SPC wooden gain flooring is getting more and more popular with the technological advances of the product. But how do you know which SPC flooring will hold up the best? Does SPC flooring have an AC rating?

SPC flooring does not have an AC rating. However, it does have a durability measure known as the wear layer. The wear layer can range from 0.10mm (4 Mil) to 0.5mm (20 Mil). Similar to the AC rating on laminate flooring, the wear layer is the additional coating applied on the top of the SPC planks to add durability and protect the floor against scratches, stains, and scuff marks.

When shopping for SPC flooring, keep in mind that the higher the wear layer, the more durable the flooring will be. If you are installing in an area that will have high traffic, it is suggested that you choose a higher wear layer for optimal durability.

Products such as An Cuong SPC rigid core flooring is a waterproof floor with an AC4 rating.

With both AC rating and wear layer, the higher the number, the higher the durability. AC4 is a commercially rated product, as well as a 0,15mm or higher wear layer.

With new technology, An Cuong’s SPC floor also has an extra UV layer on top of the abrasive layer for more surface protection.

This layer helps protect the floor against scratches and stains. Plus, they keep floors looking their original for longer, providing a maintenance-free finish.

As with any major project, there are certain things that are advised to do and others that should be avoided. Knowing these before you start your project will help you have the best results.

SPC flooring is a waterproof type of floor. It’s one of the reasons why it’s so popular in both homes and commercial spaces. Still, there are things that can happen to cause damage to the material and diminish the quality of the installation. The key is to keep these in mind throughout your project so you don’t make any costly mistakes unintentionally.

SPC Installation Dos

Do lay a piece of scrap SPC Flooring before installation to check for moisture in the subfloor

Lay one piece of scrap SPC for three days. If the tape comes up easily, you’ll know your floor has too much moisture for a SPC flooring install. This is highly important for concrete subfloors.

Do acclimate your floor and room

Keep the room at a normal temperature for at least 48 hours before installation is set to begin and let the SPC flooring acclimate in this temperature.

Do leave an expansion gap for click-lock SPC

Click-Lock SPC need an expansion gap to expand and contract as a floating floor. Use shims or spacers along the perimeter walls about 3-5mm.

Do check your subfloor with a level

Lumps and dips are hard to see with the naked eye. Check for any subtle lumps or dips that you can solve before installation for better results.

Do read your manufacturer’s instructions

Every manufacturer has their own recommendations about what to use to seal in the flooring and how to keep it clean. Read these before using any chemicals or treatments.

Do use non-staining doormats

Not using a doormat could cause you to drag in dust, dirt and debris to your work site. This is also a good tip for after your flooring is installed so you don’t drag potentially harmful debris into your home and onto your SPC. Mats should be labeled “non-staining”. Rubber may discolor SPC flooring.

Do clean up spills immediately

Although SPC floors are moisture proof, standing water can cause mold and mildew to grow.

Find out the steps of SPC floor installation guided by An Cuong’s team!

SPC Flooring Installation Don’ts

Don’t forget floor height differences

If you’re ripping out an old flooring, such as tile or hardwood, you will probably have a gap between your door jam and the floor. This is because most floors are a little taller than SPC. Ask a flooring expert about transitions to go from room to room.

Don’t hammer planks

Some installers hammer in planks to get them as close as possible to the surrounding SPC. This can harm the SPC Flooring. Instead, use a pull bar and hammer that instead. This will accomplish the same task without harming the floor.

Don’t use a beater bar when you vacuum SPC

This can cause scratching and other damage to your floors. The same is true of any abrasive cleaner.

Don’t slide heavy furniture over your SPC flooring

Instead, use furniture coasters to move furniture easily and without damage.

Don’t use adhesive not approved for SPC tile installation

Check manufacturer instructions for selecting the right kind of adhesive.

Knowing what to do and what not to do during a SPC flooring installation is critical. With these tips, you’re sure to have a quality installation and floors that’ll last for years to come!

What do you do if you’re looking for cost-effective flooring that’s easy to care for? Wood can be high-maintenance, tiles are a big job to lay and repair, and both are expensive – so they’re out of the question. As an alternative, SPC and laminate flooring are well worth considering.

