affects your decision of choosing the thickness of the wooden planks. Here is a simple formula – the higher the grades of hardwood are, the thicker the boards and the fewer the knots and splits. Hardwood grades refer to the quality and appearance of the wood.
Because of their desirability and expensiveness, high-graded woods are more used in premium flooring projects. With them, you obtain thicker boards that give a high-end feel to the floor cover. Thinner boards oppositely are used for lower-graded hardwoods which are more affordable.
The installation method has a significant influence on the thickness of a floor. Different methods of installation require different timber flooring thicknesses to achieve the expected results.
For instance, if it’s a nail-down installation, you have to attach the planks to a wooden subfloor using staples or nails. Here, you may need thicker boards to prevent buckling or sagging. Nonetheless, make sure that the board width doesn’t exceed the subfloor width.
Again for glue-down installation, boards are required to glue directly using a strong adhesive on a wooden or concrete subfloor. Thicker boards will work best here to ensure good bonding between the wooden surface cover and the subfloor.
The subfloor acts as the foundation of flooring on which you install the timber floorboard. Hence, the subfloor thickness significantly affects the floor width you need in your space. Let’s see some examples….
For a plywood base, you get to enjoy some sort of flexibility. These subfloors absorb shocks and stress resulting from foot traffic to a considerable extent. You may not need a thicker hardwood board; rather, a thinner one would provide the necessary support. Concrete subflooring contrast is resistant to the flexibility plywood offers.
Hence, it requires a thicker board to provide support and prevent deformations over time.
If you are planning to purchase a floorboard and are still stuck with the question, “How thick is a floorboard?” we suggest you work with a reputed flooring service provider. By collaborating with experienced flooring partners, you will be able to find the perfect flooring that exactly matches your durability, beauty, and stability. The right amount of thickness governs all these attributes and meets your expectations.
Hardwood flooring could be a too much confusing purchase for any homeowner or office owner if you don’t have much idea on how thick is wood flooring. There are so many different types of hardwood floor thicknesses that can make you go crazy. These variations depend on so many important factors such as wood species, width, grade, and age of the timber.
For instance, harder woods like Maple or Oak provide more thickness than softer varieties such as Pine and Fir. Furthermore, woods of higher grades are thicker and more consistent while the lower grades are embedded with more knots and imperfections.
Also, when the timbers are mature enough, they are thicker in comparison to the young logs. If the logs aren’t aged, they give you thinner boards that are less sustainable, and unable to withstand the room traffic as well as the weight of the furniture.
Below, we have presented a full hardwood flooring thickness chart displaying the timber floor cover densities according to the general floor thickness standards:
It’s the thinnest flooring option and is not used commonly. It’s typically used as an overlay on the top of the existing floorboard.
Boards with this thickness are slender and unsuitable for high-traffic areas. Although, it’s a budget-friendly option.
It’s the most common thickness for engineered hardwood with a thinner wear layer but a denser board.
It’s typically ideal for solid hardwood flooring to ensure stability and durability.
It’s the most ubiquitous thickness for solid hardwood flooring providing excellent support.
Now that you know how thick is a floorboard, you should also be aware that choosing the right thickness is not a guessing game. You have to be very particular and understand all the factors as well as conditions controlling the decision of selecting a specific thickness for installing engineered hardwood flooring or solid wood flooring.
Choosing the right wood layer is crucial since it will make a difference to the final look of your space. However, before determining how thick should floors be, you, as a homeowner, are required to check the following factors:
Wood flooring is quite sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature. This makes the board warp, expand, buckle, and contract with time which causes premature floor damage. Choosing the appropriate thickness enables you to mitigate these risks and ensure your floor remains attractive and stable over time.
In humid areas or places with significant temperature fluctuations, thicker hardwood boards are necessary to prevent resisting warping. Planks with more width are less prone to movement resulted due to temperature changes, resistant to tear and wear, stable, and durable. In areas with moderate or colder temperatures, thinner floorboards are suitable. They are less expensive and give amazing suitability for spaces having lower ceilings.
