What you need to know
- Check flatness against the flooring manufacturer’s tolerance.
- Investigate moisture before covering the floor.
- Remove dust, loose material and unstable patches.
Use your own measurements
Use the linked BricoDato resource to check these inputs in your own situation. A floating floor needs a stable, clean and suitably flat base; moisture limits depend on both the base and chosen product.
Check flatness
Use a straightedge or suitable measuring method and compare with the flooring specification. High spots and hollows can stress click joints and make the floor move.
Check moisture
Concrete, screeds and ground floors may need specific moisture testing or vapour control. Follow the flooring and subfloor system requirements.
Make it clean and stable
Remove debris, adhesive lumps and loose areas. Repair damaged sections with compatible products and allow them to cure fully.
Do a trial before opening every box
Check door clearances, transition heights, first-row layout and edge details. Solving these issues first reduces waste and rework.
Inspect the base before opening the flooring boxes
A floating floor needs a stable, clean and suitably flat base; moisture limits depend on both the base and chosen product. A thin underlay does not correct large dips or structural movement.
Example to adapt
Before buying levelling materials, check a representative section with the straightedge length required by the flooring manufacturer, mark hollows and high points, then compare actual deviations with its installation tolerance. Do the same moisture assessment with an appropriate method for concrete, screed or timber.
| Finding | Why it matters | Next decision |
|---|---|---|
| Local high spots | May stress joints | Repair to product tolerances |
| Damp screed | Can damage flooring or adhesive | Measure and remedy source |
| Loose old boards | Can move or squeak | Secure or repair base |
Checks before acting
- Confirm base flatness with the product's stated straightedge method.
- Assess moisture using the specified test for the actual substrate.
- Remove dust, grease, loose particles and protruding fixings.
- Check expansion spaces, door clearances and underlay compatibility before installation.
Final check
Use the final flooring manufacturer's limits for moisture, surface flatness and movement. The relevant test depends on whether the base is concrete, wood, old tile or a bonded compound; a single visual inspection is not enough. A floor that looks dry can still contain residual moisture, while an uneven patch may be amplified through a rigid click joint.
- Check flatness against the product limit.
- Test or assess moisture correctly.
- Repair loose or unstable areas.
- Plan door clearances and transitions before installation.
Keep a small job sheet
Record substrate type, readings, repaired spots, levelling products and chosen flooring requirements.
Turn the guide into a decision
Map raised and low spots, record moisture-test method and document repairs before laying boards. Include curing time for levelling compounds, any damp-proof system and the specified underlay; if structural movement is suspected, seek qualified assessment before covering the defect.