Let’s unpack the pros and cons of SPC and laminate flooring so you can make the best decision for your home.

SPC FLOORING

Made from one of the most versatile plastics in the world, SPC flooring is available in a variety of colors and designs. Some types are completely waterproof, which makes them a popular choice for bathrooms, kitchens, sculleries, and basements.

Pros of SPC Flooring

Aesthetic appeal—There was a time when it wasn’t necessarily the most attractive option, but now there are SPC flooring that have the color of, and a similar texture too, materials such as stone and wood.

Uncomplicated maintenance—A waterproof type of SPC flooring with a thick wear layer is a great combination for a flooring option that doesn’t require too much maintenance. A regular damp mop and the occasional vacuum are usually all that’s required.

It’s comfortable underfoot—Compared to floors of wood, stone, or tile, SPC flooring is softer underfoot, which means it’s more comfortable when you need to stand for a while.

Easy to install—SPC flooring generally comes in the form of tiles or planks, which makes it easy to install without the help of a professional.

Waterproof—Some types of flooring made from SPC are completely waterproof. There are different classes of SPC suitable for different areas in the home.

Cons of SPC Flooring

Higher price—Good-quality SPC flooring is one of the pricier of the budget-friendly options.

Cheap SPC doesn’t last—Poor-quality products dent, scuff, and scratch with ease (and that’s with average household foot traffic).

Doesn’t feel like wood or stone—Better-quality options may look like wood or stone, but they don’t feel like them. The texture remains that of SPC, no matter how convincing the appearance.

LAMINATE FLOORING

Laminate flooring is made by covering a particle board wood base with an image layer and a clear wear layer. The product is suitable for rooms where it won’t be exposed to moisture regularly or for long periods, such as hallways, dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.

Pros of Laminate Flooring

Looks attractive—The image layer allows manufacturers to produce laminate flooring in a variety of styles and colours, many resembling hardwood or stone. Some are textured, and others are smooth.

Hard-wearing—Good quality products are hard-wearing in typical household traffic, although it’s generally not as durable as SPC. The wear layer used with good laminate flooring usually is resistant to dents, staining, scratches, and other wear and tear.

Easy installation—Like most SPC flooring options, you can install laminate flooring just as easily as a floating floor, which relies solely on its interlocking design to keep it secure.

No waxing needed—Laminate is easy to keep clean with a little know-how, bucket and mop. Unlike hardwood floorboards, there’s no need to wax laminate.

Seriously budget-friendly—The option really is friendly on the pocket.

It’s comfortable—Like SPC Flooring, laminate flooring is softer underfoot than floors of hardwood or stone. It’s even better if your floor includes an underlayment.

Cons of laminate flooring

Can be noisy—Badly installed laminate flooring can be noisy. Rather than the warm sound you might hear if you tread on a hardwood floor, the product can sound hollow, if not a little harsh.

Poor water resistance—Laminate flooring doesn’t handle moisture well, and that’s no exaggeration. Despite some newer products having better resistance to topical moisture, allowing them to stand in pools of water can damage them irreparably. If your subfloor has a problem with damp or moisture, you’ll need to install underlay and a vapour barrier before laying the flooring, which you should glue Avoid installing laminate flooring in the bathroom and basement.

Replace after 10 years—You’ll need to replace most laminate floors roughly 10 years after their installation.

MAKE THE BEST DECISION

If exposure to moisture isn’t a problem, it can be incredibly difficult to choose between SPC and laminate flooring. The following points may help:

Environmental friendliness—You can find environmentally friendlier versions of both flooring options. Choose laminate with a LEED MR4c 4.1-4.2 (recycled content) status, or SPC with a Floorscore.

Price—Although there isn’t a huge difference between the prices of SPC Flooring and laminate, the latter does tend to be a little cheaper, although it doesn’t last as long as the former.

Easy to install and maintain—If your flooring project doesn’t require various underlayers, vinyl and laminate are easy to install, and they require little by way of maintenance.

