The subfloor decides the outcome

SPC is water-resistant, stable and quick to install. It is also unforgiving of an uneven base, and most complaints about SPC are really complaints about subfloor preparation.

Three checks are worth insisting on before installation:

• Level — high spots ground down, low spots filled to tolerance
• Moisture — slab readings taken, with a barrier specified if needed
• Expansion gap — perimeter clearance set to specification, then covered

Skip the first and the floor flexes or sounds hollow. Skip the third and it can peak in the middle of the room once the weather changes.