Gail Alcock on the key factors installers need to know if they want a successful LVT installation first time around and avoid costly, time-consuming problems.

LUXURY vinyl tiles (LVT) are a great product for installers and contractors to get onboard with. It has the ability to deliver high-performance, functionality along with stylish and authentic looks while being easy to install and maintain. Design choices within the LVT market have continued to evolve, offering a level of authenticity like never before, and these advances can save fitters valuable installation time when compared to laying stone or real wood flooring in a like-for-like space.

But, like anything, to get the best out of LVT it’s important for installers to invest the time in getting to know the product and learn how to install it correctly, the most important being to understand the differences between rigid click and stickdown formats and the environments and situations where they’re best suited.

Get to know your customer
When it comes to fitting any type of floor, it’s important for fitters get to know their customers and their lifestyle to determine whether they are they choosing the right product for the environment. They need to ask themselves whether they’re offering their customer their forever floor.

It’s useful to create a checklist following the classic adage of the ‘5Ws and How’ to determine which product to recommend for installation.

Who?
First, installers should find out who will be using the area where the flooring is being installed. Is the customer a wheelchair user or do they have mobility issues where transition strips would be an issue? Are there children or elderly people in the household where additional slip resistance would be beneficial? Does the flooring need to offer scratch resistance from pets?

Once you understand this you can determine which type of flooring offers the features and benefits to meet the customers’ needs, but it doesn’t end there.

What?
Get a good understanding of the environment the flooring is being installed in to determine which floorcovering is most suitable.

Is the project a newbuild, a full refurbishment, or a quick and simple renovation? Stickdown LVT is often a good choice for a refurb project as it can be laid ahead of heavy items being installed allowing the project to flow smoothly. Rigid click LVT on the other hand may be better for quick renovations such as a kitchen or bathroom makeover. Rigid LVT offers an easier installation process due to the click systems on offer, for example Malmo Rigid offers one of the easiest, patented methods of Valinge 5G which only requires a light finger touch to securely click the product into place.

It’s also useful to find out what the customer’s expectations of the flooring are. For example, are they looking to create a seamless transition between rooms? Would they prefer not to have scotias covering expansion gaps around the edge of the room? These are things a customer may not have considered but highlighting them will ensure a more satisfied customer in the long run.
They should also ask what’s driving the customer’s purchasing decision, for example, are they driven by budget constraints, practicality, the longevity of the flooring or is it purely an aesthetic-led purchase?

Crucially, installers should find out what the subfloor is, its moisture level and condition. This is something I’d recommend they check out for themselves. A subfloor that’s dry, smooth, level, and free from debris is key to a successful flooring installation so it’s important for an installer to know what they’re dealing with, and to undertake necessary preparatory work, before getting started.

When?
It’s important to find out when the flooring is due to be installed, for example does it need to go in before kitchen furniture? Stickdown LVT offers a higher degree of stability compared to rigid click formats, so is an ideal choice in kitchen renovations as it can withstand the weight of cabinetry, kitchen islands, American style fridge freezers and Agas, without experiencing expansion or contraction.

Is the flooring due to be installed in a recently built space? If so, the moisture levels in the new subfloor will need to subside to an acceptable level before any floorcovering can be laid.

Where?
It goes without saying that the environment the flooring is going into is key to the planning process as different types of flooring have strengths and weaknesses in different settings.

Bathrooms have specific requirements for water resistance and warmth underfoot among other things, while conservatories and other areas prone to prolonged sun exposure, such as rooms with skylights, patios and bi-fold doors, need flooring that can cope with temperature hotspots. The stability offered by stickdown LVT means it can deal with areas of high and fluctuating temperatures within the home. If the customer chooses rigid LVT or real wood flooring for example, an installer should recommend that blinds and window coverings are used to protect the floor from direct sunlight.

Why?
Another question an installer should ask is, why is the flooring being replaced? Has the customer had issues with a previous type of floorcovering or are they looking for a certain aesthetic?
If they’ve already decided on a specific product before speaking to an expert, what is it about that product that’s so important to them?

How?
Finally, find out how long the customer expects the product to last. Are they flipping a property, a serial DIYer who is constantly redecorating, or are they investing in their forever home? This will determine things like the wearlayer of the flooring which gives it its durable and hardwearing surface. A 0.55mm wearlayer is commonly used in high traffic areas and is a feature of designs that have registered and embossed surface textures. The full Malmo Freedom Stickdown and Malmo Rigid Senses ranges offer a 0.55mm wearlayer as standard.

Nothing beats a site visit and now Covid restrictions appear to be long behind us, it’s a good time to get back in the habit of them. It’s a great opportunity for an installer to get to know their customer and get the answers to all these questions, plus spot potential issues which the customer may not be aware of.

Malmo has a host of resources available to support installers including installation guides, technical data sheets, FAQs, and a lifestyle brochure to help with understand the various features and benefits of our Freedom Stickdown, Rigid Comfort and Rigid Senses ranges. We also have experts on-hand who can help installers with product advice and any installation queries they may have.
www.malmoflooring.com
Gail Alcock is product director at Malmo