FirmFit Frequently Asked Questions

FirmFit is the strongest available waterproof floor. We back this claim by warranting an incredible performance in tougher areas or situations where most glue-less flooring products would not be warranted (heat conditions, sunrooms, wide areas without unsightly transitions, humid rooms like bathrooms or kitchens, pet stains and much more).

What makes FirmFit so effective?
Two aspects make FirmFit’s core very different from LVT or WPC (two of the more common hard-surface glue-less flooring categories):

• It contains 0% plasticizers, which are chemical additives which make PVC soft and flexible
• It’s limestone-based

The combination of these two features makes it rigid and much more stable to temperature variations, as well as sunlight.
The pre-attached backing options (such as cork or a sound absorbing pad) can offer extra noise resistance attributes versus traditional laminates or click vinyl planks.

At high temperatures, PVC — like most plastic-based materials — becomes much more flexible and starts expanding. Because of their high plasticizer and PVC content, standard vinyl or engineered vinyl planks start expanding and aren’t rigid enough to resist the force created by expansion.

FIRMFIT, thanks to its very high limestone content, is not only rigid but extremely stable. If certain areas reach high temperatures, FIRMFIT can naturally expand a little but will push against each other and expand well within the recommended expansion gap. This is why respecting the expansion gap around the perimeters of the room is critical. ⚠ Refer to your regional installation manual for the correct gap measurement.

Yes. FIRMFIT flooring features an embossed texture that mimics the grain of real wood, as well as stone.

Rarely do we see indentation issues with FirmFit. Most indentations can be avoided by ensuring there are no heavy rolling loads over the floor, and using traditional installation methods when moving heavy items (e.g. use a smooth plywood panel when rolling in refrigerators, etc.). Also common-sense use of floor protectors under furniture legs, mats under rolling chairs, etc. are also recommended.

While no similar flooring is guaranteed against scratching or loss of gloss, FirmFit is textured with a medium graining and a tough wear layer for durability. We warrant that FirmFit will not stain from pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces and vomit, providing it is cleaned within 24 hours!

We ensure that FirmFit is safe for you and your loved ones. All FirmFit floors are subjected to rigorous tests by third-party laboratories that are designed to ensure all FirmFit products meet the highest standards and do not harm interior air quality. This means our products do not release harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into living environments. FirmFit is also 100% free of harmful plasticizers, such as ortho-phthalates.

These rigorous control has resulted in the The Greenguard Environmental Institute to certify all FirmFit floors worldwide with their highest certification: GREENGUARD Gold.

GREENGUARD Gold Certification offers the strictest certification criteria, considering safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly), and ensures that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities. It is referenced by both The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building Rating System.

FirmFit is extremely stable. The planks are not affected by humidity or other types of moisture, providing you with superior stability.

FirmFit floors can be used in homes where wheel chairs are needed, but FirmFit should not be applied to ramps. We recommend that you glue the joints when motorized chairs will be used.

A pre-attached backing will provide a natural sound barrier and extra joint support for extra noise resistance attributes versus traditional laminates or click vinyl planks.

Yes, the entire plank, including the backing, is 100% waterproof, whether cork or padding.

After detaching the backing, FirmFit can be 100% recycled by a company with adequate equipment including flooring manufacturers.

Yes, FIRMFIT can be installed over most existing hard surface flooring, including tiles (as long as it is not a floating installation). The exceptions are carpet, cushion-backed vinyl, floating floors of any type, loose lay, perimeter fastened sheet vinyl, and hardwood or wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete. The existing floors must meet level requirements. Please see your regional installation manual for specifics.

FIRMFIT can be installed on all levels of the home, including wet rooms, and directly over most existing hard surface subfloors. It is intended for interior, temperature-controlled environments only. Refer to your regional installation manual for a complete list of suitable and unsuitable areas.

This product is not to be installed in areas with a floor drain, sump pump, or areas exposed to the elements (outdoors or saunas). It should also not be installed in areas that have a risk of flooding — such as seasonal porches, camping trailers, boats, RVs, lanais, or rooms that are not temperature-controlled. Although it is waterproof, water can seep through the bevels if left standing.

Please refer to your regional installation manual. Requirements for installations in non-climate-controlled environments — including temperature limits and crawl space conditions vary by region.

Yes, FIRMFIT is compatible with embedded radiant floor heating systems using the floating method. The system must be embedded with the minimum separation specified in your regional installation manual.
Key guidelines: turn the heat off for 24 hours before, during, and 24 hours after installation; ensure the room temperature meets your regional requirements; once installation is complete, turn the heating on at ambient temperature and increase gradually in 9°F / 5°C increments every 12 hours until reaching normal operating conditions. Electric heating mats that are not embedded into the subfloor are not recommended and could void the warranty. Maximum operating surface temperature varies by region — refer to your regional installation manual.

This depends on your region. Refer to your regional installation manual for the maximum continuous floor surface area and length before expansion moldings are required. In all cases, you must respect the expansion gap around the perimeters of the room.

As long as you are within the area limits that do not require transition strips for your region, door transitions are not required. However, you must use a T-molding to separate wet areas (such as bathrooms) from the rest of the installation. At doorways where the flooring meets other flooring surfaces, the use of a transition molding is required do not pinch the planks.

Yes. Although FIRMFIT, thanks to its rigidity, hides minor subfloor imperfections, the subfloor must be clean, dry, smooth, and structurally sound. Subfloor variations must not exceed the tolerance specified in your regional installation manual. Depressions, deep grooves, expansion joints, and other subfloor imperfections must be filled with a patching and leveling compound.