If the style or look of the floor is more important than its ability to resist moisture, or if you’re more concerned about comfort than lifespan, consider choosing laminate. If you want a floor that’s waterproof and long-lasting, choose vinyl, which usually lasts twice as long as laminate.

Now that you know the pros and cons of the two options, you’re better able to make the right decision for your home.

The living room is often one of the most central and public rooms in the home. And although it may not receive as much foot traffic as your entrance or kitchen, the living room can still sustain its fair share of wear and tear, especially if you have children or pets.

In terms of finding a durable, stylish, and affordable flooring option for your living room, SPC Flooring is a good choice. Its durability ensures that your floors are resistant to stains and spills, and easy to clean and maintain, making them well suited to families with children or pets.

SPC Flooring is comfortable and quiet underfoot and relatively affordable when compared to other flooring options. It’s also very easy to install, usually with a simple click installation system.

SPC flooring comes in a vast range of designs, patterns, textures, and colors, providing homeowners with the freedom to create whatever living room style they desire.

Benefits of SPC flooring in living rooms:

• Comfortable and warm underfoot

SPC Flooring has good thermal properties which add a sense of comfort and warmth to living rooms.

• Available in many designs and colors

Available in many designs and colors – SPC Flooring has enormous design potential, providing you with the freedom to create living room flooring perfectly matched to your design style preferences.

• Durable

One of the most significant advantages of SPC flooring is its resistance to scratches, stains, and moisture. It can withstand heavy living room furniture and spilled food and drinks when entertaining guests are never a problem.

• Easy to clean

A simple sweep or wipe down with a mop moistened with warm water and a neutral detergent is all that’s needed to keep your floors looking great.

• Easy to install

An Cuong’s SPC floors with click installation system making it one of the easiest floors to install yourself without the need for a professional.

• Affordable

SPC flooring is relatively inexpensive when compared to alternative living room flooring options such as ceramic tile and solid and engineered hardwood, yet offers several added benefits such as increased water resistance and ease of maintenance.

#1 “Printed decor of SPC Flooring can look repetitive once laid”

Unlike many other manufacturers, An Cuong Flooring makes sure our products offset the print each time, meaning that the same feature (for example a knot in the wood) will feature but will be in a different position each time, resulting in completely unique planks. This eliminates the overall pattern repetition, meaning the flooring has a more authentic look, as no two planks are the exactly same.

#2 “SPC floors are outdated and unattractive”

No way! An Cuong Flooring is proud to have some of the most stylish SPC Floor in the market. SPC Flooring these days is able to mimic stone, wood, and carpet and has more long-term benefits than all of them put together!

We have an in-house design team that forms a colour collection and take the hottest trends and styles and then produces them into beautiful planks that are the epitome of modern interiors.

There are lots of instances where we have had people not be able to tell the difference between some hardwoods and our SPC flooring.

#3 “SPC Flooring and Laminate are the same”

In many respects, yes. But while they have much in common there are a few very important differences that set them aside from one another. Before you jump into a flooring project, it’s probably a good idea to get an understanding of the basics to help with your decision.

First, the composition of both is VERY different.

SPC flooring is a newer innovation that makes it a far cry from the plastic you see in older homes. It’s made of high – tech compound materials from PVC and superfine powder while the top layer is coated with UV and wearlayer to increase scratch resistance and ease of cleaning.

Therefore, it’s better suited for imitating materials like timber, stone, granite, and concrete. This composition gives it superior resistance to moisture as it doesn’t contain absorbent fibers. When considering moisture exposure, SPC flooring is a clear winner. It also has a longer lifespan and overall durability.

Laminate is a compressed fibrous product that simulates the look of real hardwood. It’s composed of several layers of rigid, high-density fiberboards that are laminated together into planks.

Laminate flooring doesn’t last as long as SPC floor and in many cases, needs to be replaced within 10 years of installation. The image on the surface is not protected by a wear layer, unlike SPC floor.

Both are comparable when it comes to cleaning, installation, and cost but in terms of being quieter underfoot, SPC Floor is better at absorbing more noise compared to laminate.

