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I hope you find this informative

Avoid the problems!

By Chris Maskell
CEO National Covering Asociation of Canada

Do not build kitchen cabinets and/or islands on top of floating floor systems (engineered wood, laminate, Vinyl Plank).

This is a practice seen all too often in new construction and renovation work, and one that causes no end of problems, hold backs, expensive repairs.

Restricting a floating floor’s natural requirement to shrink and expand laterally due to changes in Relative Humidity and / or temperature, can stress plank connection points in the floor system causing squeaks, creaks, locking mechanism failure, separation, splits, buckling and more.

Some manufacturers of floating floors state in their installation guidelines NOT to build cabinetry on top of the floor system, and some do not. Just because they don’t, doesn’t give a green light to go ahead and do it. If there is no warning against this practice, it means the installation instructions are not thorough enough.

NFCA Floor Covering Reference Manual states:

Individual planks or tiles shall not be fixed directly to the substrate. Installation shall facilitate natural, lateral movement throughout the floating floor system. Door jambs shall be undercut. Cabinetry shall not be built resting on the floating floor system. Wall moldings and transition strips shall not impede floor covering expansion and contraction and shall conceal plank/tile edges as required.

Manufacturers should be clear about what is and is not covered under warranty, what is recommended for best installation results, salespeople should advise their builder and/or homeowner customers accordingly and professional installers should know better.

If in doubt stop the installation, do some more research, and ask the manufacturer / distributor for guidance in writing before you install.
www.nfca.ca

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