For installation over existing tile, you would need a self-leveling compound to fill in low grouted joint areas.

If the floor does not have a pre-attached underlayment, an additional underlayment is recommended to improve acoustic performance and absorb minor substrate irregularities. The underlayment must be 1mm maximum thickness, with high density (>135 kg/m³), high compressive strength (≥200 kPa according to EN 16354, ASTM D3575-20, Suffix D), and <10% thickness change (according to ASTM D3575-20, Suffix B). Thicker underlayments or those with low density and inadequate compressive strength could damage the locking mechanism and will void the warranty.
If the floor has a pre-attached underlayment, the use of an additional underlayment could damage the locking mechanism and will VOID the warranty.

Yes. Although the floor is waterproof, it is not intended to be used as a moisture barrier. A moisture barrier (poly-film) is required between the concrete subfloor and the flooring. Refer to your regional installation manual for the required thickness. The subfloor must be dry with the following requirements:
· pH ≤ 9
· Concrete moisture vapor emissions must not exceed 8 lb/3.63 kg MVER per 1000 ft²/93 m² per 24 hours (ASTM F1869)
· 90% RH (ASTM F2170)
· Max 2.5% moisture content (CM method / ASTM F2659)
· Max 4.0 MC as per ASTM F2659 (a meter calibrated for concrete and qualified by gravimetric testing must be used)

The subfloor must have a pH limit of 9 or less. A too-high alkalinity may cause damage to adhesives and primers.

You can place the toilet directly on top of FIRMFIT or trim the flooring tightly around it. For wet area installations: use a T-molding to separate the wet area from the rest of the installation, fill expansion spaces with a compressible PE foam backer rod, and cover them with a flexible 100% silicone sealant around the entire perimeter before installing moldings.
⚠ Do not use acrylic sealant. Apply silicone sealant to connections at doorframes or any other fixed objects.

Acclimation requirements vary by region. In most regions, this product does not need to be acclimated under normal storage conditions. However, if the boxes have been exposed to extreme temperatures shortly before installation, acclimation may be required. In some regions, acclimation is mandatory regardless of conditions. Refer to your regional installation manual for the specific acclimation requirements that apply to you.

No. Built-in cabinets, kitchen cabinets, islands, and similar heavy items must be installed first. Only then can the flooring be installed, leaving the appropriate expansion gap around them. This gap will be covered with trim moldings after the floor is installed. The quality of the floor can only be guaranteed if it is allowed to move freely. It must not be nailed, adhered, or fastened to the subfloor in any way .

Yes. With a floating floor, you must always ensure you leave an expansion gap between the flooring and all fixed objects such as walls, pillars, stairs, etc. The required gap size varies by region and product format. These gaps will be covered with trim moldings after the floor is installed. NOTE: DO NOT FILL IN THE EXPANSION GAPS WITH SILICONE during standard installation. Silicone sealing is only for bathrooms and wet rooms, see the “Installation in Wet Areas” section of your manual.

Yes. We recommend non-staining vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs. We do not recommend the use of rubber- or latex-backed mats because the chemical (antioxidant) used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain your floor.

The planks themselves are waterproof, but once installed they do not provide a fully airtight surface. Water can still sip through the bevels if left over 24 hours. Water spillage as is the case in bathrooms and kitchens won’t damage the floor but standing water must be avoided at all times. We recommend cleaning up water spillage as soon as possible, before 24 hours pass.

No. FIRMFIT resists staining, is easy to clean, and requires no waxing. Do not buff or sand the surface. Waxing and buffing are not compatible with this product and will void the warranty.

We recommend ensuring that your initial flooring purchase includes several extra FirmFit planks in case you have one that needs replacement. Follow these steps to remove and replace a damaged plank:
· Use a circular saw to make several cuts in the board to be removed. Make sure to use the correct depth of the saw blade and protect the surrounding planks.
· Use a chisel to carefully break and remove the part of the plank to be removed. Clean all the debris and dust
· Cut off the groove on the long side and short side of the new plank to be installed.
· Apply one beam of adhesive on the long side and short side tongue of the existing planks that will receive the new planks.
· Carefully place the new planks in position and remove the excess of glue immediately with a damp cloth.

Support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors. Ideally, the protectors should be at least one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors are also acceptable. Casters with a minimum 3/4″ flat surface width or floor protectors are recommended for all moveable furniture. Make sure any metal protectors are rustproof. Replace your narrow-dome furniture rests with wide-bearing ones.

For chocolate, grease, juice and wine stains, use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cleaner. Nail polish, tar, markers, crayon, lipstick, ink and cigarette burns can be removed using nail polish remover or denatured alcohol.

The use of residential steam mops on this product is allowed. Use at lowest power with a suitable so pad, and do not hold a steam mop on one spot for an extended period of time (longer than 30 seconds). Refer to the steam mop’s manufacturer instructions for proper usage.

Yes, we recommend that FirmFit is promptly uninstalled, sorted separately, and placed in a dry environment. Please allow 48-72 hours to dry. Once both your subfloor and FirmFit panels have dried completely you may re-install.

If you feel that you have a warranty related problem, you should take your original purchase receipt, back to the retailer where you purchased the floor and file a warranty claim with that store. The store will then contact us to begin the warranty process. An inspector may come to your home to evaluate the conditions and determine what caused the problem. Once an evaluation is complete you will be contacted with the results. The whole process could take up to 20-30 business days, depending on the circumstances, although most issues are resolved much faster