Installation & subfloor requirements
For contractors, specifiers and project managers
The short answer
Flocked flooring does not need an underlay. It has its own dense, impervious backing and is bonded directly to the subfloor with adhesive, so the material you specify is the finished floor — nothing is added underneath. That is the difference from broadloom carpet, which is normally laid over a separate cushion.
What it does need is a subfloor that is level, dry, sound and clean. That preparation — levelling, moisture testing, any damp-proof membrane, adhesive and labour — is the installer’s scope, handled locally, and sits outside an FOB supply price. It is the single most common source of unexpected cost on an imported floor, so we would rather set it out here than after an order.
What the subfloor has to be
Local practice and your adhesive supplier set the exact tolerances, and they differ by market. Four conditions hold everywhere:
Level
Flat enough that no ridge or hollow reads through a thin, dense floor covering. Correct with a suitable smoothing compound — a flocked floor will not hide a poor substrate.
Dry
Residual moisture tested by the method used in your market and within the adhesive manufacturer’s limit. Above it, a surface damp-proof membrane is specified.
Sound
Structurally stable, no movement, no crumbling or delaminating surface layer.
Clean
Free of old adhesive residue, curing compounds, laitance, paint, oil and dust — anything that stops the adhesive bonding.
When you genuinely do need more than adhesive
“No underlay required” is true as a default and misleading as an absolute. There are four situations where an additional layer is the right engineering decision, and a specifier should know them before writing the spec:
- A subfloor too uneven to skim. Beyond what a smoothing compound can correct, the substrate has to be addressed properly — a thin dense floor covering telegraphs what is underneath it.
- Residual moisture above the adhesive’s limit. A surface damp-proof membrane is specified rather than hoping the reading falls.
- Refurbishment over an existing floor. Where lifting the old floor is not viable, an isolating layer may be specified so the new floor is not bonded to an unreliable surface.
- An acoustic target above what the covering delivers. Our tested figure — ΔLw 21 dB impact-sound reduction to ISO 10140-1 / 717-2 (SGS) — is the contribution of the floor covering, not of the whole floor build-up. If the project target is higher, that is a build-up question for the acoustician, not a covering question.
In each case the layer is an engineered decision for that project, specified by the contractor or consultant against the actual building. It is not a default layer under every installation.
Adhesive
A pressure-sensitive or permanent-set flooring adhesive suited to an impervious-backed textile floor covering, selected with your local supplier against the subfloor, moisture level and expected traffic. We do not ship adhesive. Trowel notch, open time and coverage all depend on ambient conditions in the building, so it is specified and bought locally — shipping it from China would cost more and perform worse than a product formulated for your climate.
Laying patterns
Quarter-turn (checkerboard)
Each tile rotated 90° from its neighbour. The most forgiving of slight shade variation between batches — the usual default for large areas.
Monolithic (same direction)
All tiles laid the same way for a strong directional sweep. The most demanding: any shade variation shows.
Brick / ashlar offset
Rows offset by half a tile. Breaks up the grid and suits corridors and linear spaces.
Random / mixed colourway
Deliberate mixing of two or more colourways, laid to a set ratio or freely. Hides traffic patterns well and makes single-tile replacement invisible.
What is in our supply, and what is not
In our supply
The floor covering itself, in the specified format, series and colourway; the dated test report for your product and batch; packing and export documentation.
Handled locally, outside an FOB price
Subfloor survey, levelling compound, moisture testing, any damp-proof membrane, adhesive, installation labour, waste removal, and site conditions such as temperature and humidity.
After it is down
Let the adhesive cure before the floor is used — foot traffic first, then furniture, then rolling loads and wet cleaning last. In service: vacuum and spot-clean day to day, then wet-mop, extraction-clean or steam-clean periodically. Because the backing is impervious, water and detergent lift soil off the surface instead of driving it into a backing, which is what makes the floor genuinely wet-cleanable rather than only shampooable. The full routine is in our cleaning and maintenance guide.
FAQ
Does flocked flooring need an underlay?
No. Flocked flooring has its own dense, impervious backing and is bonded directly to the subfloor with adhesive, so the material you specify is the finished floor — nothing is added underneath. This differs from broadloom carpet, which is normally laid over a separate cushion. What it does need is a subfloor that is level, dry and sound.
When would I still need a separate underlay or subfloor system?
In four situations, and it is worth saying so plainly rather than claiming none exist. First, a subfloor too uneven to correct with skim levelling. Second, residual moisture above the level your adhesive allows, where a surface damp-proof membrane is specified. Third, a refurbishment where an existing floor must be isolated rather than removed. Fourth, where the project's acoustic target exceeds what the floor covering alone provides — our tested ΔLw 21 dB is the covering's contribution, not the whole floor build-up. In each case the underlay is an engineered decision for that project, not a default layer.
What condition does the subfloor have to be in?
Level, dry, sound, clean and free of contaminants such as old adhesive residue, curing compounds or laitance. Local practice and the adhesive manufacturer set the exact tolerances, but in general: levelled with a suitable smoothing compound, moisture-tested to the method used in your market, and structurally stable with no movement.
Who is responsible for subfloor preparation — is it in the price?
It is the installer's scope, handled locally, and it sits outside an FOB supply price. We quote the floor covering. Levelling compound, moisture testing, any damp-proof membrane, adhesive and labour are priced by your contractor against the actual condition of the building. We say this before an order rather than after, because it is the most common source of surprise cost on an imported floor.
What adhesive is used?
A pressure-sensitive or permanent-set flooring adhesive suited to an impervious-backed textile floor covering, chosen with your local supplier against the subfloor, moisture level and traffic. We do not ship adhesive — trowel notch, open time and coverage all depend on ambient conditions in the building, so it is specified and bought locally.
How are the tiles laid out?
Four common layouts: quarter-turn (checkerboard), monolithic (all tiles in one direction), brick or ashlar offset, and random or deliberately mixed-colour. Quarter-turn is the most forgiving of slight shade variation between production batches; monolithic gives the strongest directional effect and is the least forgiving. Roll and sheet are welded or seamed conventionally.
How long before the floor can be used?
Follow the adhesive manufacturer's cure time for the product and ambient conditions. As a general rule foot traffic comes first, then furniture, then rolling loads and wet cleaning last. Do not wet-clean a newly laid floor before the adhesive has fully cured.
How is it cleaned once it is down?
Vacuum and spot-clean day to day; wet-mop, extraction-clean or steam-clean periodically. Because the backing is impervious, water and detergent lift soil off the surface instead of driving it into a backing — which is what makes the floor genuinely wet-cleanable rather than only shampooable. Full routine in our cleaning guide.
Guidance is general and for reference only. Subfloor tolerances, moisture-test methods and adhesive selection follow local standards and the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions — confirm both per project. Contact: [email protected] · WhatsApp +86 153 5662 8355.