14mm Laminate Flooring: Is the Extra Thickness Worth It?
14mm laminate flooring is the thickest standard laminate you'll find on the market, and it earns that extra bulk through measurably better underfoot feel, superior acoustic performance, and a more forgiving install over uneven subfloors. But it's not the right choice for every room or every budget — and in some GTA homes, a well-chosen 12mm product will outperform it. Here's exactly what 14mm gets you, what it costs, and when you should choose something else instead.
What Does 14mm Laminate Flooring Actually Mean?
Laminate flooring is built in layers: a wear layer on top, a decorative print layer, a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core, and a backing layer on the bottom. The total thickness of all those layers combined is what gives you the millimeter rating. At 14mm, you're getting a significantly thicker HDF core than the 8mm builder-grade stuff that was popular in early-2000s GTA tract homes — and even noticeably more than the 12mm mid-range products that dominate most showrooms today.
That extra core thickness does three things: it adds rigidity so the plank bridges minor subfloor dips without flexing, it absorbs more sound so footsteps don't echo through the floor, and it creates a more solid, hardwood-like feel underfoot. It does not make the floor more waterproof. The HDF core in any laminate — 8mm, 12mm, or 14mm — will swell if standing water penetrates the seams and sits for more than 72 hours.
14mm vs 12mm vs 8mm Laminate: Honest Comparison
Before you commit to 14mm, you need to see how it stacks up against the other common thicknesses. The differences are real, but so are the trade-offs.
| Thickness | Typical Cost (material only) | Underfoot Feel | Sound Rating (IIC) | Subfloor Tolerance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8mm | $0.89 – $1.79/sqft | Hollow, springy | Low (often no attached pad) | 3/16" max variation | Rental units, low-traffic bedrooms |
| 10–12mm | $1.49 – $3.49/sqft | Solid, minimal flex | Medium (often pre-attached pad) | 3/16" max variation | Main floors, open-concept living areas |
| 14mm | $3.49 – $5.99/sqft | Dense, hardwood-like | High (thick pre-attached pad) | Up to 1/4" variation | Multi-storey homes, home offices, master bedrooms |
| SPC/LVP (6mm) | $2.49 – $4.99/sqft | Firm, slightly less rigid than 14mm laminate | Medium (pad dependent) | Up to 3/16" variation | Basements, kitchens, bathrooms, anywhere with moisture risk |
The jump from 12mm to 14mm is real but incremental. The jump from 8mm to 12mm is dramatic. If you're replacing builder-grade 8mm laminate in a 2003-era Markham or Richmond Hill semi-detached, moving to 12mm will feel like a revelation. Moving to 14mm on top of that will feel like a refinement.
The Acoustic Advantage: Why Thickness Matters in Multi-Storey Homes
This is where 14mm laminate earns its price premium. In a two-storey or three-storey GTA home — think the stacked townhouses common in Thornhill, Vaughan, and North York — footfall noise traveling between floors is one of the most common complaints after a flooring install. The thicker the laminate core, the more it dampens impact sound before it transfers into the subfloor.
Most 14mm laminate products come with a thick pre-attached underlayment pad — typically 3mm to 5mm of foam or cork — built right into the back of each plank. That combination of dense HDF core plus thick attached pad can push Impact Insulation Class (IIC) ratings above 60, which is the threshold most acoustic engineers recommend for residential multi-storey applications. Compare that to a bare 8mm laminate with a separate 2mm foam pad, which might hit IIC 45 on a good day.
If you're installing on a second floor above a finished living space, 14mm laminate is a legitimate acoustic upgrade worth the cost difference. If you're installing on a ground-floor slab-on-grade, the acoustic benefit largely disappears — you're paying for it but not getting it.
Water Resistance: What 14mm Laminate Can and Cannot Do
Let's be direct: no standard laminate flooring — regardless of thickness — is waterproof. Some manufacturers now market "waterproof laminate" products that use a hydrophobic core and sealed edges. These products offer 72-hour waterproof protection, meaning if you wipe up a spill within that window, the core won't swell. But if water sits in the seams for days — a slow leak under a refrigerator, a basement window well overflow — even the best waterproof laminate will eventually fail.
14mm thickness does not change this equation. A thicker HDF core is still HDF. It still absorbs moisture. If you need a genuinely waterproof floor for a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or below-grade basement, you need to look at vinyl plank (LVP/SPC) instead. Our waterproof flooring category covers the full range of 100% waterproof options.
