FLOORSENSE
Escarpment Series
6mm Click Vinyl

Installation Guidelines

How to install and care for your FloorSense Escarpment Series floating floor — straight from the manufacturer's guidelines.

Read this first. The Escarpment Series is a rigid SPC floating floor. It installs best when fitted by a professional flooring contractor or skilled tradesperson — the installer is responsible for the finished result. Always inspect every plank before installing; never install a plank with a visible defect. Once a plank is installed, it is considered accepted.
Before you begin
  • Acclimate the temperature, not just the floor. Store and install in a space kept between 10 °C and 30 °C, and keep the room in that range after installation.
  • Inspect the subfloor. It must be clean, dry, structurally sound, fully cured and flat and level. Fill low spots and sand high spots. Over concrete, the smoother the subfloor, the better the finished result.
  • Over existing floors: the Escarpment Series can go over most sound hard surfaces. Existing wood floors should be re-secured and installed across (90°) to the new flooring; existing tile grout lines should be filled level. Do not install over an existing floating floor.
  • Mix your boxes. Work from several cartons and pallets at once to blend natural colour and shade variation for the best appearance.
  • Plan your layout and any transitions before you start. Undercut door frames and architraves so the floor can move underneath them.
  • Acoustic backing is built in. Every plank has a pre-attached 1.5 mm EVA pad — no separate underlayment is needed. If a project specifies additional acoustic underlay, contact us first, as the wrong underlay can harm performance and the locking system.
Tools you'll need
  • Broom, dustpan and a fine dust mask (always wear a mask when cutting).
  • Rubber mallet, tapping block, and spacers (minimum 6 mm).
  • Tape measure, straight edge / square, and a pencil.
  • Utility or Stanley knife for scoring, plus a jigsaw, circular saw or table saw for cuts.
  • Safety glasses and gloves.
Installing the floor
  1. Set your expansion gap. Leave a 6–8 mm gap at every wall, perimeter and fixed object using spacers — this floating floor needs room to move. Keep these gaps in place the whole way around.
  2. Start the first row in a corner with the tongue side facing the wall. Work left to right, locking the long edges (2G angle).
  3. Drop-lock the ends. Press the short end of each board down with a rubber mallet until the 5Gi drop-lock clicks flush. It shouldn't take much force — if a joint won't sit flush, take it apart and re-seat it rather than hammering.
  4. Stagger your seams. End joints should be offset by at least 20 cm row to row, and no end board should be shorter than 30 cm. Random staggering looks best.
  5. Check as you go. After every 2–3 rows, confirm the floor is square, straight, locked tight and that the expansion gaps are still correct — the first rows set up the whole floor.
  6. Finish the edges. Cover the expansion gaps with baseboard, quarter-round or Scotia fixed to the wall — never to the planks. Protect any exposed edges with the appropriate trim or transition strip.
Wet areas & large rooms
  • Wet areas (bathrooms, laundry): caulk all gaps with a water- and mould-resistant silicone sealer, and install these areas independently from the rest of the floor.
  • Large spans: rooms longer than 12 m or wider than 10 m need an additional transition / expansion joint to allow movement.
  • Disassembly: if needed, boards can be unlocked and reused by sliding them apart horizontally — as long as they aren't damaged.
Radiant heating. The Escarpment Series is compatible with hydronic (in-floor water) systems only. The floor surface must never exceed 27 °C, and the heat should be raised gradually after installation. Other heating systems are not covered by the warranty.
Caring for your floor
  • Sweep with a soft broom or static mop and vacuum regularly with a soft (hard-floor) head to keep grit off the surface.
  • Damp-mop with warm water and a pH-neutral floor cleaner. Never use a steam mop, bleach, ammonia or harsh/abrasive cleaners.
  • Put felt or rubber stoppers under furniture legs, and never drag or slide furniture — use a trolley and lift.
  • Use breathable entry mats at outside doors and rugs/runners in high-traffic areas; clean them often so trapped grit doesn't wear the floor.
  • Wipe up spills promptly, keep pets' nails trimmed, and use blinds or curtains to limit long periods of direct sunlight.

This page is a summary of the manufacturer's guidelines. A full printed copy is included with your order; follow it for any project-specific details. Floors installed by Adamson Flooring are covered by a 5-year Installation Workmanship Warranty.

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