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Avoid these mistakes during your flooring installation. A complete guide.
From poor preparation to incorrect installation techniques, small mistakes can lead to big problems. Learn what to avoid and ensure your flooring stands the test of time.
The big three
Across all cases, most failures trace back to the same controllable "big three" risk areas: Environment and Acclimation, Moisture + subfloor flatness/cleanliness, and movement managemenet (expansion gaps/transition joints). With this blog, we'll make sure to share all details in order for you to install your flooring properly!
Mistake – Description – Fix
In this section, we're sharing an easily comprehendable table with often mistakes, what they mean and how to fix them.
Mistake
Description
›Fix
›The laminate and O.R.C.A. documents require storing unopened packs for 48 hours under the same temperature and moisture conditions as installation (15–30°C / 59–86°F; ~40–70% RH). For ROCKO the correct the storage practice is horizontal, dry, controlled environment.
Pause installation; bring material into the install room; maintain specified climate until product stabilizes.
Laminate/O.R.C.A. require moisture measurement on mineral sub-surfaces and set maximum residual moisture values (CM%).
ROCKO explicitly states: test all concrete subfloors and document results; visual checks are not reliable; moisture must be checked even though the product is described as waterproof to protect surrounding structure.
More often than not, measuring the moisture of the flooring with a moisture meter is skipped.
Delay installation until moisture is within specified limits (laminate/O.R.C.A.).
Make sure to use a moisture meter to measure the moisture on the floor before installing the flooring. Ensure the site conditions are all correct before installing any flooring.
For ROCKO, correct moisture-related site conditions before installing; the manual does not provide a single threshold figure on the shown pages, so acceptable values must be taken from ROCKO’s full technical data or local resilient-floor standards (missing detail in the provided pages).
All systems require a flat substrate. Ensure the substrate is clean, stable, and within the product’s specified flatness tolerance (2 mm/1 m for ROCKO and O.R.C.A.; 3 mm/1 m for laminate pure/pure+).
Using a thicker underlayment may lead to breaks near the click system of the flooring. Always check the recommended thickness for the underlayment on the instructions and installation guides of the flooring you’ve purchased.
Grind high spots and fill depressions with patching/leveling compound suited for flooring (ROCKO explicitly describes grinding/filling for concrete).
For laminate/O.R.C.A., unevenness beyond tolerance must be levelled by a professional per the stated requirement.
For laminate and O.R.C.A.: on wood sub-surfaces, no polyethylene (PE) foil may be installed; on mineral sub-surfaces (concrete/screed), a PE vapor barrier is “crucial,” with upturned edges and taped overlaps.
When Polyethylene (PE) foil is missing or there is no PE vapor barrier.
Polyethylene (PE) Foil can be used for all flooring (especially for new construction buildings). Please stay within the product’s specified flatness tolerance (2 mm/1 m for ROCKO and O.R.C.A.; 3 mm/1 m for laminate pure/pure+).
Also, make sure to remove incorrect barrier layers; reinstall with correct vapor barrier only where required.
The laminate and O.R.C.A. documents recommend system-based insulation underlay installed edge-to-edge (not overlapping), and explicitly warn to ensure underlay joints do not lie directly under floor joints.
Re-lay underlay edge-to-edge; offset seams away from plank joints; reinstall planks.
Both laminate and O.R.C.A. state that if the flooring has an integrated insulation underlay, no additional insulation underlay should be used.
Remove added underlay and reinstall as specified.
We’re also providing you with a list of 5 things which you should NOT do
Do NOT install the subfloor/underlay assembly outside flatness tolerance (2 mm/1 m for ROCKO and O.R.C.A.; 3 mm/1 m for laminate pure/pure+).
Do NOT exceed the maximum floor surface temperature of 27°C (81°F) on underfloor/radiant heating installations.
Do NOT install ROCKO on stairs or vertical surfaces, as it voids the warranty.
Do NOT add additional insulation underlay when the product has an integrated underlay.
Do NOT drill oversized pipe holes (laminate/O.R.C.A. explicitly: holes drilled 3 cm larger than pipe diameter must be avoided).
And a list of 5 things you should be mindful of that are crucial for any installation:
For installation surfaces over 8 metres, length or width, expansion joints are necessary. ( This does not apply for ROCKO Flooring as it is dimensionally and can exceed 8 metres of length/width without needing explansion joints).
Retain 12-15 mm expansion gap (edge distance) from the wall, heating pipes, posts, doorsteps.
Maintain job-site readiness before opening cartons: control temperature (15–30°C) and manage the humidity of the space.
Ensure the substrate is clean, stable, and within the product’s specified flatness tolerance (2 mm/1 m for ROCKO and O.R.C.A.; 3 mm/1 m for laminate pure/pure+).
Don't be afraid to ask professionals for questions, contact us online to check specifics and download the installation manuals from the KronoOriginal website.
Necessary tools for installation and post-installation maintenance.
The necessary materials and tools you'll need for flooring installation are: polyethylene-foil (Insulation Underlay PE), straight edge, measuring tape, pencil, spacers, tapping block, soft-faced hammer, broom or vacuum cleaner and felt or nylon pads.
Maintenance
To clean the floor, use a suitable cleaning agent diluted in lukewarm water. Change the water until the water is clear and the floor is free of dit and dust. Avoid using aggressive cleaning agents such as cleaners or bleaches, so that you do not damage the surface. We also suggest furniture legs to be covered with appropriate protective pads.
