You’ve just ordered a beautiful Belakos LVT floor from one of our retailers. Everything is arranged and you’re looking forward to the final result. But then you read on our website that the underfloor heating or cooling must be turned off 48 to 72 hours before and after installation. Surprised? Understandable—especially if you’ve heard before that acclimatizing (letting the floor adjust to the room climate) might not always be necessary.
Still, it is important. And here’s why.
Why should underfloor heating or cooling be turned off?
Whether you're installing the floor in winter or summer, switching off underfloor heating or cooling is essential. Not because of the outdoor temperature, but because of how the floor reacts and how the installation process works. Temperature fluctuations can affect the floor—this applies to both dryback and rigid click floors:
- Heat or cold causes expansion or shrinkage. Rapid drying of sublayers such as leveling compound or underlay can lead to instability.
- Even without glue or leveling compound, heat or cold can warp the planks during installation. This can cause them to not click properly or become loose later on.
What’s the advice?
- Switch off underfloor heating and/or cooling at least 48 to 72 hours before installation.
- Wait 72 hours after installing dryback LVT and 48 hours after installing click LVT before turning the heating back on.
- Then follow the start-up protocol, gradually increasing the temperature.
Acclimatizing: how to do it right
LVT is sensitive to temperature changes. This means the material—however slightly—changes in size and flexibility. This is a natural characteristic of LVT. That’s why proper acclimatization is necessary for a smooth installation, especially for click floors, where tension in the joints can lead to gaps or lifted seams.
Our advice for proper acclimatization:
- Bring the room to a stable temperature, no lower than 18°C.
- Place the planks flat in the room, in low, straight stacks without packaging, so they can fully absorb the room temperature. Full pallets must be fully unpacked.
- Ensure the temperature remains constant day and night.
- Let the floor acclimatize for at least 48 hours.
- The floor temperature must not be lower than 15°C or higher than 23°C.
- Climate conditions must remain consistent: at least 48 hours before installation, during installation, and 72 hours after installation
When using the underfloor heating for the first time after installation, it’s important to follow the heating and cooling protocol to prevent damage.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Not accounting for acclimatization in the planning
→ Schedule enough time for proper acclimatization. - Acclimatizing the floor in a warehouse, then installing it immediately
→ Always acclimatize the floor in the actual room where it will be installed. - Leaving products in the work van until installation
→ Take the floor out of the van in time and acclimatize it in the appropriate room. - Placing packs against a cold wall, causing temperature differences within the pack
→ Keep the packs away from cold walls or surfaces. - Installing with windows or doors open while it’s cold outside
→ Keep windows and doors closed during installation to maintain a stable temperature.
And what if you’ve heard otherwise?
Sometimes there are differing opinions on whether acclimatization or turning off the heating is necessary, especially for click floors. That’s understandable—every situation is different. Our advice is based on extensive experience and testing with our products. By following these steps carefully, you give your floor the best possible start—and the longest lifespan.
You're investing in a beautiful floor—make sure you give it the right foundation. Turning off the thermostat or allowing a little extra time might seem like a small effort, but it makes a big difference in the long run.