Taking note of the amount of foot traffic in a room will help you determine the ideal lumber floor thickness in no time. Rooms such as hallways, entryways, and living rooms, where there are high traffic levels, require thicker and more durable floor covers. Otherwise, they won’t be able to hold out against the everyday wear and tear.
Chunky boards can better handle the foot traffic if it’s a commercial space, or residential building having kids and pets. They can bear the foot traffic or the weight of the furniture pretty well. But if you are flooring a room with lower traffic levels such as home offices, or bedrooms, thinner timber boards are a cost-effective option.
Underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular in modern homes. They require careful consideration of the thickness and type of hardwood flooring to ensure optimal performance. Thicker timber boards are more resistant to heat on one hand while providing better insulation on the other.
Thinner boards don’t provide enough insulation and are unable to stand up to the heat produced, thereby getting twisted or malformed pretty quickly. Additionally, the type of hardwood selected also influences the compatibility with the underfloor heating system. Denser species like Maple, Hickory, and Oak can bear up against the heat without getting distorted.
You should have a floorboard that allows you to refinish several times in your lifetime. Sanding and refinishing are the two most important floor maintenance procedures which reduce the thickness of the top layer. They involve sanding down the floor surface to remove scratches, and grooves followed by the application of a new layer of finish.
If the density of the floor plank is high enough, you can sand down and refinish as many times as you want. Thicker floor covers have more material available to work with, therefore making it simpler to maintain surface integrity. Thinner boards can also be refinished a few times as the planks will become too thin and eventually, you need to replace them.
Underlayment is a material between the hardwood floorboard and the subfloor which provides soundproofing, insulation, and support. There are underlayments of varying thicknesses that impact the choice of hardwood flooring.
So, you must first measure how thick is underlayment.
For example, in the case of a thicker underlayment, thinner flooring is more compatible as it balances the height of the flooring system.
Contrariwise, for a thinner underlayment, thicker floorboarding is required to achieve the designed height and support.
Before you invest in purchasing a floorboard, it’s a MUST to determine how thick is a floorboard. The method to assess how thick are hardwood floors is a superb way to tell if your boards are strong enough to last for a lifetime. Using a set of very simple tools and paying attention to detail, you can measure the thickness accurately.
This will help you fulfill your flooring needs and analyze how well the floor your selected will fit your needs.
Follow these steps accurately to measure the wood flooring thickness and ensure your project is a big success:
Before jumping on to the main steps of measuring the timber floorboard thickness, let’s cover the supplies you need to take measurements. First of all, a Measuring Tape is the primary element you need followed by Calipers to take small measurements, a Depth Gauge to measure a hole or a groove, and a Straight Edge to assess the boards’ flatness.
Lastly, you need a flashlight to illuminate the inaccessible areas and make the measuring process easier.
You can find these tools at any hardware store at affordable prices. With them in hand, you are ready to begin the process of measuring how thick are hardwood floors.
The actual process of determining how thick are floors starts by placing the hardwood plank on a flat surface, devoid of any undulations.
Find a flat surface such as a table, another even floor, or a countertop, and place the floorboard on it to estimate the density.
Make sure, the board is not warped or bent, particularly at the corners; else your measurement will become wrong.
Especially, in terms of the engineered hardwood thickness, having multiple layers, they tend to get deformed. Be very careful about it!!
Use your caliper and measuring tape to gauge how thick is the floorboard from top to bottom. Start by measuring the thickest part of the board. In case, you are using tape, place one end of it at its top and extend the tape down to the bottom.
If you use Caliper, then place the jaws to the bottom and top of the plank and note down the measurement displayed. With Caliper, you have to take a series of measurements at different points all along the board to ensure accuracy.
The mechanism of assessing the solid or engineered wood flooring thickness will remain incomplete if you keep the wear layer unmeasured.
