FAQ

NovoCore® is an engineered vinyl floor, consisting of a beautiful but tough top layer of luxury vinyl adhered to a stable, rigid, and waterproof core. The pre-attached backing options (such as cork or a sound absorbing pad) can offer extra noise resistance attributes versus traditional laminates or click vinyl planks.

You can find your closest retailer via our store locator.

NovoCore® plank flooring features an embossed texture, which mimics the grain of real wood flooring.

Rarely do we see indentation issues with NovoCore® products. Most indentations can be avoided by ensuring there are no heavy rolling loads over the floor, and using traditional installation methods when moving heavy items (e.g. use a smooth plywood panel when rolling in refrigerators, etc.). Also common-sense use of floor protectors under furniture legs, mats under rolling chairs, etc. are also recommended.

We warrant that NovoCore® will not stain from pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces and vomit, providing it is cleaned within 24 hours!

NovoCore® is safe for you and your loved ones. All NovoCore® floors are subjected to rigorous tests by Third Party Laboratories that are designed to ensure all NovoCore® products meet the highest standards and do not harm interior air quality. These rigorous tests have resulted in NovoCore® floors receiving GREENGUARD Gold certification. This means our products do not release harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into living environments. NovoCore® is also 100% free of harmful plasticizers such as ortho phthalates.

NovoCore® floors feature scratch resistant commercial rating, which is highly scratch resistant but not scratch proof. Here is some information that might help you to prevent or minimizes scratches down the road:
• Use felt pads on the bottom of all chairs/tables/sofas.
• Change all plastic or metal casters on rolling furniture to rubber casters.
• Do not drag heavy furniture across the floor.
• Trim pet nails frequently.

NovoCore® is extremely stable. The planks are not affected by humidity or other types of moisture, to provide you with superior stability.

A pre-attached backing will provide a natural sound barrier and extra joint support for extra noise resistance attributes versus traditional laminates or click vinyl planks. If the floor has a pre-attached underlayment, the use of an additional underlayment could damage the locking mechanism and will void warranty.

Yes, the entire plank, including the backing, is 100% waterproof, whether cork or padding.

NovoCore® can be recycled by companies with adequate equipment including flooring manufacturers which can recycle its material to produce new flooring.

Yes, NovoCore® can be installed over most existing hard surface flooring. The exceptions are laminate, floating floors of any type, loose lay, and perimeter fastened sheet vinyl. These types of flooring should be removed prior to installing NovoCore®. You can also install over tiles, as long as it is not a floating installation.
Note: Never install NovoCore® over carpet.

The existing floors still have to meet the level requirements, which is no more than a 3/16” (5mm) difference in a 10 foot (3m) span. Please see NovoCore® installation instructions for further details.

NovoCore® can be installed on all levels of the home including wet rooms and directly over most hard surface subfloors.

Very few: a room with a floor drain, sump pump or one that is exposed to the elements (like outdoors or in saunas). Although is it 100% waterproof, NovoCore® should also not be installed in areas prone to flooding as water might sip through the bevels.

NovoCore® can be installed in homes without climate control when proper installation precautions are taken and with the following conditions:
• NovoCore® installation essentials must be met.
• The crawl spaces must be enclosed and vented and meet all requirements and the job site conditions must be correct.
• Insulation of the floor in the crawl space is recommended.
• Temperatures must stay above 60˚F (15˚C). After installation, make sure that the flooring is not be exposed to temperatures less than 60˚F / 15°C or greater than 85˚F /30°C.

Yes, NovoCore® is compatible with water based floor heating systems. You should ensure the radiant heat surface temperature doesn’t exceed 85°F (30°C).

NovoCore® installation allows up to 65 lineal feet (20m), in either direction, with no transition moldings needed as long as the flooring can freely move. Or a total of 4300ft2 (400m2)! Make sure to respect the 1/2″ (10mm) expansion space around the perimeters of the room and next fixtures such as pillars, stairs, etc..

As long as you are within the limit that does not require transition strips, unsightly door transitions are fortunately not required either! NovoCore® installation allows up to 65 lineal feet (20m), in either direction, with no transition moldings needed. Make sure to respect the 1/2″ (10mm) expansion space around the perimeters of the room and next fixtures such as pillars, stairs, etc.

Although NovoCore®, thanks to it rigidity, hides minor subfloor imperfections, the subfloor must be clean and level to 3/16” (5mm) within a 10 foot (3m) span.

For installation over existing tile, please insure the height differences are within spec, you would need a self-leveling compound to fill grouts with the size ≥5mm in width and ≥4mm in depth. Its not allowed to install over an existing floating resilient floor such as luxury vinyl tiles

When installing NovoCore®, underlayment is not required because NovoCore® ’s Sound Insulation Class is already very good. However, some NovoCore® collections come with a hypoallergenic cork underlay or a sound absorbing pad, which provides a natural sound barrier and extra joint support. The use of an additional underlayment could damage the locking mechanism and will void warranty.

