Acclimation

Acclimate flooring 48 hours in installation environment, original packaging, stored horizontal at 35-55% RH and 60-80°F

Pro tip: SPC doesn’t need acclimation the way hardwood does, but the install room should be at its normal operating temperature during install — not 60°F in winter or 90°F in summer. Install at the temperature the room will typically be. This minimizes edge-gap changes after the floor settles.

Subfloor flatness

Subfloor must be flat (3/16″ over 10 ft), clean, dry, structurally sound, and meet ASTM F710 requirements

Pro tip: If the subfloor has small unevenness that can’t be fully leveled, thicker SPC provides more physical forgiveness — 8mm and 10mm planks bridge minor dips and bumps better than 6.5mm. Rule of thumb: under 1/8-inch variance over 10 feet, any SPC thickness works. 1/8 to 3/16-inch — go 8mm minimum. Over 3/16-inch, the subfloor needs leveling compound before install regardless of plank thickness. Important caveat: even if thicker SPC masks the problem physically, manufacturer flatness specs are flatness specs. If a warranty claim gets filed later and the inspector measures out-of-spec subfloor, that goes in the report as installation-related — regardless of whether thicker plank was used to “compensate.” Thicker SPC is forgiveness for minor borderline cases, not license to skip subfloor prep.

Moisture testing (concrete)

Concrete: ≤80% RH per ASTM F2170, ≤3 lbs/1000 sqft/24hr per ASTM F1869, pH ≤9

Pro tip: One moisture test is a snapshot, not a seasonal profile. Slab moisture in the Bay Area can swing 10-15 percentage points between wet and dry seasons. If your test passes in summer, retest in winter before committing, or just install the 6-mil vapor barrier as standard practice.

Moisture barrier (concrete subfloors)

REQUIRED over concrete: 6 mil polyethylene vapor barrier with 8″ overlap at seams

Pro tip: We’ve replaced too many vinyl floors that failed from slab moisture in Bay Area homes — many built on fill or near old creek beds. Even when the slab tests dry today, seasonal water table shifts can push moisture up through the concrete years later. 6-mil polyethylene sheeting is $30-50 per room and takes 20 minutes to install. Always install it over concrete, regardless of what the manufacturer spec says is “required.”

Underlayment (do not replace the attached pad)

IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment is pre-attached — do not add separate underlayment

Pro tip: The attached IXPE antimicrobial sound-deadening underlayment with skeleton core is part of the warranty contract, not an accessory. Adding foam, cork, or rubber underneath voids the structural integrity coverage. If the subfloor is irregular, fix that with leveling compound first — don’t stack pads to mask a subfloor problem.

Installation method

Floating installation using Valinge 5G drop-down click system, no glue or nails required

Pro tip: Check the manufacturer spec for T-mold requirements between rooms — some brands require a T-mold at every doorway, others allow continuous install up to a certain run length. Don’t skip the check. If you run one continuous floor through a kitchen into a hallway and into two bedrooms without T-molds, each room’s subfloor shifts slightly differently with seasonal humidity and thermal changes. That differential movement concentrates at the narrow door transitions, and within 1-2 years you’ll see click-lock seams crack right at the doorways — not mid-room, always at the pinch points. T-mold at each doorway absorbs the differential movement and isolates each room’s expansion from the next.

Radiant heat compatibility

Compatible with radiant heat up to 80°F (26.67°C); maintain 1/2″ minimum separation from heating elements

Pro tip: The surface temperature cap is the critical number. Hydronic systems typically run below spec naturally; electric mats can exceed it if the thermostat is mis-positioned. Position the sensor in the finished floor, not in the slab, and verify with an infrared thermometer before tiling furniture or rugs on top.

Daily maintenance

Clean with pH-neutral hard surface cleaner; no steam mops; use felt pads under furniture; entry mats without rubber backing recommended

Pro tip: The fastest way to wear out the wear layer is tracked-in grit. Walk-off mats at every entrance plus twice-weekly vacuuming (hard-floor setting, no beater bar) in high-traffic areas buys years of finish life. The wear layer handles traffic; abrasive grit grinds it down prematurely.

What to avoid

Do not install over: tile below grade, carpet, hardwood, sloping floors, drains, existing floating floors, foam, rubber, cork, laminate, or air vents

Pro tip: Rubber- and latex-backed walk-off mats cause permanent yellow discoloration under SPC warranties. The rubber chemistry reacts with the wear layer over months. Use felt-backed or woven natural-fiber mats instead — and never leave any mat in place over a seam line.

Furniture and pet protection

Use felt pads under all furniture; allow flooring to expand/contract; maintain 35-55% RH year-round

Pro tip: If you have pets, avoid heavy wire-brushed or deeply-rustic surface textures. The deep grain grooves that make wire-brushed look authentic also trap pet hair, dirt, and grit. Vacuum can’t reach the deepest channels; over months, the floor looks permanently soiled even after cleaning. For pet homes, choose subtle-to-medium surface texture instead — still gets the wood-grain realism, skips the cleaning liability. Heavy wire-brushed SPC photographs beautifully in the showroom but doesn’t live well with dogs and cats.