The wear layer is referred to as the top layer of the floor cover made of real hardwood. This wear layer determines the floor’s refinishing ability and durability.
Calculate the thickness of the wear layer from the top of the wear layer to the top of the board. Place the Caliper jaws or the measuring tape at the floor surface top and extend them to the wear layer to get the measurement flawlessly.
Once you have got how thick is wood flooring as a whole and at the wear layer, it’s time to compute the total thickness of the timber board.
All you have to do is add the wear layer engineered hardwood floor thickness to the overall thickness.
For instance, if the overall thickness is 0.5 inches and the wear layer is 0.125 inches, the total thickness of the board can be calculated to be 0.625 inches. Continue and repeat this process for every floorboard to ensure consistency in the thickness of each plank.
Only the upper portions of the floorboards are visible to us. Little do many people know that these floorboards come in different thicknesses which affect their durability, stability, and strength.
The availability of different widths is a reflection of the diverse needs of consumers, material options, or installation methods. Each thickness has its unique suitability and specific purpose. Thus, it’s important to understand the rationale behind these options.
Two of the most predominant factors influencing hardwood flooring thickness are stability and strength. Thicker boards are stronger and more stable because of more material, thereby, reducing the risk of bowing or warping over time.
This is especially applicable for homes experiencing heavy foot traffic, and having kids, or pets. The thinner planks are more prone to creaking and flexing, hence is a less durable option.
Nevertheless, it’s not like thinner boards are of no use. They give sturdiness to the floor when its subfloor is made of thicker planks. Another advantage of floorboard thickness is sound prevention. When the floorboards have more width they tend to block out sounds.
This is especially applicable for multi-storied buildings but unsuitable for single-storied or two-storied residencies. Slimmer boards will allow the sounds across various floors to reach you. If you have small children or older adults at home, you may need thinner wooden floor covers to monitor their activities.
Installation is another pivotal factor impacting the choice of floor plank thickness. It’s easier to install thicker boards. You don’t need vigorous subfloor preparations in comparison to the thinner options.
Thinner boards oppositely ask for additional underlayment to resist movement or squeaking which is one of their biggest disadvantages.
If you are considering engineered hardwood flooring, the thickness will vary. These floorboards are composed of multiple wood layers. The top veneer layer remains attached to a core made of plywood high-density fiberboard (HDF) using a strong adhesive.
In this respect, the thickness of each layer, starting from the top layer to the core may vary. If the hardwood veneer is thick enough, you don’t have to stress about refinishing it multiple times.
The average thickness of engineered hardwood floor covering generally ranges from 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch. Nonetheless, we recommend an overall thickness of ¾ inch or 5/8 inch to ensure more longevity and durability.
Such floors come with a Backing layer or Wear layer beneath it. Hence, the wear layer may measure out to 3/16 of one with a backing layer of 9- or 11-ply.
Undoubtedly, engineered hardwood flooring brings a myriad of benefits to your home only when you know the necessary thickness. One of the crucial benefits is its stability. Because of its specialized construction, engineered hardwood is less prone to expansion and contraction under different temperature conditions. This makes it a brilliant choice for areas having fluctuating weather.
At high-traffic places such as commercial areas or hallways, we recommend you a thicker version of the engineered wood floor with a thicker top veneer layer.
This works best when you want durability and longevity at these places. The same is not necessary for residential spaces.
Natural hardwood floorboards are completely made of solid wood. They are free from all kinds of engineered layers which mean the entire plank has the same thickness throughout the board. We often prefer thicker hardwoods because of their durability. They have less chance to bow or warp and guess what, you refinish it as many times as you want. Anyways, they come at a higher cost.
The average thickness of a natural hardwood floorboard can vary from ¾ inch to 5/16 inch.
Nevertheless, the exact width depends on the manufacturer. During selecting the thickness of a solid hardwood floor, it’s great if you consider the intended use of the space and the design aesthetic. The thinner boards give better results in terms of a more modern and delicate design.
