Special LVT, PVC, vinyl and laminate: click systems examined, a survey

THE SECRETS OF CLICKING

A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE VARIOUS SORTS OF CLICK SYSTEM WITH LAMINATE AND VINYL FLOORS

Laetitia Kimblad, Director Floor Locking (Välinge Innovation - SE)

What are the click systems like, and which ones are currently the best on the market?

There are three distinct types of locking systems on the market – each with different advantages and disadvantages. The oldest system is the snapping or angling installation, like our 2G Angling, which is a robust system that can go down to floors as thin as 3 mm. However, this technology does not offer the easiest installation and it’s more time-consuming than modern solutions, such as our 5G® Fold Down.

The second version is a Push Down system, like 5G-i™. This requires a rather high tolerance in production, it allows for one person installations but requires more force and a soft-faced hammer is needed to properly lock it in place.

The third system is a fold down system, such as our 5G Fold Down. We dare to say that our 5G Fold Down is the fastest, easiest and most reliable system on the market. It makes floor installation an enjoyable experience for everybody, both professionals and DIYs. When launched, our click system brought with it unheard-of convenience and precision and suddenly, one-person installations and one-finger engagement of the planks were a reality.

The type of locking system has a big say in overall customer satisfaction. As a DIY installer it might not be the first thing you think about when choosing a floor, but this will highly influence the result of the installation. For professionals, a modern installation system such as 5G Fold Down means more square meters installed within the same time.

When manufacturers and consumers choose a product with Välinge’s 5G Fold Down logotype they know they are getting the best floor installation system available. This means perfect and effortless installation every time with a result that stands the test of time. It’s also a very versatile solution that is perfectly suitable for both laminate, wood, and resilient flooring.

What determines the strength of a click system?

Locking systems work by correctly and consistently securing the floor panel’s position during a floating installation — which ensures that the floor can stand up to the thrills and spills of everyday life. An advanced locking system like 5G Fold Down secures the floor panels on two different axes — horizontal and vertical. This takes floor stability to a new dimension — preventing gaps between the planks and height differences between planks as well as dealing exceptionally well with movement from changing indoor climate, humidity, or just the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The strength of a high-quality locking system is especially important to look at over time. At Välinge we have one of the flooring industry’s largest and most advanced R&D Centers. This means that all products using our technology have gone through substantial testing before released to the market – all to ensure the high-quality we are known for.

The positive feedback we get from people living their lives on floors with our 5G Fold Down, and more recently 5G® Dry™, installation systems is another, highly appreciated, way for us to really know the strength and durability our innovations bring to a floor. Their satisfaction with everything from easy installation to floor longevity is what truly makes us happy and keeps us innovating.

Have there been any spectacular developments in click systems?

In general, it's an exciting time for the flooring industry. There has never been a greater variety of floor locking technology to choose from – suitable for all types of floors and budgets.

Our 5G® portfolio offers the fastest, easiest and most reliable installation on the market and both DIY and professional installers often highlight the effortlessness and time-savings this system offers. It’s important that people have a good experience installing

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a floor and we often hear from customers how great they think 5G is and how it makes their life easier — for us, this is the ultimate confirmation.

Lately, a lot of focus is on waterproofness and many floor options offer water-resistant features. But not all locking systems are created equal — and not all locking systems are waterproof or even water-resistant. In theory, a locking system creates a tight connection at the joints which can prevent liquids from leaking through to the subfloor and create real damage — but it's not really that straightforward. This is why we created 5G Dry. A waterproof upgrade to our well-known 5G Fold Down system. Our engineers have perfected a system that effectively blocks water and other liquids from penetrating the joints without the need of extra coating or chemicals.

Another exciting advancement is that it used to be impossible to install floors in straight sets without panels moving and creating shifts between the boards – but thanks to our brand-new 5G® Cross system this is no longer a problem. Installation is nothing but a breeze and all you need to add to keep your panels in the desired positions is a small cross component.

Herringbone is another pattern that used to be both hard and very time-consuming but with our 5G® Herringbone the traditional design is easier than ever to install. This method is the easiest and fastest installation alternative on the market and is perfectly suitable for both DIY and professionals.

The many benefits of Välinge’s 5G® portfolio are no longer limited to the floor. With 5G® Climb™, it is easy to create a wow-factor to any room simply by letting the floor climb the walls. Thanks to a unique clip this versatile solution allows for fast, easy and creative wall installation in all areas.

What are the characteristics of the ideal click system for these sorts of floors?

When Välinge introduced the mechanical locking system in the early 1990s it was a paradigm shift. It enabled for easier and more durable installations and revolutionized the business. Since, locking systems have considerably evolved and now offer much easier installation with more durable results every time – perfectly suitable for all choices of resilient, laminate and wood flooring.

For retailers and manufacturers, it’s important to know that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution and variables such as material, design, format and thickness of the panels impact the installation process. To ensure an excellent customer experience, we always offer our expertise and knowledge throughout the process and with 30 years in the business, we dare to say we truly know flooring technologies and locking systems.

