SPC Floor Installation: How To Lay SPC Planks Properly?

The SPC Floors (Stone Plastic Composite), are prevailing in the architecture of interior spaces. Its cost-benefit ratio makes it the ideal solution for any interior design and decoration project. These floors are the perfect combination of durability, quality, design and style. They provide an appearance of distinction and elegance in the space they occupy. At present they are related as the avant-garde trend in floors capable of withstanding water and high temperatures. In addition to being non-slip and supporting heavy traffic.

SPC is also an extremely easy-to-install floor, but it still has to follow some rules for its service life to be better protected. So in this guide, we tell you how to install SPC floor correctly!

Suitable Surface

Porous or lightly textured surfaces; solid floors that have been properly glued; clean concrete and properly cured (cure must have been applied for at least 60 days prior); wooden floors with plywood on top. All surfaces must be cleaned and dusted. They may be installed on floors with radiant heating (temperature must not exceed 29 ° C or 85 ° F).

Inadequate Surfaces

Rough and uneven surfaces including rugs or bolsters. Heavy and rough textures and / or uneven surfaces may distort the surface finish. This product is not compatible with rooms that are susceptible to flooding or rooms that have wet concrete or saunas. Do not install this product in areas with long periods of direct exposure to the sun.

Note: Old Resilient Floors Should Not Be Removed. These Products May Contain Elements Harmful To Your Health Such As Asbeto Fibers Or Crist Alina Silica.

Preparation

48 hours prior to installation, the plates or rigid tiles must be acclimatized to the temperature of the room where they will be installed (approx. 20 ° C). Before installation, check your floor for manufacturing defects or shipping damage (if irregularities are found, do not install and contact your supplier immediately).

Make sure that your floor includes an anti-acoustic layer, in case you should not purchase it according to your preference (Superlone, IXPE, EVA, others) to install your SPC floor and ensure the correct performance of the product.

Check that the lot number and the number of units match and make sure that you have purchased the necessary quantities to complete the work. Remove glue residue and / or residue from the floor to be replaced.

New concrete floors must have a drying period of at least 60 days prior to installation. Plank flooring requires a plywood subfloor. All toe heads must be below the surface. Secure all plates that are loose or loose. If the subfloor is uneven (above 1/8 inch or 3.2mm, in a 4ft or 1.2m gap) scrape, flatten or fill uneven planks and fill any holes or cracks using a floor leveling compound. If you are installing on tile, use a leveling compound to cover the joint lines. Before laying the plates, make sure the floor is smooth, clean, free of wax, grease, oil or dust and sealed.

Tools

Scalpel, spacers, pencil, meter, ruler and / or square and protective glasses.

SPC Floor Installation Steps

Step 1: Start in a corner by laying down a plank whose tongue is pointing toward the wall. Place spacers between the wall and the long or short sides (as applicable) of the planks to maintain an expansion gap of 8-12mm (5 / 16-3 / 8 inches).

Step 2: Attaching the second plate.

Insert the tongue of the second plate into the groove of the first plate at an angle of approximately 15-20 degrees. As the second plate is lowered, it will make a click, or “click,” indicating that it has clicked into place. Align the edges carefully and make sure the surfaces of both plates are completely flat.

Step 3: Continue assembling the first row. To join and tighten the plate joints, use a rubber mallet to strike from the short sides of the plates. When installing the last sheet, you will notice that the sheet does not fit completely into the installation space. Therefore, you will have to cut this plate to the size of the space to be covered.

Cut the plate as follows:

Measure the distance of the space to be covered from the wall to the surface of the next to last plank. When you get the measurement above, don't forget to subtract the 8-12mm (5 / 16-3 / 8 inches) that correspond to the expansion space. Once the final measurement is obtained, mark the cutting line with a pencil and make the cut using a square and the scalpel.

Recommendation:

a) The minimum measurement that the first and last sheet of each row must have is 20cm (8 inches).

b) You should trim the first plate in a row when the last plate is less than 20cm (8 inches) long.

Step 4: Begin the second row with the piece left over from the previous cut to get a staggered pattern of the planks. Remember that these cut pieces should be a minimum of 20cm (8 inches). Additionally, it is recommended that the joint distance between the rows be at least 20cm (8 inches). Take the cut plank, tilt it at a 15-20 degree angle, and insert the tongue side into the first row groove. Lower the iron until it clicks, or "click," indicating it has clicked into place.

Step 5: Installing the second plank in the second row:

a) Take this plank and point its long side (with the tab) towards the first row slot at a 15-20 degree angle.

b) Lower the iron, it will make a click, or “click”, indicating that it has clicked correctly into place. Line up the sides carefully.

c) To join and tighten the plate joints in the second row, use a rubber mallet to strike from the short sides of the plates.

d) Make sure the surfaces of these first two rows are completely flat

Recommendation:

a)It is very important that the first two rows are installed correctly, otherwise they may affect the overall installation of the floor.

Step 6: Continue the installation of the remaining rows by applying the above process. Be sure to position the spacers to maintain an expansion gap of 8-12mm (5 / 16-3 / 8 inches).

RECOMMENDATION:

a)It is a requirement to apply transition molds every 15 meters in any direction, as well as in all entrances.

Step 7: Installation of the last row.

After installing the next to last row, the available floor space is likely to be less than the dimensions of the planks.

In case this happens, we recommend the following process to trim the plates in the last row:

a) Measure the distance of the space to be covered from the wall to the surface of the penultimate row.

b) When you get the measurement above, don't forget to subtract the 8-12mm (5 / 16-3 / 8 inches) that correspond to the expansion space.

c) Once the final measurement of the space to be covered is obtained, set the distance on the plate starting from the long side with the tongue and mark the cut line with a pencil. Make the cut using a square and the scalpel.

Recommendation:

a) The cutting of the plates of the last row must be done in such a way that the segment to be installed includes the side with

the reed. The piece that remains is the one that contains the side with the splice groove.

Step 8: Door frames and heater vents also need expansion spaces. First, cut the sheet to the required length and place it in the installation position to measure and outline the cut areas. Make the cut of the marked contour. Be sure to leave the required 8-12mm (5 / 16-3 / 8 inch) expansion distance on each side.

To trim door frames, turn a plank upside down, position it next to the door frame, and outline the height of the plank on the door frame. Make the frame cut following the drawn line and verify that the iron slides easily underneath it.