The Complete Luxury Vinyl Herringbone Flooring Installation Guide

Our luxury vinyl herringbone flooring uses the click-lock system, meaning that it is suggested to be installed as floating floors. The edges, attached with a self-locking mechanism, offers a simple installation without using any glue or nails. For herringbone the flooring is installed with RR and LL panels. The RR and LL panels differ in terms of which side you find the tongue and groove. Be sure to keep them separate during installation and follow the instructions below.

Pre-Installation

Floating installation is generally fast, inexpensive and DIY friendly. Unlike a nail or glue down installation, floated floors act as an entire unit as each plank interlocks edge-to-edge to form a single mat-like surface and the flooring material is not secured to the subfloor or underlayment. There are some crucial details that you should know before installation.

1.  Allow the flooring to acclimate for at least 24 to 48 hours before installing it in the designated room.
2.  For larger rooms, break down the flooring installation into smaller sections and incorporate expansion joints as necessary.
3.  Maintain an approximate 5 mm gap between the flooring and walls, as well as any permanent construction elements like pillars or kitchen islands. 
4.  Avoid placing exceptionally heavy pieces of furniture, such as kitchen islands or cabinets, directly on the flooring. 
5.  Ensure the indoor climate falls within a temperature range of 15- 23°C and a relative air humidity range of 30-60%. 
6.  Always adhere to the subfloor preparation requirements and specifications provided by the flooring manufacturer.

 

Subfloor Information

Acceptable Subfloors

Interior grade 12 mm plywood or particleboard; 19 mm OSB; existing hardwood floor (sound and well bonded); concrete; existing ceramic tile (well bonded); existing resilient/vinyl flooring (well bonded).

Subfloor Preparation

All subfloors should be inspected prior to installation, and must be smooth, clean, dry, structurally sound, and free of dust, dirt, oil, or any other contaminant. Use a quality Portland cement based levelling compound to fill or smooth any irregularities in a concrete subfloor.

Concrete subfloors must be at least 90 days old and fully cured. Concrete must be free of moisture or high alkalinity, with a minimum of 6-mil poly film moisture barrier between the ground and the concrete. Concrete must be pH neutral prior to installation. Moisture levels in concrete should be tested according to ASTM F2170-2 (standard test method for determining relative humidity in concrete floor slabs using in situ probes) with a moisture content not exceeding 5 pounds per 1000 sf; or ASTM F1869-98 (standard test method for measuring moisture vapor emission rate of concrete subfloor using anhydrous calcium chloride – CM method) with a maximum permissible moisture content of 2.0%. See also BS 8203:2017 Annex B Hygrometer test for dampness of concrete, cementitious and calcium sulphate bases.

Manufacturer does not warrant or guarantee unsatisfactory installations due to the presence of excessive alkali, moisture, or hydrostatic pressure in
subfloors.

Concrete should be dry, clean, and level to within 5mm over 3 metre radius. Level low spots with a Portland cement based levelling compound and grind high spots to ensure floor is level.

Wood and composition panels, including plywood, OSB and particle board can be used, provided they are smooth, flat, structurally sound, and free of deflection. Wood subfloors shall have at least 46 cm of well-ventilated space below.
The ground under crawl spaces must be covered with 1.25 mm poly film to reduce moisture vapor transmission. Wood subfloors (plywood, particleboard, OSB) must be dry and structurally sound. Wood subfloors must be double construction or equivalent, with a minimum thickness of 2.54 cm, such as APA rated underlayment grade plywood with a fully sanded face that is free of voids. Nail or screw loose subflooring every 15cm along joists to secure.
Level low spots with a Portland cement based levelling compound, and sand down any high areas to ensure levelness of the substrate. All wood substrates should be prepared according to the latest revision of ASTM F1482 Installation and Preparation of Panel Type Underlayment to Receive Resilient Flooring.

SPC may be installed over some existing floor covering materials.

Existing resilient floor covering must be smooth and consist of a single layer of non-cushioned flooring which is well adhered to the subfloor. Use embossing leveller to smooth the surface and prevent telegraphing on to your new LVT/LVP. Do not install over carpet, perimeter glued resilient flooring, ceramic tile, hardwood flooring or laminate flooring.

Warning: Existing resilient floor coverings and black asphalt adhesive may contain asbestos, asbestos fibre or crystalline silica. Do not sand, scrape or abrade these materials. If removal of existing resilient floor covering is necessary, be certain that all precautions are taken, and proper procedures are followed. For information regarding proper removal procedures, please refer to “Asbestos and man-made mineral fibre materials in buildings: practical guidance. 2000”, DETR publications.

Hardwood flooring must be secure and well bonded to the subfloor. Repair any loose boards or squeaks prior to installation. Ceramic tile must be secure and well bonded to the subfloor. Grout lines should be filled with Portland cement based levelling compound. 

SPC flooring may be installed over in-floor hydronic radiant heat using the following guidelines. Complete system must be operational at least one week prior to installation. The system should be turned off 72 hours prior to installation and remain off 72 hours after installation is complete. After this timeframe, gradually return system to normal room temperature setting. Subfloor surface must never exceed 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) throughout the life of the floor. Flooring should never come in direct contact with the heating system. All other standard installation instructions apply.

Sweep or vacuum subfloor to remove any loose dust or dirt particles.

 

Fitting Instructions

Start by placing two RR panels and three LL panels in the form of a V shape.

Connect the first RR panel into the first LL panel by angling it.

Connect the second LL panel on the left side of the V shape by angling it.

Alternate RR and LL panels until all five panels have been connected.

Mark a straight line from the lower left corner of the third LL panel through the top right corner of the first LL panel to form a triangle. Cut along the line with a saw.

Place triangles working your way outward from the centre of the wall.

Measure and cut the remaining two triangles and slot them between the walls and the other triangles.

Continue with the next row of RR panels. Connect the long side by angling it. Measure and cut the panel closest to the wall as necessary.

Slide the panels along its long side and connect the short side by snapping it using a tapping block.

Use LL panels for the next row. Measure and cut the panel closest to the wall as necessary. Continue alternating RR and LL panels for the remainder of the room.

 

After Installation

Retain excess planks in case of future repairs.