Installation Instructions

Product covered by these instructions

Read these instructions completely before starting. Installation by a professional is recommended. Failure to follow these instructions may void the BRAVION FLOORS Limited Warranty.

1. Before You Begin

1.1 Inspect the material

• Check all planks in daylight before and during installation. Defective planks must never be used.
• Verify the decor name and DECOR CODE on every carton label matches your order.
• Verify the LOT number is the same on all cartons. Do not mix planks from two different production runs.
• Slight variation in shade and pattern between production lots is normal and is not a defect.

1.2 Quantity

• Order at least 10% more than the measured area to allow for cuts, waste and pattern matching.
• Order all material for one job at one time, from the same LOT.
• Keep 1–2 spare cartons after installation for future repairs. Later production may not match.

1.3 Tools required

1.4 Where this floor may be installed

• Interior, climate-controlled spaces only — above grade, on grade and below grade.
• Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements and other wet areas.

• Any space that is not permanently climate-controlled — garages, carports, screened patios, lanais, sunrooms without HVAC, sheds, storage units.
• Exterior applications of any kind.
• Saunas, steam rooms.
• Floating docks, boats, vehicles.

2. Storage and Acclimation

• Deliver the material to the installation room and leave the cartons sealed and unopened.
• Lay cartons flat in the centre of the room. Never store on edge or vertically.
• Do not stack more than 5 cartons high — pressure damages the locking profile.
• Acclimate a minimum of 48 hours before installation, in the unopened cartons, under normal room conditions.
• Keep cartons away from direct sunlight and away from heating or cooling vents.
• Do NOT store outdoors, in an unheated outbuilding, or anywhere moisture or condensation is present.

Handle cartons carefully during transport. Dropping a carton on its end damages the click profile and the damage is not visible until installation.

3. Temperature and Humidity

Three different ranges apply. Do not confuse them.

The service range is a product limit, not a comfort suggestion. A floor held outside 55–95 °F will move, and that movement is not a manufacturing defect. See section 11.

Where windows allow direct sunlight onto the floor, install blinds, curtains or shades and keep them closed during and after installation. Direct sun raises surface temperature far above room temperature and will cause the floor to expand.

The floor should be one of the last items installed in any new-build or renovation project. Complete all wet trades — drywall, paint, tile, grout — and allow them to dry first.

4. Subfloor Requirements

The subfloor must be flat, clean, sound and dry. SPC is a rigid product: it does not conform to and does not hide subfloor irregularities.

4.1 Flatness

• Maximum variation: 3/16 in over 10 ft (4.8 mm over 3.05 m).
• Use a self-levelling compound to correct low areas; grind high spots.
• If self-levelling compound is used, allow it to dry completely before installation.

4.2 Cleanliness

• Free of dust, grease, old adhesive residue, paint, sealers and debris.
• Sweep and vacuum thoroughly before starting.
• Remove all traces of moisture damage, rot, mould, mildew or insect activity.

4.3 Soundness

• The subfloor must be structurally sound, stable and free of deflection.
• Ceramic tile and wood floors must be permanently and firmly bonded to the structural subfloor. Loose or hollow tiles must be repaired or removed.
• Existing resilient or multi-layer floor coverings are NOT acceptable and must be removed.
• Do not install over carpet or carpet pad of any kind.

4.4 Concrete subfloors

• Concrete must still be tested for moisture. Do not assume — test. The barrier does not substitute for a slab that fails the limits above.
• A drying rule of thumb for cement screed: one day per mm for the first 50 mm, then 2.5 days per mm. A 50 mm screed needs roughly two months; 100 mm roughly six months.

4.5 Wood subfloors

• Moisture content must be ≤ 12%.
• Moisture content must not differ from the SPC by more than 4%.
• Crawl spaces must be dry and properly ventilated, with a ground vapour barrier in place.

5. Underlayment — Do Not Add

The only material permitted between the subfloor and this flooring is the 6 mil polyethylene moisture barrier required by section 4.4.

