It depends on what you want. A 12mm board feels more solid and substantial underfoot, is quieter over underlay and copes better with a slightly uneven subfloor than an 8mm board. An 8mm board is more affordable and perfectly good for everyday rooms. If the feel of the floor matters to you, 12mm is worth the small step up.

Not on its own. Thickness affects how solid and stable a floor feels, but durability, meaning resistance to scratches and wear, is set by the AC rating rather than the thickness. A thick board with a low AC rating can still scratch, while a thinner board with a high AC rating can be very hard-wearing. For a busy home, look for a 12mm board with an AC4 rating to get both.

Yes. A 12mm board with an AC4 rating is one of the best laminate choices for a busy family home. The thicker core gives a solid, quiet floor and the AC4 surface stands up to children, pets and heavy foot traffic. It is a hard-wearing, high-quality option for living rooms, hallways and open-plan spaces.

It is quieter than a thinner board, yes. The extra thickness reduces the hollow, clicky sound laminate can sometimes make. To get the best from it, lay a 12mm board over a good acoustic underlay, which softens footfall further and, in an upstairs room, cuts the noise carried to the room below.

Yes to both. We stock a 12mm herringbone within the Lignum Fusion range, so you can have the parquet look in a thick, solid board. For a waterproof 12mm floor, choose a Quick-Step waterproof range, as Quick-Step is the range we stock with waterproof options.