For comparison, the Rose NAF AquaPlus Silver 6mm Vinyl ($2.99/sqft) is permanently waterproof, installs over concrete slabs with no moisture barrier drama, and is available right now at our Markham location. At 6mm, it won't have the same underfoot feel as 14mm laminate — but it will never swell, buckle, or void your warranty because of a leaky dishwasher.
14mm Laminate Pricing in the GTA: What to Budget
Material costs for genuine 14mm laminate run $3.49 to $5.99/sqft at retail in the Greater Toronto Area. Budget-tier 14mm products from lesser-known brands can dip to $2.99/sqft, but the wear layer is usually thinner (6 mil vs 12 mil) and the attached pad is cheaper foam that compresses within a year or two.
Here's a realistic budget breakdown for a typical GTA semi-detached main floor (approximately 800 sqft of open-concept living/dining/kitchen area, minus kitchen if tiling):
- Material (600 sqft at $3.99/sqft avg): ~$2,394
- Add 10% waste factor: ~$240
- Separate underlayment (if not pre-attached): $0 (most 14mm includes it)
- Professional installation (GTA rate, $1.50–$2.50/sqft): ~$900–$1,500
- Carpet removal (if replacing carpet): $0.50–$0.75/sqft — see our carpet removal service
- Transitions, trims, stair nosings: $150–$400 depending on doorways and stair configurations
- Total estimated range for 600 sqft: $3,700 – $5,200 installed
For a full breakdown of flooring costs across all material types in the GTA, see our Toronto Flooring Cost Guide (2026). You can also get a fast estimate using our online quote calculator.
GTA-Specific Considerations: Subfloors, Climate, and Housing Stock
Toronto and the surrounding 905 belt have a specific housing reality that affects every flooring decision. Here's what matters for 14mm laminate specifically:
Subfloor type: Homes built between 1985 and 2005 in Markham, Pickering, Ajax, and Brampton almost universally have 3/4" OSB or plywood subfloors over wood joists on upper levels, and concrete slab-on-grade in basements. 14mm laminate floats beautifully over OSB/plywood. Over concrete, you need to verify moisture levels first — the freeze-thaw cycling that Ontario gets from November through March drives ground moisture up through slabs seasonally. A moisture test (calcium chloride or RH probe) before installing any laminate over concrete is non-negotiable.
Subfloor flatness: One genuine advantage of 14mm laminate is its tolerance for minor subfloor variation — up to 1/4" over 10 feet in some products, versus the standard 3/16" spec for thinner laminates. In older GTA homes where joists have settled unevenly, this can save you significant prep work. That said, any dip or hump larger than 1/4" still needs to be addressed with floor leveling compound before installation.
Seasonal movement: Ontario's climate swings from -20°C in January to +35°C in July. Laminate expands and contracts with humidity changes. At 14mm, the planks are stiffer and have slightly less flex than thinner products, which means expansion gaps at walls are even more critical. Standard gap is 1/4" — do not skip it, and do not let furniture or door casings close it off. Buckling in summer is almost always caused by insufficient expansion gaps, not product defects.
Basements: Do not install 14mm laminate — or any laminate — in a below-grade basement in the GTA. The combination of seasonal moisture vapor transmission through concrete and the laminate's HDF core is a warranty-voiding combination. Vinyl plank or waterproof SPC flooring is the correct answer for basements.
Products to Consider: What We Actually Carry
We'll be honest: true 14mm laminate is a narrower category than 12mm, and not every brand makes it. Here's how our current laminate inventory maps to the thickness conversation:
The AF72113 Simba Rocky Mountain 12mm Laminate ($2.69/sqft) is our most popular mid-range laminate right now. At 12mm with an attached pad, it delivers most of the acoustic and underfoot benefits of 14mm at a meaningfully lower price point. For a 1,500 sqft main floor, the material savings versus a $4.49/sqft 14mm product is approximately $2,700 — enough to cover professional installation entirely. If your subfloor is in good shape and you're not on a second floor above a finished space, this is the honest recommendation.
If your priority is budget and you're doing a bedroom or low-traffic area, the Tosca Laminate 17001 ($1.49/sqft) is a legitimate entry-level option. It won't replicate the feel of 14mm, but it installs cleanly and looks sharp. Browse our full laminate flooring collection to see current stock across all thicknesses.
