What is the wear layer in vinyl flooring construction?

This clear, top-surface layer gives durability, absorbing foot traffic and daily wear-and-tear while protecting the floor’s original beauty. The wear layer lies between the polyurethane coating on top and the printed design underneath it. The thicker the wear layer, the more durable the floor will be. Wear layer thickness in the flooring industry ranges from 3 mil to 40 mil. However, Urban Surfaces’ wear layers never go below 6 mil.

What Is A Mil?

A mil is an imperial measurement meaning thousandth of an inch. Mainly recorded in mils, a wear layer can also be shown in millimeters (mm). Example: 40 mil equals 1.016mm.

How Thick Should The Wear Layer Be?

That depends on usage. In residential settings, you’ll often see wear layers ranging from 6 mil to 28 mil. When deciding on the thickness, consider things like daily foot traffic and pets in the home.

We recommended 20 mil wear layers or higher for commercial settings, which go through high levels of wear-and-tear. Commercial settings often must withstand day-long foot traffic, impacts from equipment with wheels, and more.