SPC Flooring:

• Benefits

SPC flooring is a durable, low-maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing floor solution suitable for residential and commercial environments. Its minimal thickness makes it ideal for new builds and renovations alike. It can be installed in indoors in any area like, bedroom, living rooms and areas with elevated moisture levels, including bathroom counters, bathroom walls, kitchens, and basements.

• Handling Instructions

The SPC flooring must adjust to the room temperature and remain in its unopened packaging for 48 hours. The packages must not be positioned on their narrow sides or placed on underlay materials to prevent edge damage and warping. Instead, they should only be transported and stored on a flat surface.

• Expansion Joints and Clearances 

SPC flooring can be installed without expansion joints for lengths up to 12 meters in areas that do not have direct sunlight. However, for larger spaces or intricate layouts (such as L-, Z-, or U-shaped configurations) or if heavy, permanent structures impede the movement of the floating installation, it is necessary to incorporate an expansion joint at an appropriate location, such as:

• Room Size: Expansion joints should be installed if the room size exceeds 40 linear feet (approximately 12 meters) in any direction.
• Large Areas: For large areas or when the flooring is installed across multiple rooms without breaks, it’s advisable to install expansion joints at every 30 to 40 feet (about 9 to 12 meters) to allow for movement.
• Fixed Obstacles: Around fixed obstacles like pillars, heavy furniture, or kitchen islands, leaving a gap for expansion is also recommended.

Areas subjected to dynamic horizontal forces, like gyms etc, are recommended not to use this flooring. Any expansion joints present in the sub floor must also be reflected in the flooring above. A minimum gap of 10mm should be maintained between the floor covering and all walls or fixed installations, such as steel door frames and heating pipes. Wooden frames should be trimmed at the bottom, allowing the flooring to fit underneath them. Wedges should be used to secure the spacing against the walls, and the gaps should be covered with appropriate baseboards, transition strips, and pipe covers.

When employing a floating installation, the flooring in doorways must be separated. Additionally, surfaces adjacent to each other with significantly different temperatures should be separated, if necessary. Exposure to intense sunlight can lead to thermal expansion, so adequate shading measures should be implemented to avoid overheating.

Preparation before Installation

Packages of SPC flooring should only be opened right before installation. To ensure a uniform appearance mix and match items from different packages. Before Installation, each piece should be inspected under good lighting for color accuracy, structural integrity, and potential damage. Variations in color and structure are inherent to the material and are not grounds for complaint. Additionally, for items that will bear high static pressure loads, appropriate weight distribution must be ensured per their weight.

Example:

            Scenario: You plan to place a heavy refrigerator in your kitchen, which has SPC flooring.

• Without Proper Weight Distribution:

If the refrigerator’s weight is concentrated on its small feet, this creates high pressure on those specific points. Over time, this can cause indentations or damage to the SPC flooring at those points

• With Proper Weight Distribution:

Solution: Use furniture coasters or pads under each foot of the refrigerator. These pads increase the surface area in contact with the floor, spreading the weight more evenly.

Sub floor Requirements

The sub floor must be clean, completely dry, even, firm, and stable. Any loose, soft, or resilient old coverings must be completely removed. The flatness of the sub floor should not exceed 2mm per meter. Any bumps must be smoothed out, and any pits or uneven areas should be filled to ensure a suitable surface for installation.