And if you're genuinely undecided between 14mm laminate and a waterproof alternative, compare it against our engineered hardwood options — at a similar price point, you get real wood on the surface, better resale perception, and comparable acoustic performance. Our flooring grade guide walks through how to compare quality tiers across material types.
Is 14mm Laminate Worth It? The Honest Verdict
14mm laminate is worth the premium in exactly these situations: you're on a second floor above a finished living space and footfall noise is a concern; your subfloor has minor unevenness you'd rather not grind down; you want the closest laminate approximation to solid hardwood underfoot; or you're doing a high-end renovation where the $1.50–$2.50/sqft premium over 12mm is a small fraction of the overall project budget.
It is not worth the premium if you're installing in a basement (wrong material entirely), if your subfloor is already flat and the acoustic difference won't be noticed, or if you're comparing it to a 12mm product with a quality attached pad — the gap narrows considerably in that case.
For most GTA homeowners replacing aging builder-grade laminate in main-floor living areas, a quality 12mm product is the sweet spot. For second-floor bedrooms and home offices where sound transmission matters, 14mm is a legitimate upgrade. For anywhere with moisture exposure, skip laminate entirely and look at our waterproof flooring options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 14mm laminate flooring actually waterproof?
No. Standard 14mm laminate is water-resistant at the surface but the HDF core will swell if water penetrates the seams and sits for an extended period. Some products marketed as "waterproof laminate" offer 72-hour waterproof protection with hydrophobic cores and sealed edges — but even these are not suitable for bathrooms, basements, or rooms with regular moisture exposure. For those spaces, 100% waterproof vinyl plank (LVP/SPC) is the correct choice.
Can I install 14mm laminate over concrete in my Toronto basement?
We strongly advise against it. Ontario's freeze-thaw climate drives seasonal moisture vapor through concrete slabs, and any laminate — regardless of thickness — is vulnerable to that moisture over time. Below-grade installations in GTA homes require a 100% waterproof flooring material. Vinyl plank or SPC flooring is the standard recommendation for Toronto basements.
What's the difference between 12mm and 14mm laminate in terms of feel?
The underfoot difference is real but incremental. 14mm laminate is denser and stiffer, with less flex underfoot — closer to the feel of solid hardwood. The more meaningful difference is acoustic: 14mm products with thick pre-attached pads can achieve IIC ratings above 60, which noticeably reduces footfall noise transmission between floors. If you're on a ground-floor slab, the feel difference is minor; if you're on a second floor, the acoustic difference is significant.
How much does 14mm laminate flooring cost installed in the GTA?
Material costs for 14mm laminate run $3.49–$5.99/sqft in the Greater Toronto Area. Add professional installation at $1.50–$2.50/sqft, plus transitions, trims, and any subfloor prep. For a typical 600 sqft main floor, expect a total installed cost of $3,700–$5,200. Use our online quote calculator or book a free in-home measurement for a precise number.
Does 14mm laminate need a separate underlayment?
Most 14mm laminate products come with a pre-attached underlayment pad built into the back of each plank. Do not add a second layer of foam underlayment on top of a pre-attached pad — doubling up creates too much give underfoot, which stresses the locking joints and can cause click-lock failures over time. If your product does not have pre-attached underlayment, use a single 3mm foam or cork pad.
How does 14mm laminate compare to engineered hardwood at the same price?
At the $3.50–$5.00/sqft material price range, you're choosing between the best laminate and entry-to-mid engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood has a real wood veneer surface that can be lightly refinished once, has better resale value perception, and handles humidity variation slightly better due to its cross-ply construction. Laminate at 14mm has a harder wear layer (more scratch-resistant), is typically easier to install as a DIY float, and is less expensive to replace if damaged. For resale-focused renovations, engineered hardwood often wins. For durability in high-traffic family homes, 14mm laminate is a strong competitor.
Ready to see 14mm laminate in person? Visit our showroom at 6061 Highway 7, Markham — we carry samples across all laminate thicknesses so you can feel the difference before you buy. Call us at (647) 428-1111 or book a free in-home measurement and we'll measure your space, assess your subfloor, and give you an honest recommendation on whether 14mm is the right call for your specific rooms.