SPC Flooring Mistakes: 6 Misconceptions About Installation and Care

The most costly SPC flooring mistakes often begin before the first plank is laid: an unsuitable room, an unchecked base or a detail that prevents a floating floor from moving. The way to reduce that risk is to turn broad claims such as “waterproof” and “easy to install” into specific checks for the chosen product.

The guidance below follows Kermit's published installation and care manual. It is also a checklist for discussing a concern with the supplier. A raised edge, noise or open joint is an observation; it does not, by itself, prove a manufacturing defect or an installation error.

1. “SPC does not move, so it needs no gap”

A floating floor must remain free to move. Kermit's manual requires at least 10 mm around walls, pipes and fixed objects. The clearance belongs around the complete perimeter, including places hidden by door frames, radiators or cabinetry. A visible gap on one wall does not show that the whole floor is free.

Skirting covers the edge; it should not clamp the floor down. Fixed cabinetry, an island or a fastener through the floor can restrain it. Have the installer plan these details before laying, together with thresholds and additional movement joints for the connected rooms and floor size. Do not reduce the specified clearance simply to fit an existing trim.

If the floor has lifted, record where it happens and when it began. Photograph the surrounding walls, transitions and fixed furniture as well as the raised area. Avoid forcing a joint shut or cutting an edge before the installer and supplier have reviewed the layout and possible causes.

2. “A rigid plank makes an uneven base acceptable”

Rigidity does not replace substrate preparation. Kermit's limit is 2 mm unevenness over 1 m, checked with a straightedge. A floor can look generally level while still having a local hollow or ridge that leaves a plank unsupported. Conversely, flatness and the overall slope of a room are different measurements.

The base must also be firm, clean and dry. Identify its material so the appropriate moisture checks, repair products and acceptance conditions can be established. Ground-contact concrete and stone bases need an effective damp-proof membrane according to the manual. Existing tiles require an assessment of their condition and the resulting surface; covering them is not an automatic approval.

Before work, agree who records the checks and who performs any repairs. A quotation that omits preparation may appear cheaper while describing a different job. Use the installation planning guide to prepare the handover between trades.

3. “Water resistance means any wet room or cleaning method is fine”

A water-resistant plank does not protect every edge, joint, substrate or adjoining construction from a leak. Kermit does not recommend its SPC flooring for bathroom floors, outdoor use, pools, saunas, continuously wet areas or hose cleaning. A kitchen spill should still be removed promptly.

For normal cleaning, use a damp cloth or mop and a suitable mild cleaner. Do not leave standing water. A commercial cleaning routine needs to fit the actual floor instructions; a hose or wet wash-down procedure does not become suitable because the room is commercial.

After a leak, record the source, duration and affected area, and have the underlying condition assessed before deciding what can remain. Do not infer that hidden moisture has gone because the plank face appears unchanged. The water-resistance guide explains the difference between product resistance and a waterproofed room.

4. “Temperature stability means heating and sunlight need no limits”

For an approved underfloor-heating application, Kermit's maximum is 27°C at the finished floor surface. The water temperature or thermostat setting is not the same measurement. The system and full floor build-up need to be suitable, with gradual heating and the applicable commissioning instructions.

Strong direct sunlight can create local heat, so the manual calls for shading and avoiding heat build-up under rugs and furniture. It does not approve uncontrolled conservatories or other extreme conditions. Record heating zones, large glazed areas and the planned floor joints before installation. Use the heating and sunlight guide for these separate exposure questions.

5. “Every click floor is fitted and cut the same way”

Use the instructions for the selected lock and configuration. Inspect planks in daylight before fitting; the manual says not to install visible defects or colour discrepancies and to contact Kermit before continuing. Check the package identification against the order while the labels are still available.

Do not force an edge that has not engaged correctly. The installer should verify orientation, clean joints, cut sizes and the assembly sequence. Choose tools and cutting methods appropriate to the product and the work; a broad “dust-free, tool-free” promise is not a complete installation method.

Plan the first and last rows before consuming the cartons. The quantity and layout guide helps keep cut allowance, whole-carton rounding and reserve planks separate. A spare piece only helps later if it is identifiable and usable with the installed floor.

6. “A durable floor needs no protection and lasts forever”

A specified wear layer does not make the surface immune to grit, dragging furniture, sharp loads or unsuitable cleaning products. Use appropriate furniture protection, keep dirt under control and follow the care instructions. Kermit's manual warns that rubber or latex mats and contact materials can stain; choose compatible protection rather than assuming any soft pad will do.

Discuss actual warranty terms with the supplier and retain the product, purchase and installation records. Do not turn a general durability statement into an unlimited lifespan or repair promise. The care and repair guide sets out practical cleaning and enquiry records.

A useful record when something goes wrong

Record	Include
Product identity	Collection, decor, configuration, carton label and batch
Site	Room use, substrate, installation date and layout
Observation	Location, extent, when it started and whether it changes
Conditions	Heating, sunlight, recent leaks or changes in use
Evidence	Overview photographs, close-ups and existing installation records
Next step	Supplier/installer assessment before a destructive repair

Several factors can interact. Describe what you can observe, keep the evidence and agree the next check with the responsible people instead of diagnosing every symptom from a photograph.

Installation-mistake questions

Does SPC flooring need an expansion gap?

Yes. Kermit's floating-floor manual requires at least 10 mm around walls and fixed objects. The installer must also assess the layout, transitions and additional movement joints.

Does a raised plank prove the installer was at fault?

No. It requires assessment of the product, substrate, movement restraints, exposure and installation details. Record the condition and seek a review before forcing or cutting the floor.

Can SPC be laid over uneven tiles?

Only after the existing surface is assessed and prepared to meet the product's requirements. Kermit's flatness limit is 2 mm over 1 m; rigidity does not remove that requirement.

Can I wash Kermit SPC flooring with a hose?

No. Use a damp cloth or mop with a suitable mild cleaner and do not leave standing water. Hose cleaning and continuously wet conditions are outside the flooring guide's recommendations.