SPC Flooring Floating Installation Guidelines
Please read the following instructions thoroughly and carefully before installing the floor.
Important note:
- Each project should be installed by a professional flooring contractor or skilled tradesperson. The installation process and method selected is the responsibility of the contractor. You must be satisfied that the contractor is qualified to carry out your site installation. If you have any concerns regarding the install, please contact your reseller for review.
- A thorough understanding and inspection of the specific site conditions needs to be undertaken by the installer prior to commencing work. Site-specific circumstances such as proximity to water, river systems, coastal regions, along with other climatic extremes, may require more complex installation methods and maintenance. If applicable, underfloor inspections should be carried out before installation.
- Steam mopping should not be used under any circumstances. Regular sweeping and a damp mop for general cleaning.
These installation guidelines apply to the angle/tap or pressure-fit product. All instructions and recommendations should be followed for a satisfactory installation :
- The floor covering should be stored and installed in a climate-controlled location with an average temperature between 13°–29°C.
- Post-installation temperature range is between 0°–37°C.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight during installation to avoid possible discoloration and to avoid excessive heat building up on the floor surface.
- Temporary covering of windows and doors is required during the construction/installation phase. Once the building is occupied, the use of drapes or sun blinds is recommended to reduce harmful UV exposure and heat on the floor surface.
- Regardless of new construction or renovation projects, keep flooring stored in rooms that are not being worked in, and only install product after all other trades have completed work to avoid site-related damage and residues on the flooring.
- To minimize shade/batch variation, mix and install planks from several cartons.
- Inspect all planks for damage before installing. If you have any concerns about the product fit or finish, please contact your reseller immediately. DO NOT INSTALL DEFECTIVE PLANKS. Claims will not be accepted for flooring that has been cut to size or installed.
- All subfloor patching must be dry completely prior to installing the planks.
- All subfloors must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound. Nails, screws, and grout lines need to be flush and sound. The correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a successful installation. Subfloor must be flat, max. 3mm over 3.0m.
- SPC has an attached acoustic underlay suitable for single dwelling residential installations. The use of an additional underlayment is not required and may impact the performance of the installed floor and its locking system.
- Acoustic Installation for Multi-residential or Commercial installations: For multi-residential or commercial installations where additional acoustic dampening is required, a rigid (dense) acoustic matting can be used to meet the specified acoustic outcome. Typically, rubber or cork/rubber matting up to 5mm are suitable in these circumstances. Please check with your acoustic underlay supplier or acoustic specialist for an appropriate product and installation guidelines.
- Caution : Some types of nails, such as common steel nails, may cause discoloration through the SPC flooring. Solvent-based construction adhesives should not be used for installing underlayment. The manufacturer is not liable for the misuse of the above-mentioned products in connection with this flooring.
Tools required
- Tape Measure
- Utility Knife
- Jigsaw
- Straight Edge
- Tapping block
- Rubber Mallet
- Pull Bar
- 6–8mm Spacers
- T-Square
- Hand Pressure Roller
- Safety Glasses
- Broom or Vacuum
INSTALLATION OVER- TIMBER / WOOD PANEL / CONCRETE FLOORS
- Do not install SPC flooring directly over existing timber strip (solid) or engineered timber subfloors that have been installed directly on concrete or timber strip (solid) or engineered timber floors installed on structural bearers and joists or timber battens.
- 1.All floor surfaces shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean and free of all foreign matter such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils and old adhesive residue. The surface must be dense and free of flaking or powdery substances. Sand all edges/joints that are not flush on wood-based panels.
- 2.Subfloor wood-based types: Plywood, OSB, Particleboard (PB), and Masonite. They must be structurally sound and installed according to their manufacturer's recommendations. Local building codes may only establish minimum requirements for the flooring system and may not provide adequate support for proper installation and performance. If needed, add additional fixings to adequately secure an existing substrate. For new substrate material, fasten and secure according to panel manufacturing guidelines to meet local building regulations. Lightly sand all surface areas and important joints.
- 3. Important extra requirement for Particle Board (PB) & OSB sub-floors: Cover with 200um builder's plastic over and tape joints. This method is to ensure the Aspire acoustic underlay does not adhere to the subfloor and create issues.
- 4. SPC flooring is not recommended for installation directly over timber strip floors, retardant-treated plywood, or preservative-treated plywood. An additional layer of structurally rated plywood or hardboard (Masonite) approximately 6 or 7 mm thickness should be installed over the existing floor. Do not use additional underlay for normal installations as it will compromise the click system and void the warranty. Refer to page 1 for Acoustic installations in Multi-Residential & Commercial.
