Acclimation

Acclimate boxes flat in the installation room for 48 hours at 65–85°F and 35–65% relative humidity before installing.

Pro tip: Run the HVAC for 48 hours before installation to stabilize room temperature and humidity. On new-construction sites especially — fresh drywall releases significant moisture for weeks after finishing, and you want that settled before the floor goes down.

Subfloor flatness

Subfloor must be flat to within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Fill low spots and grind high points before installation.

Pro tip: Use a 6-foot straightedge and check flatness every 3 feet in a grid pattern, not just one line across the longest dimension. Small local dips are what telegraph through SPC seams over time, not the 10-foot average.

Moisture testing (concrete)

Test concrete subfloors per ASTM F1869 (≤ 5 lbs/1000 sqft/24hr CaCl) or ASTM F2170 (≤ 80% RH).

Pro tip: On concrete slabs less than 60 days old, test moisture per ASTM F2170 (in-situ probe) even if the manufacturer doesn’t require it. Fresh concrete releases moisture for months. Waiting an extra week saves you from adhesive failure or trapped moisture issues down the road.

Moisture barrier (concrete subfloors)

A 6-mil polyethylene moisture barrier is required over concrete subfloors. Not required over wood subfloors that pass moisture testing.

Pro tip: 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier over concrete is NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) best practice — even for waterproof SPC. The core is waterproof but click-lock seams are not engineered for continuous moisture pressure from below. Unroll the poly, overlap seams 6-8 inches, seal with waterproof tape, run 2-4 inches up walls. This protects the click-lock seams and extends floor life by decades.

Underlayment (do not replace the attached pad)

No additional underlayment required — 1.5mm IXPE anti-microbial acoustic pad is factory-attached.

Pro tip: Two layers of pad compress unevenly under foot traffic, which causes the click-lock seams above to flex and eventually separate. The engineered anti-microbial acoustic IXPE pad is sized to the plank’s flex tolerances. Leave it alone, and fix any subfloor issues below the pad rather than above.

Installation method

Floating click installation. Leave 1/4-inch expansion gap at all walls and fixed objects. Do not glue or nail.

Pro tip: The 1/4-inch expansion gap isn’t negotiable — it goes at walls, cabinets, islands, pipes, pillars, door jambs, and sliding door tracks. Skip it at one wall and the floor has nowhere to expand into; you’ll get buckling in the middle of the room by the second summer.

Radiant heat compatibility

Radiant heat compatible. Maximum surface temperature 80°F. Heat must rise gradually (no more than 5°F per hour during initial warm-up).

Pro tip: Manufacturer spec: Radiant heat compatible. Maximum surface temperature 80°F. Heat must rise gradually (no more than 5°F per hour during initial warm-up). Rushing the ramp-up is the #3 radiant-heat SPC warranty issue we see — edge separation from thermal shock. 5°F per day back to operating temperature is conservative but reliable. Plan for a 2-week ramp-up period, not a 2-day one.

Daily maintenance

Sweep or dry-mop regularly. Clean with a damp mop and pH-neutral cleaner. Never use wax, polish, steam mops, or abrasive cleaners.

Pro tip: pH-neutral is the keyword. Acidic cleaners (vinegar-based) and alkaline cleaners (ammonia-based) both dull the Ceramic Bead finish over months, even if they clean well short-term. Stick with a dedicated vinyl cleaner and a damp microfiber mop — wring it out before the mop hits the floor.

What to avoid

Avoid prolonged direct sunlight without UV-protective window film. Do not use rolling chairs without protective floor mats.

Pro tip: Abrasive powders, scouring pads, and ‘miracle’ cleaners aren’t just warranty issues — they physically scratch the wear layer. Once it’s scratched, you can’t refinish SPC the way you can hardwood. Stick with microfiber and pH-neutral cleaners, and the floor will outlast most of its owners.

Furniture and pet protection

Use felt pads under all furniture legs. For heavy items, use wide-base coasters to distribute weight.

Pro tip: Pet claws don’t usually damage a 20 mil wear layer during normal walking — but scrambling starts and stops on hardwood transitions can chip the painted bevel edges. Keep claws trimmed and use runners in hallways where pets sprint.