During installing solid hardwood floorboards, this thickness matters most if the subfloor is made of wood planks having unquestionable integrity.
If it’s not much stable, a thick floor can’t help. The thicker hardwoods offer a certain kind of structural integrity the subfloor lacks from. Otherwise, they help in temperature control. Yes, there are proven effects of insulation on thicker boards.
Have you ever wondered how thick is a floor between two levels? This measurement is an important point of consideration in floor construction, design, and installation. Floors are crucial elements in the structural integrity of a building.
If there is a perfect thickness between the two levels of the floors, it would provide enough support to carry the weight of the furniture, equipment, and occupants.
Typically, this thickness ranges from 8 inches to 12 inches or more based on the type of construction of the building. In the case of traditional residential construction, the minimum thickness is around 19mm to 22mm. It also has a layer of OSB or plywood subflooring on top.
As a result, the total thickness might be around 10-12 inches including subflooring, the width of the joists, and the finished flooring. When it comes to commercial establishments, the thickness rises to around 25 to 32 mm to support heavy loads, wear, and tears.
In addition to this, the subfloor thickness and the type of wood you are using can also affect the wood floor thickness between two levels. If you have a thinner subfloor, you must opt for a thicker wood to prevent sagging. Similarly, various types of wood offer variable structural properties and require different thicknesses.
The thickness of a wooden floor largely depends on the type of timber used. Each type of wood has different properties in terms of stability, hardness, density, and texture. Hardwoods such as Maple, Oak, and Hickory are denser and harder than the softwoods like Fir, and Pine.
They need to be installed in thinner planks in comparison to other woods. This will give the floors a steady structural strength. Oppositely, the less dense softwoods may need thinner planks to offer a similar structural strength to Oak.
The thickness of the solid hardwood floors ranges from 5/16 inch to 3/4 inch, considering the species of the wood and its use on the floor. Thick, sturdy planks with fitted tongues and grooves are used for solid hardwood floors. Yes, it’s expensive, but surfacing materials like this have a long lifespan.
On the contrary, for maneuvered wood planks, determining how thick is hardwood flooring is a bit complicated because of the multiple layers in it. The top layer, also known as veneer, is made of a specific wood species.
Again the bottom layers are composed of more stable layers such as plywood. When the engineered floors along with their veneer layers are thicker, it’s possible to sand it more frequently than the thinner floors.
There is another aspect to consider in this respect and that is the stability of the timber. Several wood species are more rigid to changes in temperature and moisture; for instance, Cedar.
This leads to the expansion and contraction during climatic changes which damage the floor in the long run if the planks are thick. Engineered woods have a more stable backing layer or any other types of stable woods such as Teak, and require thinner planks as they don’t warp or cup much.
Determining whether your floor needs a quick replacement is important to reduce the likelihood of further floor problems in the future.
If floors are not replaced timely, it poses health and safety risks for the residents. And, hardwood floor thickness is a crucial factor to understand if you need to replace or refinish your floor.
But how?
To be specific, the higher the thickness of the wood floor, the more time you can refinish or sand before the requirement for replacement arises.
So, if the thickness is not just enough, you better replace it when required instead of refinishing. Every time a hardwood floor cover is sanded and refinished, the thin top layer of the wood gets removed to create a smooth surface. When these procedures are repeated, it wears away the wood’s thickness, making it more prone to warping and damage.
When it comes to solid hardwood flooring, you can sand and finish it multiple times. While each finishing removes the surface layer of 1/32 inch, the thickness is a crucial point of consideration to determine whether you need to refinish or replace.
You can refinish as many times as you want for solid hardwood flooring having a thickness of more than ¾ inch. But for the thinner veneer layer, this frequency is only once or twice.
