Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, all Malmo™ products are suitable for bathrooms as they’re R10 slip resistant and the stone polymer core (SPC) provides a completely waterproof solution.

No, Malmo™ is not suitable for wet rooms and/or where there is continual direct wetting onto the floor. A fully joint sealed (ie ceramic grouted) product, or unjointed, continual sheet type floorcovering must be used for walk-in showers and wet rooms.

No, Malmo™ Rigid is not suitable (nor guaranteed) for conservatory use due to the extremes of temperatures that can occur which may affect the stability of the product.

However, our Malmo™ Stickdown flooring is fully guaranteed for use in conservatories, garden rooms, and other areas exposed to intense sunlight and extreme temperature variations because it is a more stable product due to it being fully adhered to the subfloor.

Yes, Malmo™ Stickdown Freedom LVT is suitable for use in garden rooms, as the fully adhered installation means it can cope with the extreme variations in temperature. It is also water and UV resistant, but as with all flooring installations you must ensure that the subfloor is correctly prepared. It should be clean, dry, and level, and depending on the building construction and subfloor material, additional preparation (eg adding a moisture barrier or levelling compound), may be necessary.

No, it is industry best practice not to install kitchen units, islands, and very heavy appliances or furniture (eg range cookers or American-style fridge freezers) on top of a floating floor. 

This is because the flooring must be able to able to expand and contract without being restricted by the weight of heavy kitchen units.

The edges of the flooring can be hidden and finished just beneath unit plinths and end panels with the required expansion space beyond them. Alternatively our Stickdown LVT can be installed underneath all of these items and right up to pre-fitted kitchen cabinetry, as it does not expand and contract in the same way due to being fully glued down to the subfloor.

Yes, Malmo™ has up to 10 years warranty for light commercial use. The versatile range of designs provide durability in high-traffic areas, are easy to maintain, and provide up to 19dB sound absorption for more comfortable and quiet environments. With a wear layer of up to 0.55mm and an Aluminium Oxide coating as standard on all Stickdown Freedom designs, we offer a high performance solution without compromising on style.

Yes, Malmo™ flooring must be stored flat (not propped up against a wall!) in its end-use room for a minimum of 48 hours prior to installation so that it can adjust to the temperature conditions that will exist once installed. The environment conditions must be normal, in that the room ambient temperature range should be between 18 – 26 degrees Celsius.

For further details regarding acclimatisation you can download a set of the Malmo™ product installation instructions here.

Yes! Many issues experienced with a new floorcovering actually relate to the surface it is laid over, so it’s very important that the subfloor is correctly checked to ensure it meets the criteria needed, whether it’s a floating floor such as Malmo™ Rigid, or fully adhered solution like Malmo™ Stickdown.

In both instances, the subfloor must be prepared in accordance with the information given in the Malmo™ installation instructions.  This includes it being solid, sound, dry, and appropriately flat and level with no more than a 2mm variance within a 2m x 2m space. 

Not always… are you surprised?!

If installing Stickdown LVT, you must ALWAYS remove any existing floorcoverings, and ensure that the subfloor is clean, dry, level, and free from any imperfections.

However, Rigid LVT was originally created for the purpose of laying over the top of existing hard floorcoverings, such as tiles or wood. It’s a “floating floor” and not affixed to any surfaces, so the flooring underneath will remain undamaged when the LVT is removed. This can be ideal for rental properties where permanent changes are not allowed; when the cost, mess or time to remove the existing floorcovering is not practical; or for occasions when you may want to freshen up the style of a room but without permanently losing the original features.

The same preparation requirements are needed when laying over an existing hard floorcovering as directly the subfloor, such as being clean, dry and no more than a 2mm level variance in a 2m x 2m area.

LVT CANNOT be laid over other floorcoverings such as lino, or carpet. For further information, please check out our Installation Instructions.

You don’t need an underlay with Malmo™! Stickdown LVT doesn’t require one as it’s directly adhered to the subfloor, and all our Rigid products are manufactured with a 1mm foam underlay already attached, eliminating the cost and fuss of identifying the right product and installing it separately.

A DPM acts as a barrier between the subfloor and the LVT, helping to prevent moisture from migrating into the flooring and causing potential issues. The use of a damp proof membrane (DPM) is therefore recommended when installing LVT flooring in areas where moisture may be a concern.

If you’re unsure whether your subfloor has moisture issues, we suggest you contact a flooring professional for expert advice.

Stickdown LVT tends to be thinner than Rigid, and is directly adhered to the subfloor as individual planks or tiles – therefore it requires professional installation, but can be used in conservatories and garden rooms and doesn’t require expansion gaps around the edge of the room.

Rigid LVT is thicker, quicker and easier to fit, with planks interlocking together and being placed over the subfloor with no adhesive being used (a “floating floor”). For these reasons, it can be laid over an existing hard floor covering such as wood or tiles, but it needs expansion gaps around the edge of the room to accommodate expansion and contraction of the material.

No – LVT flooring feels naturally warmer underfoot than many other materials such as concrete or ceramic tiles. However, for maximum cosiness all Malmo™ products are suitable for installation over encased water piped heating systems.

No – all Malmo™ products feature a stylish and practical matt finish, providing the realistic texture and appearance of real wood or ceramic. In addition, our Senses collections combine a registered embossed texture that’s perfectly in-line with the visual pattern of the woodgrain for enhanced authenticity.

Order up to 3 samples free of charge to see and feel our fantastic flooring for yourself.

No – LVT flooring is generally quieter compared to other hard floorcoverings such as ceramic tiles or laminate. The product construction results in less sound transmission, and with a 1mm foam underlay already attached, our Rigid products are proven to reduce sound by at least 19+dB.

