SPC click flooring — installation guide

How to install Nroro SPC click flooring with attached pad: site conditions, subfloor, layout, trims, stairs and care.

1. Where you can install

• Indoors only, in climate-controlled rooms (60–85°F, 30–55% relative humidity before and during installation).
• Residential and light commercial floors. Not for ramps, floors sloped for drainage, outdoor areas, or rooms that flood.
• Maximum room size without a break: 32.8 ft (10 m) in length and in width. Larger areas need a T-molding to split the floor.
• Install cabinets and fixed islands first. Never fix cabinets or heavy built-ins on top of a floating floor.

2. Acclimate and plan

• Keep the cartons flat in the room for at least 48 hours at 60–85°F and 30–55% relative humidity. Stack no more than 10 cartons high and keep them off bare concrete.
• Order about 5% extra for cuts, or 10–15% for diagonal layouts.
• Open 4–5 cartons at a time and mix planks so the pattern looks natural.
• Remove baseboard, quarter round and cove base. Undercut door casings to the floor height; doors need at least 3/8 in (about 10 mm) clearance above the finished floor.
• Run planks along the longest wall, ideally parallel to the main light source.

3. Tools

Tape measure, chalk line, square, utility knife, fine-tooth saw for cross-cuts, tapping block, pull bar, rubber mallet, 1/2 in (12 mm) spacers, safety glasses.

4. Subfloor

• Flat, clean, dry and solid. Level any dip or hump greater than 3/16 in over 10 ft. Keep a record of your flatness and moisture tests.
• Concrete: moisture emission no more than 5 lb / 1,000 sq ft / 24 h (ASTM F1869) or 85% RH (ASTM F2170). New slabs must cure at least 90 days. Patch cracks and holes with a latex patching compound. Always lay a 6-mil polyethylene moisture barrier over concrete.
• Wood: solid and flat — sand high spots, fill low spots, fasten loose boards.
• Ceramic tile, terrazzo, mosaic: solid and flat; level grout lines wider or deeper than 3/16 in (5 mm).
• Remove carpet. Do not install over soft subfloors, or over wood or laminate that was laid directly on concrete or bitumen.
• Nroro SPC planks have an attached 1.5 mm IXPE pad — do not add a second pad underneath.

5. Radiant heat

• The floor surface must never exceed 85°F.
• Hold the floor at 70°F or below for 48 hours before, during and 48 hours after installation, then raise the temperature gradually.
• Leave a slightly larger expansion gap and use a wider baseboard to cover it. Radiant systems laid directly on the subfloor surface are not recommended.

6. Install the planks

1. Snap a chalk line for the first row. Start in the left corner with the tongue side facing the wall, using spacers for a 1/2 in (12 mm) gap at every wall and fixed object.
2. Click the next plank end-to-end: hold it at about 30°, engage the joint and lower it flat. Keep the row straight.
3. At the end of the row, measure and cut the last plank so the 1/2 in gap remains. Start the next row with the leftover piece — it must be at least 12 in (30 cm) long.
4. Long side: angle the plank about 30° into the previous row and lower it; use the tapping block and mallet lightly until the joint closes. Never hit the plank edge directly.
5. Plan the last row: it must be at least 2 in wide. If needed, make the first row narrower.
6. Door frames: slide planks under the undercut casing; use the pull bar where you cannot angle a plank. Leave at least a 3/8 in (10 mm) gap at door frames.
7. Remove the spacers and sweep the floor with a soft brush.

7. Trims and stairs

• Baseboard or quarter round covers the expansion gap. Fasten it to the wall, never to the floor.
• T-molding: doorways between rooms and any run longer than 32.8 ft. Reducer: where the floor meets a lower surface. End cap: at sliding doors, fireplaces and other fixed edges.
• Stairs: use Nroro stair treads with flush or overlapping stair nose in the matching color. Bond stair parts with a construction adhesive suited to vinyl and the stair material, following the adhesive maker's instructions.

All Nroro trims are made in the color of each SPC design — give the design code when you order.

8. Care

• Keep the room at 60–85°F and 40–70% relative humidity.
• Put mats at outside doors. Sweep or dust-mop daily.
• Clean with a diluted gentle cleaner, then rinse with clean water. Machines: white pad, 175 rpm.
• Never use abrasives, bleach, ammonia, vinegar cleaners, wax or acrylic polish, or oil soaps.
• Use felt or rubber pads under furniture, soft rubber chair wheels, and never drag heavy objects. Protect the floor from strong direct sunlight.

Questions

Email info@nroro.com or call (808) 210-4806. Warranty: nroro.com/pages/warranty

Videos

Installation videos filmed at the factory. They show the same method as this guide.

SPC click flooring installation