The Ultimate South African Flooring Guide: Part 3

A beautiful floor is only as good as what lies beneath it. While modern Laminate, SPC, and LVT are engineered for incredible durability, their performance depends entirely on a flat, dry, and solid foundation. Before you begin your transformation, ensure your space meets the three non-negotiable pillars of a professional installation:

• The Flatness Factor: Eliminating protrusions (high spots) and “steps down” (dips) to protect your click-lock joints.
• The Moisture Shield: Verifying a dry subfloor to prevent buckling, joint failure, and mold.
• The Structural Check: Identifying when to uplift old tiles, parquet, or carpets for a stable base.

In this chapter, we decode the “Standard Operating Procedure” for South African subfloors to ensure your floor remains stable, silent, and stunning for decades.

1. The Universal Rules: Flat & Dry

2. Suitable Subfloors & Necessary Uplift

Floating Floors (Laminate & SPC)

Straight Edge

• Tile Requirements: Tiles must be 100% even. If there is any “lippage” (one tile sitting higher than its neighbor), the floor must be ground down or screeded over. For SPC, all grout lines must be filled in to prevent the rigid core joints from stressing over the gaps.
• The Solid Base Rule: If your tiles are not solid (hollow or loose), they must be removed. If they are solid but not flat, a smoothing compound over the tiles is required.
• Parquet & Wood Uplift: Existing solid parquet wooden blocks must be removed. Parquet is prone to swelling from trapped moisture, which will push up and ruin your new floor.
• Rule of Thumb: If you uplift tiles or parquet, you will almost certainly need a self-levelling smoothing compound afterward to restore the surface.

LVT (Glue-Down)

Screed Rolling

• Installing Over Tiles: To install LVT over existing tiles, you must first apply a specialized “Slush” primer followed by a smoothing compound. Over tiles the screed generally needs to be applied thicker, around 5mm to 6mm.
• Handling Different Floor Levels: If there is a height difference between two rooms (e.g., from tiles to concrete), a structural ramp can be made over about 30cm using screed to create a seamless transition.
• Uplift Requirements: Existing carpets and underlay must be removed. Epoxy and painted floors must be chipped or ground away to expose the raw concrete so the primer and screed can bond correctly.

3. Moisture Barriers: The Silent Insurance Policy

Screed Layers

• For Laminate & SPC: You must use a physical Damp Proof Membrane (DPM). We specify virgin high-density plastic sheeting of 80 microns or more. Alternatively, use a high-quality underlay with a built-in DPM, like 2mm Combi Lay.
• For LVT: A liquid moisture barrier is only necessary where existing damp issues are identified. It must be applied at least 24 hours before applying any smoothing compound.

4. Smoothing Compound vs. Self-Leveling

• The Reality: These compounds are generally applied only 3mm to 7mm thick. They create a smooth, flat surface, but they do not make a structural floor “level.”
• Pre-Filling: If specific areas are significantly uneven, these must be identified and filled in before the final surface screed is applied.
• Recommendations: While Laminate seldom requires it, a smoothing compound is highly recommended for SPC and is a non-negotiable requirement for LVT.