To summarize, SPC flooring is a better choice when you need water resistance, lifespan, and durability in your flooring.

#4 “SPC floor is not suitable for a Kitchen”

Quite the opposite.

Thanks to its strong surface layer, the SPC floor is the ideal flooring for intensely used and wet rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms.

SPC floor also ability in slip-resistant to help safe use.

SPC floor will be unaffected by the humidity of the kitchen area. In fact, it is particularly suitable for high moisture and humidity rooms like kitchens or bathrooms. It is very easy to maintain and you can remove any spillage with a wet mop, making it an ideal choice.

#5 “SPC Flooring is not Durable”

Absolutely not!

Both SPC Flooring and ceramic tile are known to be durable flooring options. However, ceramic can chip and crack over time. Ceramic tile is more prone to damage (think dropping something heavy on the surface) than SPC Flooring. SPC Floor is also a better option if you have children or pets.

Our Commercial ranges are also designed with quality, durability and style in mind. An Cuong Flooring range of commercial SPC floor is suitable for a wide variety of commercial applications including retail, healthcare, education, IT, and commercial interiors.

There are strict flooring safety standards for us to adhere to, and we always meet each one with flying colors.

We work hard to ensure our flooring will last for years to come.

With steam and splashes, your bathroom floor sees a fair amount of wear and tear. We know that it is important to have a durable, waterproof flooring style. We have broken down our favorite bathroom flooring styles, to make your decision process easy.

Tile Flooring

Available in a wide variety of shapes and styles, porcelain tile is one of the most versatile bathroom flooring options. From a white matte tile to a fun patterned mosaic, porcelain tile can capture any flooring design. Tile is a relatively low-maintenance flooring style with simple tips to keep your tiles clean.

Wood-Look Tile

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular flooring styles; however, its tendency to warp in moisture-prone areas means that you should avoid installing it in your bathroom.

If you love the beautiful aesthetic of hardwood, consider installing wood-look tile. Its incredibly realistic appearance will give you the beauty of hardwood with all of the benefits of tile.

Natural Stone

If you are looking for a luxurious tile option, then consider installing natural stone tile bathroom flooring. No matter what style of natural stone you opt for, each tile will be completely unique. Some of the beautiful types such as marble tile, slate tile, etc.
Although natural stone needs to be regularly re-sealed, the beauty of it is well worth the extra effort.

SPC Flooring

Advancements in technology have given luxury SPC flooring an incredibly realistic appearance. From tile to hardwood, you can have the aesthetic you love with an affordable price-point.

An Cuong SPC floor structure consists of 5 layers, with the main component being SPC hard core – made from superfine stone powder and high-class plastic, ensuring waterproof. You do not have to worry about moisture or spills in daily use.

An Cuong SPC Flooring is waterproof and incredibly durable. Regardless of your budget, it is a great bathroom flooring style.

Interior decorators and architects study long and hard to master the art of color matching. So, don’t feel inadequate if, when choosing the perfect floor color to complement your interior, you are baffled by the endless possibilities. However, An Cuong Flooring is happy to offer you a few basic tips.

Tip 1: The room size

No matter how big or small the room is, the color of your floor will always have a major impact on the feeling of space you get in a room. Is your room large and wide? Then you might want to consider using warm or dark tones, like wengé or walnut, for your new floor. These colors tend to make large rooms seem smaller, which makes them a lot cozier.

And the best part is, this effect also works in the other direction. If you are cramped for space in a tiny room, using the right colors can make all the difference. Try using lighter, natural floor colors like beiges or light oak. These shades have the ability to really open up a room, without you having to throw out half of your furniture.

Tip 2: The effect of colors

The way you decorate and the colors you choose for your floor and walls will have a huge impact on the atmosphere in the room. Light colors will give the space a sunnier, happier feel. Shades of yellow stand for optimism and fun, while white and light beige will give the room a sense of openness and purity. Want to keep your interior peaceful and cool? Then go for timeless grey tones. An interior dominated by brown colors will have a very natural and rustic feel, while black stands for luxury and class. A black floor also gives the room a powerful and dramatic edge, full of contrast.

