How to install Glue-Down SPC: the professional guide

The quality of a Glue-Down SPC (LVT) floor is decided in manufacturing — and in installation. Here is the method taught at the Herculex Academy, where we train Moroccan installers free of charge. This guide gives the overview; it does not replace hands-on training or the adhesive manufacturer's instructions.

1. Assess the substrate

Everything starts with the substrate. It must be flat (≤ 3 mm under a 2 m straightedge), dry, clean and sound. Over existing tile: check that no tile sounds hollow, degrease, then skim the joints (or the whole surface if joints are wide). Over a new screed: respect the drying time and measure residual moisture before any installation.

2. Acclimatize the planks

Store the boxes flat, 24 to 48 hours in the installation room, at ambient temperature (ideally 18–28 °C). A material installed at room temperature is a material that will not move.

3. Lay out the pattern

Measure the room, identify the main light axis, and snap the starting lines. Golden rules: avoid edge cuts under 5 cm, and stagger joints at least 30 cm in straight lay. For decorative patterns — herringbone, chevron, Hungarian point — the center axis line is decisive: the whole motif depends on it.

4. Apply the adhesive properly

Use an acrylic adhesive for dryback LVT, spread with the appropriate notched trowel (typically A1/A2), respecting the tack time stated by the adhesive manufacturer. Glue in zones you can cover within the open time — never the whole room at once.

5. Lay, roll, let it set

Lay the planks edge to edge, without gaps or forcing — the edges are square, the floor is fully bonded, there is no click and no tapping. Roll with a 50 kg roller in cross passes to expel air and guarantee adhesive transfer. Avoid heavy traffic for 24 h and wet cleaning for 72 h.

The mistakes that cost the most

• Installing over a dusty or damp substrate: no adhesive can fix that.
• Ignoring the tack time: sliding planks, opening joints.
• Skipping the roller: bubbles and hollow sounds.
• Mixing production batches in one room without blending them.

Get trained, free of charge

Glue-down installation is a real trade — and a real opportunity. The Herculex Academy trains young Moroccans in this trade for free: hands-on training at the factory, a free tool kit, official certification and support all the way to autoentrepreneur status. Herculex authorized resellers refer their customers to certified installers.