6. Radiant Heat

• Embedded underfloor heating systems are suitable. The heating elements must be embedded in the subfloor and never exposed.
• Finished floor surface temperature must never exceed 85 °F (30 °C).
• If the system has been operating, switch it OFF before installation and allow the floor to reach normal room temperature.
• After installation, restart the system gradually. Increase the temperature by no more than about 4 °F (2 °C) per day.
• Electric radiant systems and any system not embedded in the subfloor must be confirmed in writing with Bravion Supply LLC before installation.

7. Layout Planning

7.1 Direction and dry lay

• Install the planks parallel to the direction the light enters the room. This makes the joints least visible.
• Plan the layout before locking anything together. Measure the room and calculate the width of the last row.
• The last row must be at least 2 in (50 mm) wide. If it would be narrower, trim the first row to balance the layout.
• Work from several cartons at once — at least 3 or 4 — and mix the planks, so that identical, light or dark planks do not end up next to each other.
• With the Uniclic system you may start at any corner. These instructions describe working left to right, which suits a right-handed installer.

7.2 Expansion gaps

This is a floating floor. It must be free to move. Every point where the floor meets a fixed object needs a gap.

• 8–10 mm (5/16 in – 3/8 in) on ALL sides of the floor, and at every vertical element.
• Use 3/8 in (10 mm) in any room with large south- or west-facing glass. See section 11.
• Under doorframes the gap must be at least 3/8 in (10 mm).
• Vertical elements include: walls, columns, structural supports, stairs, breakfast bars, kitchen islands, fireplaces, thresholds, door frames and pipes.
• Undercut door casings and jambs and slide the plank beneath them rather than cutting the plank around them.
• Cover gaps with baseboard, quarter round or T-molding. Fasten trim to the WALL only — never to the floor. This is what allows the floor to move under the molding.
• Where trim cannot be fitted, fill the gap with flexible caulk. Use rosettes or caulk around pipes.

7.3 Transitions and maximum run

• Maximum continuous run: 40 ft (13 m) in BOTH directions. Beyond that, an expansion joint with a transition profile is required.
• Install a transition profile in every doorway. Rooms have different uses and different temperatures, and each area must be able to move independently.
• BRAVION FLOORS recommendation for sun-exposed installations: reduce this to 30 ft (9 m). See section 11.

7.4 Stagger pattern

• End joints in two successive rows must never be in line. Stagger by at least 6 in (15 cm).
• 8–12 in (20–30 cm) is better and looks more natural.
• Where possible, start a new row with the offcut from the previous row. This reduces waste and randomises the pattern.
• Avoid a repeating stair-step pattern across the floor.

8. Installation

This product uses the Unilin Uniclic locking system. No glue, nails or fasteners are used anywhere. The floor floats — you can walk on it during and immediately after installation.

1. Skip the underlayment step entirely — the pad is pre-mounted on the planks. Over concrete, lay the 6 mil polyethylene barrier first (section 4.4).
2. Begin the first row with a whole plank. SAW OFF THE TONGUE on both the long side and the short side that face the wall.
3. Place the plank with the sawn sides against the walls. Set 8–10 mm (5/16 in – 3/8 in) spacers between the plank and the wall. Leave the spacers in place until the floor is finished.
4. Continue the first row using Method A or B. Keep the row in a perfectly straight line — the whole floor follows it. Check with a chalk line or string before continuing.
5. Cut the last plank of the row to length, remembering the 8–10 mm gap at the wall.
6. Second and following rows: start with an offcut, staggered at least 6 in (15 cm) from the end joint in the previous row.
7. Lock the long side first, then the short side. Follow the Uniclic diagrams for which joints are angled and which are tapped flat.
8. Where the tapping block will not fit — typically against a wall — use the crowbar or pull bar and hammer instead.
9. Pipes: position the pipe so it falls exactly on the short-side joint between two planks. Use a drill bit the diameter of the pipe PLUS 3/4 in (20 mm) for expansion. Click the two planks together on the short side, drill the hole centred on the joint, then install.
10. Doorframes: keep an expansion gap of at least 3/8 in (10 mm) under the door. If the plank cannot be lifted, use an adapted tapping block or the crowbar and hammer to tap it home flat.
11. Last row: measure and rip the planks to width, keeping the 8–10 mm gap. Use the pull bar and hammer to close the joint.
12. Remove all spacers.