Tip 3: Use the light

Throughout the day, the lighting in your room changes gradually. Judging a floor sample color at night, in artificial light, will give you a very different impression than during mid-afternoon in the natural sunlight. So make sure you judge the samples at different times of the day, with different lighting. Take a second to think about what kind of light you want for your new floor. A kitchen you walk in and out of all day long, a bedroom that’s night-only, or a children’s playroom that they only use in the afternoon… every room type has its own unique lighting.

Tip 4: Mind the bigger picture

Don’t choose your floor color based on an empty room. Make sure it also matches the broader style and feel you want to give your interior. Do you have some design furniture that you want to emphasize? Then use natural colors, that will create a neutral canvas and allow your furniture to take center stage. Red tones bring a sense of luxury and go well with heavy, colonial furnishings. In general, brown tints are the best match for a country-style interior.

It’s always a good idea to take along some elements that represent your interior. A throw pillow, a paint chip, or a cabinet wood sample from the room that’s getting a new floor, can be a great help to determine the right color. Using these samples will make your decision a lot easier.

SPC Flooring is a popular flooring material for many commercial applications for many of the same reasons it is so popular for residential applications. It is water-resistant and low maintenance, which helps to control upkeep costs, and it is relatively durable so you will not have to replace it very often. It is also available in a wide variety of colors, textures, and style options. It can even be printed to simulate the look of hardwood, stone, or carpet.

When it comes to commercial SPC flooring, you get what you pay for. The quality of the material that you purchase will have a direct impact on how well it will withstand the rigors of varying levels of foot traffic.

With SPC flooring, the colors are homogenous through the entire piece of material dimensionally, so you don’t have to worry about them fading away through wear.

• Commercial SPC Flooring Warranties

In many cases, the residential and commercial warranty on materials will vary. Make sure that the distributor knows the level of traffic that you are expecting so that they can accurately adjust the warranty to your specific situation.

Remember that the warranty only covers manufacturer defects. These are most often misprints of colors or sheets and tiles that do not line up properly. It does not cover installation mistakes, which are the most common cause of SPC flooring problems later.

• Long-Term Issues With Commercial SPC Floors

+Dull surface

Dulling of the SPC’s surface finish is probably the most common long-term issue with commercial product installation. This is caused by small pieces of dirt, sand, and debris being tracked across the floor by shoes and the wind. As these tiny particles scrape across the floor, they act like the grits of a piece of sandpaper, scratching and marring the surface of the SPC.

Solutions: The easiest way to prevent dulling of your SPC floors is to keep them free of those tiny particles that can harm them. Sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping periodically can do a lot to help protect a SPC floor in a high-traffic area. The use of floor mats at entrances and exterior doorways can also help to trap some of the debris before it can get inside where it can harm.

+ Discoloration

Discoloration of commercial SPC floors can happen over time due to the buildup of dirt, oil, and others. The rubber in some shoes can even cause slight discolorations on the floor. Prolonged exposure to heat or direct sunlight will also discolor the material, causing it to take on a yellowish color.

Solutions: Regular cleaning will help to remove the oils and greases that can discolor dercorative film over time. Floor mats set at entrances and exits will also help to cut down on mud and other staining agents that get tracked in. The use of curtains in places where windows and glass doors shine direct sunlight down on the floor can help prevent yellowing effects. However, SPC floors should not be installed in areas of high heat output, such as near heating ducts and vents.

+ Surface Dents and Damage

Surface dents and damage to the floor can be caused by a variety of issues. Heavy furniture scraping across the floor can cause gouges and scratches. Sharp unprotected chair legs can also severely mar a commercial SPC floor in a cafeteria or eating area. Even some unpadded high heels can cause damage to the floor’s surface.

Solutions: If the scratches and dents are small, then you can use liquid seam filler to repair them. Make sure that the SPC is clean and dry, and then apply a small amount of the clear liquid to the blemish, being sure to smooth it out so it does not create bubbles or mounds. As it dries, it should cause smaller blemishes to vanish.

With SPC plank, you have the option of removing the affected area and replacing it with a matched patch.