Wood, LVT & subfloor technical glossary.
Plain-English definitions of AC5 abrasion ratings, SR1 subfloor flatness, anhydrite screed laitance, dryback vs SPC LVT, MS polymer adhesive and tog ratings.
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Key terms in professional floor installation
AC Rating (Abrasion Criteria AC3 / AC4 / AC5 / AC6)
The EN 13329 wear-resistance scale for laminate flooring. AC4 suits heavy domestic rooms; AC5 (10mm–12mm) and AC6 are commercial-grade laminates ideal for busy Dublin hallways, kitchens and open-plan extensions.
Anhydrite / Liquid Calcium Sulphate Screed
A pumped self-compacting screed common in A-rated Dublin new builds over underfloor heating pipes. Before bonding timber or LVT to anhydrite, the surface laitance crust must be sanded off, vacuumed, tested below 0.5% CM moisture and primed with an acrylic or epoxy barrier primer.
BS 8201 / SR1 Subfloor Flatness
The British & Irish code of practice for installing timber and resilient floor coverings. SR1 requires no gap greater than 3mm (2mm for micro-bevel herringbone) beneath a 2-metre straightedge resting anywhere on the subfloor.
Click LVT (SPC Rigid Core) vs Glue-Down LVT (Dryback)
Click LVT has a 4.5mm–6mm stone-polymer composite (SPC) core with built-in underlay that floats over minor subfloor ripples. Glue-down (dryback) LVT is a flexible 2.5mm plank bonded with high-temp adhesive to a latex-screeded floor — preferred for large sunlit bi-fold extensions and UFH.
DPM (Damp Proof Membrane — Liquid Epoxy or Sheet)
A moisture barrier applied over concrete slabs before laying wood or laminate. A 2-part brush/roller liquid epoxy DPM blocks residual construction moisture up to 98% Relative Humidity (RH).
Expansion Gap (Perimeter Movement Joint)
A mandatory 8mm–12mm clear perimeter gap left around every wall, radiator pipe, hearth and door frame so floating laminate and engineered timber floors can expand and contract seasonally without buckling.
Feather Finish / Patch Skimming
An ultra-fine rapid-drying cementitious compound (such as Ardex Feather Finish) trowelled over plywood joints or minor concrete imperfections before laying glue-down LVT.
MS Polymer Flexible Wood Adhesive
Water-free, solvent-free elastic silane adhesive (e.g. Bona R848, SikaBond-T54, Lecol 5500) used to bond engineered oak and parquet directly to screeded subfloors while flexing safely with underfloor heating cycles.
Plywood Overboarding (SP101 6mm / 9mm)
Fixing flooring-grade birch/hardwood plywood with ring-shank nails or screws at 100mm–150mm centres over uneven Victorian or 1950s suspended floorboards to create a flat, squeak-free base for LVT or herringbone.
Scotia Beading vs Skirting Undercutting
Scotia is a 16mm–19mm quadrant trim pinned to the bottom of existing skirtings to cover the expansion gap. Removing and refitting the skirting boards on top of the new floor eliminates beading completely.
Tog Rating (Thermal Resistance)
Measure of thermal insulation. Over underfloor heating, the combined tog of the floor covering and underlay should not exceed 1.5 tog (0.15 m²K/W) so heat transfers rapidly into the room.
Undercutting Architraves & Door Jambs
Using an oscillating multi-tool or jamb saw laid flat on a scrap plank to trim the bottom of wooden door frames so the new flooring slides neatly underneath with zero unsightly mastic gaps.
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Get a free quote from a Dublin floor fitter
Four quick taps and your number. One local floor fitting specialist covering your Dublin postcode or commuter county rings you with a fixed written price. Nothing is booked until you accept it.