Check the lock line every few rows. Once a floor drifts out of square it cannot be corrected without disassembly.

9. After Installation

• Install baseboard, quarter round and transition profiles. Fasten to the wall only — never to the floor.
• Over concrete, install the trim over the polyethylene sheet running up the wall, then trim the sheet flush.
• Wait at least 48 hours before placing furniture — especially heavy furniture.
• Keep temperature, humidity and site conditions as stable as possible for those 48 hours.
• Kitchen cabinets, islands and built-ins must NOT be installed on top of the floating floor. They pin the floor in place and prevent movement. Install the floor around them.
• Vacuum or sweep to remove installation debris. Do not wet-mop for 48 hours.

10. Care and Maintenance

• Sweep, dust-mop or vacuum regularly. Use a hard-floor vacuum setting — turn the beater bar OFF.
• Damp-mop with a well-wrung mop and a pH-neutral vinyl or SPC/LVT floor cleaner.
• Wipe spills promptly.

• Steam mops or any steam cleaning device. Steam forces heat and moisture into the joints and will void the warranty.
• Wax, polish, oil soap, or any product that leaves a film.
• Abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, steel wool.
• Strong solvents, concentrated bleach, or ammonia-based cleaners.
• Rolling or dragging appliances and heavy furniture across the floor. Lift, or use a plywood path.

• Fit felt pads at least 1 in (25 mm) in diameter to every furniture leg. Inspect and replace them regularly — a worn pad holds grit and becomes an abrasive.
• Use wide-caster chair mats under rolling office chairs.
• Place walk-off mats at all exterior doors. Sand and grit are the primary cause of wear.
• Do not use rubber-backed or latex-backed mats and rugs. They can permanently discolour vinyl flooring. Use mats with a non-staining, colourfast backing.
• Keep pet nails trimmed.

11. Special Conditions — South Florida

The conditions below are the most common cause of SPC failure in South Florida. They are not defects in the product and are not covered by the Limited Warranty.

11.1 Unoccupied and seasonal properties

11.2 Sun exposure and glass

• Floor-to-ceiling glass and sliding doors expose the floor to sustained direct sunlight. Surface temperature under direct sun can exceed 120 °F (49 °C) even in a cooled room — far outside the 95 °F service limit.
• Blinds, shades or solar film are required in these installations, not optional.
• Use the maximum expansion gap — 3/8 in (10 mm) — in any room with large south- or west-facing glass.
• Reduce continuous runs to 30 ft (9 m) maximum in sun-exposed areas.
• Prolonged direct sunlight can cause colour change over time. This is normal for all resilient flooring and is not a defect.

11.3 Balconies and lanais

• Do not continue the floor through a slider onto a balcony, terrace or screened lanai. These are exterior spaces regardless of screening.
• Terminate the floor at the threshold with a proper transition and expansion gap.

11.4 Condominium requirements

• Most condominium associations require written approval before any floor replacement, and many specify a minimum sound rating.
• Confirm your association's requirements before purchase. Bravion Supply LLC cannot advise on and is not responsible for association compliance.

12. Warranty

This flooring is covered by the BRAVION FLOORS Limited Warranty:

• 25 years limited residential
• 5 years limited light commercial

The warranty is valid only when the floor is installed in accordance with these instructions. The full terms, coverage, exclusions and claim procedure are available at:

Retain your proof of purchase and a carton label showing the DECOR CODE and LOT number.