Yes, Malmo™ is an ideal choice for homes with pets! It’s hardwearing, durable and resistant to scratches, stains, and moisture. LVT is more sound absorbent than many other hard floorcoverings, reducing the noise from clicking claws on the surface. It’s also slip resistant and easy to clean and maintain, allowing fuss-free clean up from muddy paws, spills and accidents, and fluff and fur.

For more information about cleaning your Malmo™ floor, visit our Care & Maintenance page.

It can if the floor surface is heated excessively, which often occurs when the flooring is fitted in highly glazed areas (rooms with bi-fold or patio doors, skylights, etc). To avoid excessive movement issues, you should protect the floor through the use of blinds or curtains during the height of summer. Our Stickdown products are the best flooring solution for these types of areas.

No – not yet!

A. Yes you can!  Our Malmo™ Rigid products are designed to be an easy-to-fit product, suitable for installation by any competent DIYer.  As long as you thoroughly read, understand, and install the flooring in accordance with the Malmo™ Rigid installation instructions that come with the product, you should have no issues installing it yourself. For further information you can download a set of the Malmo™ product installation instructions here.

We recommend that Malmo™ Stickdown flooring is fitted by professional installers or contractors only.

Yes, with Stickdown Freedom products it is possible to fit two different designs together in the same space to create unique designs, patterns, or visual transitions between areas. You could blend two or more different woodgrains together for an eclectic variance, or zone an open plan living space with tiles in one area (eg the kitchen) and plank in another (say the dining area).

Remember, with Stickdown Freedom you don’t need transition strips so the overall effect will be seamless!

Ideally planks should run away from the main window in the room, as the light travels the length of the plank. However, the choice is yours and you can make a room appear wider by running the planks perpendicular to the longest wall in the room, or draw the eye to a significant architectural feature (eg fireplace, feature wall) by running the length of the planks towards them.

For a truly striking effect, you could even run the planks diagonally across the room from corner to corner.

Our Rigid tile designs need to be laid in a staggered or brick bond pattern to maintain the strength and integrity of the joints with the click installation system.

Our Stickdown Freedom tiles can be laid however you like – staggered, brick bond or grid – depending on your preference, as they’re fully adhered to the floor. “Freedom” to install it however you like!

Yes, Malmo™ Rigid must have a minimum 6mm clear expansion gap at all its perimeter edges and around any fixed object within the floor area (eg kitchen cabinets). Please note that expansion gaps must be 10mm minimum where underfloor heating (UFH) is in use.

For a stylish solution that does not require expansion gaps, check out our Malmo™ Stickdown products.

Yes and no…

Floating floors with movement characteristics (eg Malmo™ Rigid) must be separated from the floor in adjoining rooms. This is to ensure that the flooring in one room can expand and contract in isolation from an adjoining room, where the floorcovering may move at a different rate depending on the room use, varying heating cycles, etc.

If you want a more streamlined aesthetic with the same floorcovering flowing through different rooms with no doorbars or transition strips, then our Malmo™ Stickdown products are the perfect solution!  Find out more about our Stickdown LVT here.

Expansion gaps are only required for Rigid LVT flooring, not Stickdown. They’re a must around the perimeter of the room, in doorways (even if the adjoining room is the same product), and around fixed furniture and fittings such as kitchen cabinetry, fireplaces, etc.

You absolutely must NOT fill these gaps with silicone, as this will prevent the expansion and contraction of the floor and cause failure issues. Instead, there are a number of options including affixing the skirting board to the wall after the floor installation; fixing a scotia or quarter-round moulding to the wall/skirting; and threshold/transition strips or T-bars in doorways or between two different floorcoverings. You must not affix any of these items to the floorcovering.

For more information visit our Accessories page or check out the Installation Instructions.

No specialist tools are required – you don’t even need any power tools! All our Rigid and Stickdown LVT floors are easy to cut with a Stanley knife, and do not require a tapping block to fit together. In addition to this you’ll need the usual items you would expect to use for any DIY project, such as a tape measure, pencil, set-square, spirit level, safety equipment (such as goggles, gloves, and knee protectors if desired), and spacers if installing a Rigid product.

Please click here to view our full Installation Instructions.

Yes, Malmo™ is suitable for use over underfloor heating as long as it is a water piped UFH system, encased within in a concrete base.

Malmo™ is not suitable (nor guaranteed) for use over electric matting UFH systems, or systems where the heating elements or pipes are exposed at the surface of the sub floor.

We recommend Bona Tile & Laminate Floor Cleaner, which is specially designed for vinyl products. It’s non-aggressive, quickly evaporates and doesn’t leave a residue build up on the surface of the floor.

It can be purchased separately or as a spray mop set which is incredibly quick and easy to use.

Click here for more tips and information about looking after your Malmo™ floor.

No, LVT based floorcoverings are temperature sensitive and steam has a high temperature when it makes contact with the floor – this can induce movement and joint issues. We recommend using Bona cleaning products to keep your Malmo™ floor in pristine condition. Visit our Care & Maintenance page for more information.

Malmo™ floors are durable and designed to withstand the rigours of everyday life. However, very sharp or stiletto-style heels with narrow points may exert more pressure on the flooring surface, increasing the risk of indentations or damage. Thicker or wider heels distribute the weight more evenly and are less likely to cause issues. Ultimately, when combined with the use of entrance mats at doorways to trap dirt and grit, Malmo™ can withstand occasional contact with heels without the expectation of significant damage.

Unfortunately scratches do occur on all hard floors, but they can be blended in on a Malmo™ floor using a scratch repair kit. There’s a wide selection of these available, but we particularly recommend the Dr Schutz Scratch Fix – Vinyl Floor Repair Kit.

Further information about how to protect your floor and prevent it being damaged can be found on our Care & Maintenance page.