- 5.For concrete slab installations: The slab must be dry & level, with a maximum moisture level of 2.6-4.5% in a 24-hour period. Maximum level (for ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative Humidity test method) should be 85%.
- 6.Do not install over concrete with a history of high moisture or hydrostatic conditions. The pH level of concrete should be between 5.9 and 9.
- 7. The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry for installation remains with the floor installer/contractor.
- Radiant Heat: Hydronic In-slab only - Radiant heat components must have a minimum of 12 mm separation from the product. This is the only type of radiant heat system that is approved. Radiant heat systems must be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation to reduce residual moisture within the concrete. Three (3) days prior to installation, lower the temperature to 19°C. At installation, gradually increase the temperature in increments of 1°C to avoid overheating. The maximum operating temperature should never exceed 27°C. Use of an in-floor temperature sensor is recommended to avoid overheating.
INSTALLATION OVER EXISTING FLOOR COVERINGS
- SPC flooring can be installed over most existing hard surface floor coverings provided that the existing floor surface is clean, dry, and structurally sound. No loose grout, tiles, or planks. Tile grout maximum depth should be less than 2 mm below the tile surface.
- Existing sheet vinyl floors should not be heavily cushioned and should not exceed more than one layer in thickness. Soft underlayment and soft substrates will compromise the product's locking ability as well as diminish its indentation resistance.
- Installation is NOT allowed over any type of carpet.
- Do NOT install over existing timber strip floors directly adhered to concrete or installed directly over timber bearers & joists.
- Never use solvents or citrus adhesive removers to clean old adhesive residue. Solvent residue left on the subfloor may affect the new floor covering and its acoustic base.
FLOATING INSTALLATION ONLY
- SPC flooring is designed to be installed utilizing the floating method. Never permanently secure the planks to the subfloor when using the floating installation method. Do not install under kitchen island benches or fixed objects on top of the flooring. A 6-8 mm expansion space is required for perimeters on general installations. Larger installations may require additional expansion capacity—refer to the note below. Undercut all door jambs. Do not fasten wall mouldings or transition strips to the planks.
- Bathroom & Laundry: These areas must be independently installed from any adjoining floor installation. Follow building code requirements for wet areas.
- Expansion Recommendations: For Hybrid SPC flooring installations greater than 25 ft in length and 25 ft in width, you should allow for room to accommodate trims and longitudinal transmission joints to cater for the normal creep and racking that occurs within the overall structure. A 6-8 mm perimeter expansion is recommended for general installation. Avoid excessively long hallway installations that run into large open floor plans. Extra expansion capacity may be required. Always consider transmission breaks to improve the performance of your floating installation.
- 1.Before starting the installation, it is important to determine the layout of the flooring. Proper planning and layout will prevent having narrow plank widths at wall junctures or very short lengths at the end of rows.
- 2.As with all plank products, install the planks parallel to the longest exterior wall.
- 3. Determine if the starter row will need to be cut. The first row of planks does not need to be trimmed in width, but it will be necessary to cut off the unsupported tongue so that a clean, solid edge shows towards the wall.
- 4. Installation must start from the left side of the room working to the right when working in front of the planks or facing the starting wall.
- 5.Install the second plank in the row by angling the end tongue into the end groove of the first plank. Be careful not to bend the corners of the plank. Maintain an expansion gap as you rotate the plank to the subfloor. Install the second plank in the row so that the long side tongue is positioned just over the groove lip of the plank in the first row. Working from the second seam, at a low angle, insert the long tongue into the groove of the adjoining plank. Very little force is required to seat the tongue into the groove. You should feel the tongue lock into the groove.
- 6.Work across the length of the room installing planks along the wall, the first row, and then aligning the planks in the second row. It is critical to keep these two rows straight and square as they are the “foundation” for the rest of the installation.
- 7. Check squareness and straightness regularly.
- 8. Cut the last plank in the first row and leave an expansion gap of 6-8 mm. Planks may be cut with a quality utility knife using the “score and snap” technique or a saw. The leftover piece of this plank may be used to start the third row if it is a minimum of 18 cm long.
- 9. Continue installing planks and make sure to achieve a random appearance with end pieces of a minimum 15 cm. Check that all planks are fully engaged. If sight gapping is found, the gap can be tapped together by using a tapping block and a scrap of flooring to cover the tapping block in order to avoid damaging the planks.
