How to Specify SPC Flooring: Thickness, Wear Layer and Underlay

Most SPC disputes trace back to a specification that was never written down. Thickness, wear layer, underlay and edge detail are the four values that decide how the floor performs and what it costs. This guide is the checklist we use when a buyer sends an enquiry.

1. Thickness

SPC cores are commonly 3.5–6 mm. Thinner boards are cheaper per square meter but more sensitive to subfloor flatness. For residential retail, 4–5 mm is the usual range. For commercial projects, 5–6 mm gives a stiffer board and better joint stability.

Thickness is not the same as wear layer. A 6 mm board with a 0.3 mm wear layer will wear faster than a 4 mm board with a 0.5 mm layer in a shop entrance.

2. Wear layer

Ask for the wear layer in both mil and mm in the quotation. Mixed units are a common source of quoting errors.

3. Underlay

IXPE is the standard for SPC: closed-cell, moisture resistant, and available in 1 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm. EVA is cheaper and softer but compresses over time. For acoustic requirements, confirm the impact sound value with the underlay attached, not the board alone.

4. Edge detail

Micro-bevel, painted bevel and square edge change the look and the installation. Bevel size should be stated in the specification; 0.5 mm and 1 mm bevels are different products on a wall display.

5. Surface

EIR (embossed in register), matte, silk and stone textures are produced with different rollers. If the buyer approves a sample, keep the sample reference and the production batch on file. Colour can drift between batches, and the approved sample is the reference for any claim.

6. Packing

Carton quantity, pallet height and container loading all follow from the board size. A 1220×180 mm plank packs differently from a 600×600 mm tile. Confirm carton marks, barcode and private label artwork before production.

7. Documents

For SPC, the common documents are EN 14041 conformity, ISO 9001, and test reports for slip, fire and emissions depending on the market. Confirm which reports the factory actually holds for the product you are buying.

What to send in an enquiry

• Application and traffic class
• Thickness and wear layer, or the target price and we propose
• Decor direction (wood, stone, herringbone)
• Quantity per decor and total order
• Destination port and incoterm
• Any document the importer must file

With those six items, a factory can quote the same product twice and get the same number. Without them, every quotation is a guess.

Related: price drivers for SPC · SPC vs LVT · specification sheets