The ideal click system for LVT, SPC and laminate flooring should mean easy installation, robustness, versatility and durability. Our versatile 5G portfolio is optimized to fit these products flawlessly. Choosing our 5G Dry system is especially beneficial for LVT, SPC and laminate since this means consumers get a waterproof and more durable floor – meaning less need to worry even for the more chaotic parts of everyday life.

Which tools are now the minimum ones required for the installation?

It’s not only the fast and easy installation process that comes with our 5G Fold Down system that is very beneficial – another advantage is that no tools are needed except a knife or a saw (depending on the material) to cut the panels. For installation, the panels are simply folded down and clicked into place in one single movement, without the need of any tapping blocks, wedges or a soft-faced hammer.

Transforming connections by enhancing where people live, work and play with ingenious technologies from the fl oor upwards

At i4F, we believe that even the smallest innovations have the potential to transform not just products, but the lives of the people that use them. It’s why we own and represent thousands of patents and technologies. And it’s why we continue to develop more, both independently and with our partners.

We lead in flooring installation, with our drop-lock technologies, and offer the world’s most advanced digital printing, wall & ceiling, board composition, sustainable process and surface finishing technologies, including innovations imitating ceramic grouts.

Find out more at https://i4f.com/technologies/

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Floating floors once heralded a real revolution on the fitting market, but nowadays this type of fitting is quite normal. The secret of the success lies in the specially shaped click connection in the heart of the floorboard, which guarantees the mechanical connection of the planks.

We don’t need to look far for the origin of the name click system. Indeed, if the floorboards are fitted correctly, you typically hear a click sound. Our question is whether or not all click systems are equally good. The answer is clear: No, some click systems can endanger the fitting of the entire floor because they can considerably reduce the durability of the floor and even damage it.

Three ‘basic families’

How do you choose the best click system? The main thing here is to realise that there are various sorts of click connections. We can divide them up into three big ‘basic families’, namely angle-angle, fall-down connection, and the 5G click system. If you know the properties of those ‘families’, you will also know which one is best for which situation.

The most common type of click connection is the angle-angle system. You fix floorboards by sliding and lowering planks at an angle of 30-45° to the previous row. With this system, you note that you don’t need to tap floorboards into place, but that some manufacturers do allow it as an option. The main thing to remember is never to hammer planks directly, but to use a stop block to protect floorboard edges. This sort of system gives a typical mechanical connection so that the parts (cut to measure) fit together to form a permanent and safe connection against forces from all directions.

You will also see the fall-down connection regularly. This is found mostly on the short sides of a plank (not always!) and you connect the planks by ‘beating’ matching parts together powerfully. You create the click connection by lowering the floorboards straight and vertically so that the two parts of the planks with the milled sections touch each other. You hammer gently until you get an even surface.

This sort of connection only protects the planks from forces in horizontal directions. This means that you will have to pay extra attention to making the base perfectly even. After all, unevenness can yield unwanted exertion of forces whereby the click connection in a vertical surface comes loose. There’s also another drawback with this sort of connection. Once the parts have been ‘tapped’ into place, it is exceptionally difficult to wrench them apart and connect them together again. In any case there is a high risk of damage if you do so.

We’ve saved the most modern connection, namely the 5G, for last. This connection can be fitted quickly and easily and connects sections traditionally on the long edge (i.e. as with angle-angle). With 5G, the shorter edge enters the connection as you lower the plank by sliding a plastic click element. Here, too, with correct fitting you hear the typical sound of a click and you will notice that you don’t need to use any force at all for the connection. An imperative piece of advice with this connection: Never hit the connections with a hammer. If you experience resistance, this usually means that there is some unevenness under the floor on which you are working or that the floorboard is damaged.

Application of a click system with vinyl

Finally, we consider click vinyl floors and the required fitting preparation. The good news is that you don’t actually need any special preparation for vinyl with a mineral core. It will suffice if the floor has no noticeable unevenness and one covering floor is usually enough. Another benefit is that you don’t need expansion joints. Moreover, and perhaps best of all: Vinyl with a mineral core ensures clean fitting, so dust and dirt are no longer enemies. In other words, this is as Laminate floors an ideal renovation product.

Source: Arbiton.com

i4F

If we look at the market, we notice amongst other things i4F’s droplock technologies, powered by its patented 3L Triplelock and Click4U systems, being used worldwide. This is a one-piece drop-lock floor installation which, unlike other ‘fold-down’ systems, does not need an extra insert on the short side or any special tools. Obviously, that has advantages such as the achievement of a higher productivity level, cost reductions, and a lower carbon footprint. i4F’s system is easier and up to 30% faster to install than other installation solutions. And it works on all materials - laminate, luxury vinyl tiles, expanded polymer core, solid polymer core and wooden flooring panels. i4F also launched i-Click4U® (impermeable-Click4U) - the world’s first ever water-resistant, one-piece, drop-lock flooring installation system, complementing i4F’s leading Click4U technology. Water-resistance is built into the installation system itself, so no extra chemical sprays or sealants are needed. i-Click4U has passed tests from independent institutes in France, Germany and the US, and exceeds all NALFA requirements related to water resistant flooring. www.i4f.com