Speaking about aesthetics, the visual appeal also matters a lot in the selection of hardwood flooring thickness. When the timber planks are thicker they create a more substantial and luxurious look. Thinner boards contrarily give a sleeker, more elegant, and modern experience.
The thickness of the older floorboards varies based on a range of factors. This includes but is not limited to the age of the floor, type of the wood used, milling standards, and the place of construction. Often older houses have massive floorboards that are thicker and stronger than modern floorboards.
If you talk about their thickness, it can be anything. For pre-1850 homes, the Victorian pine floors could be as thick as 11/8 inch. However, homes constructed before the 1920s also have historical wood floors which are ¼ to 3/8 inch thick.
Nowadays, most residencies have original floorboards, they are nearly 20mm thick.
In the early 1900s, wood floorboards were not a design feature; rather, it was structural and functional. To manufacture floors at that time, the lumber mills used to cut the boards into two basic widths – 2 1/4 inch and 1 1/2 inch. Mills used to cut the boards lesser than 3 inches thick into 1 1/2 strips which were also known as Strip Flooring.
During the 1950s and 60s, people were more inclined to carpet, linoleum, or tile and wood flooring went out of fashion. Ironically, in the 1980s, people again returned to wood flooring being frustrated with maintaining the carpets.
Some consumers at that time stuck to 2 ¼ inch and 3 ¼ inch thicknesses, while others were looking for larger dimensions, thicknesses, and colors.
Furthermore, when engineered wood arrived on the market, it had a thickness of 5 inches.
The layered design it had didn’t allow much expansion and contraction as the conventional floorboards.
Underfloor heating works when a heating system is installed underneath a building floor and it provides comfort and warmth through a circuit of pipes.
Intelligent thermostats monitor and control the heat to ensure a consistent temperature. You can install this system in both commercial and residential buildings as the primary or secondary heating source.
The thickness of the overall floorboard of your space depends on whether you have underfloor heating.
In case you have it, engineered wood floorboarding is the only option we would recommend. It’s because this is the best option that can withstand the temperature differences.
Now, when it comes to picking the right thickness for a board, we would recommend going for one that is a maximum of 18 mm thick. This is applicable only if you have an electric under-floor heating system. For the water-based under-floor heating system, the perfect wood floor thickness ranges between 20 mm and 22 mm.
Note that the thickness of the timber floorboard impacts the heat emitted by the heating system.
As a result, it’s important to consult this matter with an experienced professional floor manufacturer or installer to determine the particular installation requirements.
There is a saying in the flooring industry – “The Subfloor is the foundation of a good flooring installation.” And we completely agree to it!!!
Subfloor is the bottom-most horizontal floor layer that lies just on the structural joists. A typical subfloor is made of 4*8 or 4*12 foot plywood sheets with a thickness of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch thick nailed to the joist layer. The subfloor thickness regulates the thickness of the wood floor you are going to install.
For example, thicker subfloors are ideal for thinner flooring planks and thinner subfloors may need thicker wood planks. Maintaining a balance like this provides support and stability to the floor.
Plywood is regarded as the best subfloor material for hardwood floor installation.
Tongue-and-groove plywood reduces squeaks and enables the subfloor to fit better together. Apart from plywood, there are more options such as solid wood planks, and Oriented Standard Board (OSB).
Each of these has individual characteristics affecting the thickness of the wood flooring. The thickness of the plywood and OSB ranges from ¼ inch to 1 inch or sometimes more. Although the thicker OSB and plywood are more durable, they are more difficult to handle during installation as well.
You can also use solid wood planks to make subfloors. However, it’s a less common option than the formers. Solid wood subfloors are generally thicker than them, ranging from 1-2 inches or more than it.
Additionally, they are more expensive, and finding them in larger sizes is quite difficult.
Note that the type of wood your subfloor is made of also impacts the durability and quality of the installed wood floor. Using a low-quality subfloor may weaken your entire surface cover even if the flooring is of high quality.
