Installation Guide
Enhance the lifespan, performance, and beauty of your flooring by following the recommended installation steps for each product category below.
1.Engineered Wood Installation Guide
Acclimatisation
- • Leave flooring packs in room for 48 hours (18°C–27°C)
- • Keep packs flat, unopened, and evenly stacked
Subfloor Preparation
- • Must be clean, dry, level, smooth, and structurally sound
- • Moisture testing is essential (especially concrete)
- • Install DPM where required
- • Use suitable underlay for floating installations
Suitable Installation Methods
Floating Installation
- • Insert 10–12mm expansion spacers
- • Start along the longest wall
- • Click or glue T&G joints
- • Stagger end joints between rows
- • Final row minimum 60mm wide
- • Use tapping block and pull bar
Glue-Down Installation
- • Spread adhesive in 1m sections
- • Lay planks and press firmly
- • Maintain expansion gaps
- • Allow 24 hours before walking
Secret-Nail Installation
- • Nail through tongue at 45° angle
- • Into wooden subfloor
- • Face-nail first and last rows if needed
2.FSC-Certified Engineered Wood Installation Guide
✓ FSC-Certified Engineered Wood follows the same installation process and requirements as standard Engineered Wood.
Preparation
- • 48-hour acclimatisation (18°C–27°C)
- • Surface must be dry, flat, level, and stable
- • Moisture test is mandatory
- • Install appropriate DPM and underlay
Installation Methods
- • Floating (Click or T&G with glue)
- • Glue-down
- • Secret-nailing (T&G only)
- • Same process as standard engineered wood
3.Laminate Flooring Installation Guide
Acclimatisation
- • Leave packs in room for 24 hours (18°C–27°C)
Subfloor Preparation
- • Must be smooth, clean, dry, and level
- • Install DPM for concrete floors
- • Requires underlay for sound and moisture protection
Floating Installation (Only Method)
- • Insert 2mm expansion spacers (5mm with underfloor heating)
- • Begin along longest wall for best visual flow
- • Stagger end joints by at least 30cm
- • Angle and click each plank into place
- • Avoid mallet directly on locking systems
- • Use pull bar to secure final row
4.SPC / Vinyl Flooring Installation Guide
Acclimatisation
- • Allow 24–48 hours acclimatisation (20°C–21°C)
Subfloor Preparation
- • Must be perfectly level, stable, and smooth
- • DPM recommended even with built-in underlay
- • Most SPC has pre-attached IXPE underlay
Floating Installation
- • Insert 2mm spacers around perimeter (5mm with underfloor heating)
- • Begin laying along longest wall
- • Stagger joints by at least 30cm
- • Angle and click planks together firmly
- • Avoid striking locking mechanism with mallet
- • Use pull bar for final row
Finishing & Trim Work (All Floor Types)
Pipes
Drill to size → cut wedge → fit plank → reattach wedge with glue
Door Frames
Trim/undercut architrave to allow planks to slide underneath seamlessly
Covering Expansion Gaps
Use matching finishing profiles:
Spare Planks
Always retain 1–2 planks for future repairs
Recommended Installation Accessories
Underlay Options
- • Acoustic foam underlay
- • Vapour barrier (DPM) underlay
- • High-density thermal underlay
- • Pre-attached IXPE for SPC/Vinyl
Finishing Profiles
- • Scotia / Beading
- • Skirting boards
- • T-Profiles
- • Ramp reducers
- • End profiles
- • Stair nosing
Installation Tools
- • Tapping block
- • Pull bar
- • Spacers
- • Joint tape
- • Flooring adhesive (glue-down)
⚠️ Installation Disclaimer
The information provided in this installation guide is designed to support a smooth and successful installation process.
Flooring performance depends on correct preparation, environmental conditions, installer expertise, and adherence to manufacturer requirements.
Pixel Flooring does not assume responsibility for installation errors, subfloor issues, damages, or any loss arising from incorrect installation.
We strongly recommend hiring a professional flooring installer for all installations.
Questions about installation? Contact us at info@pixelflooring.co.uk or call +44 7748 010484