Acclimation

Acclimation is not required. COREtec Pro can be installed and walked on the same day in a climate-controlled space — no waiting period.

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 clean, structurally sound, flat to within 3/16 inch over 10 feet, and free of debris, paint, oil, wax, and old adhesive residue.

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)

On concrete subfloors, perform a calcium chloride or in-situ relative humidity test per ASTM F1869 / ASTM F2170. The result must fall within Shaw’s published moisture limits in the COREtec Pro install guide.

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 recommended over below-grade or concrete subfloors per ASTM F710.

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 is needed — COREtec Pro Classics ships with attached cork pad.

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 cork 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 angle-tap click installation is the standard method. Direct glue-down is also approved per the Shaw COREtec Pro install guide.

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

Compatible with radiant heat systems. Maximum surface temperature must not exceed 85°F.

Pro tip: 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

Use a pH-neutral hard-surface cleaner — Shaw recommends their Encore floor cleaner. Sweep or dry-mop regularly to remove grit; damp-mop with approved cleaner as needed. Do not use treated dust mops; they can leave residue that dulls the finish over time.

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 wax, polish, vinegar, citrus solvents, oil soap, and abrasive scrubbing pads. Do not use rotating-beater-bar vacuums, and skip steam mops unless explicitly approved for the specific COREtec product.

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 protectors on furniture legs and non-staining floor protectors under heavy furniture, chairs, and tables. Use walk-off mats at exterior entries to capture grit.

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.