We recommend using a minimum 6 mil / 0.15 mm poly-film as a moisture barrier between the concrete subfloor and the flooring. Although this floor is waterproof, it is not aimed to be used as a moisture barrier. The concrete moisture vapor emissions should not exceed 8 lb / 3.63 kg (ASTM F1869) / 90 % RH (ASTM F2170) with a PH limit of 9 / max 2.5 % moisture content (CM method). This product is also not to be installed in areas that have a risk of flooding such as saunas or outdoor areas.

Generally, we do not recommend installing heavy furniture or a toilet on top of NovoCore. The planks should be fit around the toilet. You can caulk the gap with a flexible waterproof filler or sealant such as silicone. However for areas ≤161 sq ft/15 sqm, a glue down installation could be applied. This installation method will let you install heavy furniture, bathtubs, basins etc directly on top of the floor.
Important: For optimal adhesion for product with pre-attached 1 mm cork backing, a hard-setting wood adhesive is recommended. Please use a silicon seal around the perimeters to avoid water ingress. Note that it is not recommended to glue down Novocore on larger surface areas such as living rooms or hallways.

NovoCore® is stable to temperature variations, and it is in general not necessary to acclimate, unlike standard laminate or LVT which usually requires leaving your floor in open boxes 24 to 48h in the room you will install before installation.
Although, if the boxes of flooring were exposed over 2 hours to extreme temperatures (under 60˚F/15˚C or over 85˚F/30˚C) within the 12 hours before the installation, acclimation is required. In this case, keep the boards in room temperature for at least 12 hours in unopened package before you start the installation. The room temperature should be maintained consistent between 65˚to 80˚F (18° to 25° C) before and during installation.

We do not recommend to install your kitchen cabinets directly over your NovoCore® floor. NovoCore® quality can be guaranteed as long as the floor can move freely. If your kitchen cabinets are installed directly over your floor, you will need to ensure that there is no heavy furniture on the opposite side so the floor can move freely

Yes, you can. For wall and ceiling installation the planks need to be fully glued down on the substrate. We recommend Taylor 2091 (for commercial application) or Henry© 650P glues.
Many designers use NovoCore® for partial wall installation because of the unique and highly realistic color available in the NovoCore® selection. However, the NovoCore® warranty do not cover wall installation.

Bona Floor Care System. Includes floor cleaner solution, mop, microfiber cleaning & dusting pad.

Yes. We recommend non-staining vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs. We do not recommend the use of rubber- or latex-backed mats because the chemical (antioxidant) used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain your floor.

It depends on the subfloor: generally speaking, standing water between the floor and the subfloor can only have negative consequence such as development of mold, release of odor, it can spread to the surrounding wall and damage the wall paint, etc.
The planks themselves are waterproof, but once installed they do not provide a fully airtight surface. Water can still sip through the bevels if left over 24 hours. Water spillage as is the case in bathrooms and kitchens won’t damage the floor but standing water must be avoided at all times. We recommend cleaning up water spillage as soon as possible, before 24 hours pass.

No, it resists staining, is easy to clean and requires no waxing. Waxing is not compatible with this product and using wax will void warranty.

We recommend ensuring that your initial flooring purchase includes several extra NovoCore® Original planks in case you have one that needs replacement. Follow these steps to remove and replace a damaged plank:
• Heat the damaged plank with a hair dryer until pliable.
• Score the tile with a sharp utility knife on a diagonal.
• At the diagonal cut, pry the tile out of position with a putty knife.
• Cut off the groove on the long side and short side of the new plank to be installed.
• Apply one beam of adhesive on the long side and short side tongue of the existing planks that will receive the new planks.
• Then carefully place the new planks in position and remove the excess of glue immediately with a damp cloth.

Support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors. Ideally, the protectors should be at least one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors are also acceptable. Casters with a minimum 3/4″ flat surface width
or floor protectors are recommended for all moveable furniture. Make sure any metal protectors are rustproof. Replace your narrow-dome furniture rests with wide-bearing ones.

For chocolate, grease, juice and wine stains, use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cleaner. Nail polish, tar, markers, crayon, lipstick, ink and cigarette burns can be removed using nail polish remover or denatured alcohol.

The boards will not show serious fading or damage in normal use, but some light discoloration over the years should be expected as no material is completely impervious to long exposure to UV. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged period of time, during peak sunlight hours use drapes or blinds to minimize the direct sunlight on the floor.

If you feel that you have a warranty related problem, you should take your original purchase receipt, back to the retailer where you purchased the floor and file a warranty claim with that store. The store will then contact us to begin the warranty process. An inspector may come to your home to evaluate the conditions and determine what caused the problem. Once an evaluation is complete you will be contacted with the results. The whole process could take up to 20-30 business days, depending on the circumstances, although most issues are resolved much faster.