- 10.When fitting under door jambs, if necessary, a pull bar may be used to assist in locking the planks.
- 11. When fitting around obstacles or into irregular spaces, planks can be cut easily and cleanly using a utility knife with a sharp blade. A saw is often beneficial, and you may want to make a cardboard template of the area and transfer this pattern to the plank.
- 12. Protect exposed edges of the flooring by installing wall mouldings and/or transition strips. Make sure that no plank will be secured in any way to the subfloor.
- 13. For wet areas, such as bathrooms or laundries, caulk the perimeter of the floor with a mold-resistant silicone suitable for wet areas.
- 14. Protect the finished flooring from exposure to direct sunlight to reduce fading and thermal expansion.
REPAIRS
- 1. SPC plank flooring is tough and durable; however, if a plank becomes damaged, it can be replaced. If the damaged plank is located along the perimeter of the room, the easiest technique is to disconnect the planks until the damaged plank is removed. Replace the plank and reassemble the planks. If it is impractical to disconnect and reassemble the flooring, the following procedure should be followed:
- 2. It is recommended to use painter's tape along the sides of the board to be replaced to prevent damage to the adjoining boards.
- 3. Using a utility knife, cut through the middle of the damaged plank, running the length of the plank.
- 4. Carefully remove the cut pieces from the ingot. You can use a utility knife or chisel to remove the pieces from the floor. Clean up any debris from the opening area.
- 5. To prepare the replacement plank, cut and remove the tongue from the long side and the short end of the plank. This can be accomplished using a utility knife.
- 6. Using a utility knife, remove approximately 35 mm of the groove on the tongue side of the plank from the tongue end.
- 7. Apply a small bead of Super Glue (Ethyl Cyanoacrylate), Sika Bond F-100, or similar adhesive to the groove of the boards in the floor.
- 8. Insert the replacement plank, locking the long side joint (groove side) into the existing floor. Note: The tongue end of the replacement plank will overlap the existing floor prior to being fully inserted.
- 9. Using a scrap piece of plank as a tapping device, tap the groove end into place. Insert the blade of a utility knife on the opposite side to fit and adjust the end as it is being tapped into place. Place a weight on the plank until the adhesive sets, for a minimum of 6-8 hours.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
- 1. It is important to note that SPC flooring will require normal care and maintenance to keep it looking good and performing as intended. If you follow these simple cleaning and maintenance guidelines, your new floor will provide many years of great service.
- 2. Please ensure that an ideal room-climate is maintained whenever possible. Ideal conditions would provide for approximately 45-60% air humidity and 21-25°C room temperatures. This is a comfortable range for indoor climate and provides for optimal health and assists in the overall performance of the floor. Ensure that any air-conditioning or evaporative cooling systems are operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to avoid excessive cooling, heating, and moisture ingress remaining within the internal space.
- 3. Daily cleaning should be done with a vacuum cleaner, static mop, or a smooth floor-broom. Any sand or dirt should be removed promptly because they are abrasive and will cause scratches and damage to the floor surface coating over time. Please ensure no metal screws or sharp edges are evident on the vacuum head.
- 4. Whenever necessary, the floor surface can be cleaned with a well-rung damp-dry mop. Do not use conventional household cleaning solutions and detergents, as they are abrasive and will damage the clear surface coating. Never use traditional wax or steel-wool on your Aspire floor. PH-neutral cleaning solutions are required, please observe and follow manufacturer's instructions. Bona Floor Care products are a worthwhile investment. Do not use Steam Mops under any circumstances.
- 5. It is vitally important that you affix felt strips or suitable protection under any furniture-bases, chair-legs, and commonly movable objects. At entry points and for high traffic areas, the use of floor mats to remove entry grit and dirt is recommended and will help preserve the floor surface coating. Do not drag or push heavy items across the surface of the floor.
- 6. Roller or castor chairs should not be used directly on the floor surface as grit will build up under the wheels over time and become abrasive. Best practice suggests that protective mats must be placed on the floor to protect the surface coating and to keep your floor looking good.
- 7. In case of any plank damage on the surface, it is possible to remove damaged planks by pulling up the surrounding area and re-fitting a new plank. Professional advice and assistance from a qualified installer or specialist retailer is recommended prior to any rectification.
- 8. Note: Only in-slab hydronic heating will be considered under warranty provisions. Other heating methods are not covered by our warranty. Please review carefully with the heating systems guidelines for installation and operational procedures before installing your SPC floor.