This video documents a one-year follow-up on a vinyl flooring stress test. The experiment involved installing "Salzburg" 7mm vinyl planks directly over a non-compliant tiled subfloor, which was characterized by wide grout lines and significant height differences between tiles. This installation method deliberately violated the manufacturer's warranty conditions. Additionally, the skirting boards were improperly sealed to the floor with silicone, restricting the material's natural expansion and contraction. After a year of use in a high-traffic office setting with significant temperature variations, the floor is inspected. The results show the vinyl flooring held up remarkably well, with no visible joint separation or bulging. The video concludes that despite the improper installation, the product's robustness and stability are exceptional, making it a recommended choice for demanding applications.
Evaluating Vinyl Flooring Durability: A One-Year Stress Test Review
0:00:02 The Setup: The video revisits a vinyl floor that was installed one year prior as a stress test in an office.
0:00:11 Problematic Subfloor: The vinyl was intentionally laid over an unsuitable tiled subfloor with wide joints and uneven heights, which is against official installation guidelines. This was done to test the product's limits.
0:00:37 One-Year Inspection Results: After a year, the floor is in excellent condition. The joints have remained closed and stable, even in the high-traffic entryway, with no signs of giving way.
0:01:05 Product Details: The specific product used was the "Salzburg" model, a robust 7mm thick vinyl plank with integrated impact sound insulation.
0:01:15 Official Installation Guidelines: For a warranty to be valid, the subfloor tile joints must be no wider than 6mm, with a height difference between tiles of no more than 1mm, and an overall flatness of 3mm per square meter.
0:02:00 Additional Installation Error: Another mistake was made during installation: the skirting boards were sealed to the floor with silicone. This is not recommended as it fixes the "floating" floor in place, preventing natural expansion and contraction, which can lead to bulging.
0:02:31 Excellent Performance Under Stress: Despite the improper subfloor, sealed edges, and significant temperature fluctuations in the office, the vinyl floor showed no negative effects like bulging or joint separation.
0:03:00 Final Recommendation: The speaker confidently recommends this specific vinyl product (also referred to as their "XXL dealer" model) for its exceptional stability and robustness, making it ideal for anyone needing a highly durable floor.