While it may seem quite logical to opt for the thickest wood flooring, doing it actually won’t help. Rather it will fail your plan and make it counterproductive. Let’s see why!!!!
Thicker wood floors are costlier than thinner ones. You can add the thin planks up quickly to cover a large space. Thicker planks may require additional labor charges for handling and weight requirements at the time of installation.
Thicker woods are not suitable for all types of subfloors or installation methods. For instance, if you are installing wood floors over concrete subfloors, a thicker plank is not ideal. This is because of its added weight and pressure on the below structure.
While installing thicker planks, the subfloor needs extensive preparation as well. As a result, the installation cost increases.
Thicker floors don’t also work for every type of use or traffic. In the case of a residential building, a thinner floor boarding is perfect since these spaces are not exposed to heavy foot traffic. Thicker planks on the other hand go well for commercial settings where the floor has to withstand wear and tear, frequent use, and heavy loads regularly.
Thicker floor planks are not compatible with every type of underfloor heating system. Certain types of heating mechanisms require a thicker wood floor – Water-based heating system. And some other works perfectly with thinner boards – Electric heating system.
If you unnecessarily install thicker floors, it may lead to higher energy costs, damages, and reduced performance.
Purchasing hardwood flooring could be confusing. There are planks of various widths and lengths. Then there are multiple options about stains, species, and finishes which people consider primarily. But there is one option that people are not much bothered about which is the biggest mistake.
It’s THICKNESS. Sellers sometimes mention the thickness of wood flooring although they do not offer any options. Also, they don’t explain the differences.
So doesn’t it matter how thick is hardwood flooring?
Well, of course, it does.
Choosing the wrong thickness for a hardwood floor could give rise to different problems and issues related to the performance, installation, and durability of the flooring. If the hardwood flooring is too thin for the building structure or the structure, it may not have the required stability to bear the foot traffic, furniture, or any other loads. This may lead to bending, squeaking, or other issues causing potential safety hazards.
Again, if the thickness of wood flooring is not enough, it may not provide proper insulation against sound transmission or temperature changes. This may result in higher cooling and heating costs as well as increased noise levels in the building.
An excessively thin hardwood floor gets eroded more easily or quickly than thicker flooring. You won’t be able to sand or finish more than once or twice. This will make you replace the floors more often which is an expensive and time-consuming procedure.
Most importantly, the hardwood floor thickness impacts the various types of installation methods. In case you just go for any thickness or the wrong thickness option, it limits the number of design options available to you. As a designers or a homeowner, we can relate to how much disappointing this is!!
You have got a detailed idea of how thick is a floorboard. You have chosen a hardwood floor thickness, installed it, finished it, and started enjoying the luxurious aura of your new space. Now what? Does your work end here?
Not at all!!!
Even if you select a thicker variation of a floorboard, if you don’t care about it well, it will tend to get eroded and become thinner over time. This will increase the need for costly floor replacement in a short time which is something you won’t like to do.
Below, we have presented a checklist containing some do’s and don’ts you need to adhere to for maintaining your hardwood floor thickness.
Follow these tips to ensure the longevity of your floor cover:
The points mentioned below are what you should avoid to prevent thinning of your expensive floor covers:
Knowing how thick is a floorboard and choosing the right thickness is a very serious decision that impacts the future of your home or office.
At European Flooring, we offer various Modern hardwood flooring options available in different thicknesses to fit your unique needs. Whether you are looking for stability or classic beauty, we have exactly the thickness you want for your space. We have a team of experts who can help you find the right flooring aligned with your style and budget.
We are fully committed to providing high-quality floorboards supported by unmatchable customer service. Also, our wide range of flooring options comes with a warranty to ensure your fullest satisfaction. Having us by your side, you can be assured that you will be getting the best flooring for your business or home.
Get in touch with us today to book a consultation and initiate the process of choosing the hardwood thickness for your flooring. Looking forward to working with you and guiding you to create the stunning, long-lasting, and elegant floor of your dreams.