We answer your questions about flooring

The CE mark is based on the European EN 14041 standard and ensures that the product properties correspond to the requirements regarding health, safety and energy conservation.

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) stands for sustainable, responsible forestry and the controlled further processing of the natural product wood. This ensures that our forests are preserved as a natural resource, place of work and recreational area for future generations. The PEFC is an internationally recognised framework for the certification of wood and wood products.

Yes

Type W (soft)

Floor coverings for interiors are classified in so-called utility classes according to ISO 10674, labelling the application area of a certain type of flooring. There are utility classes from 21 to 23 and 31 to 34, which differentiate between the application areas “Residential” and “Commercial” - with moderate, normal and heavy use. Classification by utility class is intended to facilitate consumers and fabricators with the choice of flooring for the right application area. To ensure uniform labelling, the utility class is shown with standardised pictograms.

Static charges of persons may cause an electrostatic discharge when they come into contact with metal. Static charging of persons is an entirely normal process. If these charges cannot escape from the body – before they have reached a certain level, the individual can receive an “electric shock” when touching metal objects. The sensation can arise with static charges of more than 2 kV (kilovolts). The static charge cannot escape from the body if the ambient relative humidity is below 40 % and when the individual is wearing shoes with electrically insulating soles. Under normal climatic room conditions, a static charging of an individual of above 2 kV is not to be expected with laminate flooring. Only laminate flooring that has been tested, certified and is labelled accordingly pursuant to EN 1815 is considered antistatic according to the applicable standards. Highlighted EGGER laminate floors ensure the static charging of an individual UP < 2 KV and comply with the requirements of EN 1815 (verification of electrostatic properties).

"Abrasion is understood as being the wear of the abrasion layer. With complete wear of the abrasion layer, the decorative layer is affected and destroyed. Abrasion resistance for laminate flooring is divided in the classes AC1 to AC5 according to EN 13329. EGGER laminate flooring has abrasion resistance within the range of classes AC3 to AC5. EGGER Design and Comfort flooring is subject to the Euro standard 16511. Abrasion resistance is defined directly by the number of turns reached and assigned to the utility class, for example NK31 > 600, NK32 > 4,000 turns. The same applies here: the higher the value, the higher the abrasion resistance."

HDF means high density fibreboard. HDF boards consist of fine fibre wood fibres pressed with resins and adhesives under high pressure. The density of an HDF board should be at least 850 kg/m³. Due to their high strength and low material thickness, HDF boards are mainly used as coreboard for laminate flooring as well as for multi-layer, modular floor coverings. Furthermore, EGGER type “HDF Swell barrier+”, HDF Aqua+ and UWF coreboards are especially resistant against the effects of moisture, therefore offering increased protection against edge swelling.

A deeply textured surface is synchronised with the decor image to produce an authentic woodgrain finish, which closely imitates knots and grains.

Bevels are the slanted edges of individual plank or tile designs that build an intended V joint when installed.

Swelling along the edges is usually due to moisture penetrating the joints or surface of the boards from above. However, this moisture must act on the boards for an extended period of time in order to cause swelling.

The thickness of the floor is not decisive for the suitability of the laminate flooring in the given application area. What matters is for the selected laminate flooring to have the right utility class allowed and recommended for the application area.

Laminate flooring is a floor covering for indoor use containing over 90% of the raw material wood. It is constructed using several components, which are permanently fused together using pressure and temperature. The individual components are: abrasion layer, decorative paper, high density fibreboard and balancer paper.

Laminate flooring is classified as ecologically harmless household waste, which means it can be disposed of in landfills or incineration plants. Waste code for fabricators: 170201, waste code for end consumers 200138 (sorted) or 200307 (bulky waste).

Conductive flooring is always required in cases where rooms have special requirements. These are, for example, IT and control centres, operating rooms, intensive care units and explosive areas. In these cases special installation of suitable flooring is implemented and connected to the building potential equalisation system (earthing) by a master electrician. Due to the physical properties of wood-based materials, it is not possible to install laminate floors with derivation ability.

There are many advantages of laminate flooring. As compared to tiles, parquet or linoleum rolls, laminate flooring is often cheaper and can be easily installed by non-professionals. The surface of the laminate flooring is more resistant to stress than parquet or linoleum, and, thanks to their light-fastness, decors do not fade even after many years. Furthermore, laminate poses no hazard for health, is easy to care for, and has an exceptional Environmental Performance Assessment. There is something for every taste thanks to the large choice of decors and formats.

Most dirt can be kept out by having appropriate doormats. For the rest of the floor, it is recommended to use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Depending on the frequency of use and amount of dirt, you should also wipe the floor with a damp cloth or mop regularly. Take care to also clean the floor’s bevels in longitudinal direction. For optimum cleaning we recommend Clean-it, the EGGER system floor cleaner. The moisture-resistant EGGER Aqua+ laminate flooring can also be cleaned with steam cleaners.

A suitable cleaning and care product does not build up any layers and does not aggressively penetrate into the edge areas. Using unsuitable cleaning agents can cause layers to form, which over time may build up on the laminate flooring like a film and can thereby cloud the surface. Our system-specific Clean-it floor cleaner was especially developed for this purpose. It is available as part of our accessories range.

Due to its sealed surface structure and the simple and easy cleaning, laminate flooring is particularly suitable for individuals suffering from allergies.

EGGER laminate flooring as well as Comfort and design flooring are light-fast and resistant to UV exposure (sun light). There is no unwanted discolouration or fading of the decor image in the course of use.

Laminate flooring is an organic product and consists mainly of wood fibres. The elements can expand or shrink depending on climate conditions. In our installation instructions, we therefore specify that the ambient air temperature should be at least 18° C with relative humidity between 40 % and 70 % before, during and after installation. Given these ambient conditions, the movement of the elements is not visible.

Warpage and buckling (one-sided moisture absorption from below) occur when the laminate flooring elements are not sufficiently acclimatised prior to installation - that is, they are not sufficiently adapted to the room climate and/or, in the case of a mineral subsoil, the installed laminate floor surface is insufficiently protected from rising subsoil moisture with the help of a so-called “vapour barrier”.

Distortion of the floor is generally caused by non-existent and / or under-dimensioned expansion / movement joints. Even minimum contact points with fixed structural components are sufficient to cause the distortion of individual elements at a different location.

For stains such as coffee, tea, lemonade, fruit or milk, use lukewarm water with a conventional acidic household cleaner if needed. Tough stains can be removed locally with commercial stain removers such as white gas (benzene) or thinner. These products will not damage the laminate flooring in any way. However, always apply the solvents with a cloth and never directly onto the laminate flooring. Make sure there is sufficient exposure to fresh air and subsequently use water to neutralise the cleaned areas.

The combustibility of laminate flooring is classified via so-called flammability classes. Since the introduction of the CE mark pursuant to EN 14041 for laminate flooring, the fire behaviour is tested according to DIN EN 13501-1. EGGER laminate flooring is tested according to EN 13501-1 and classified for the Euro Class Cfl–s1.

Yes, if the room climate is kept stable and our specifications (see installation instructions) are observed.

As a rule, no. Only EGGER Aqua+ laminate flooring may be cleaned with a steam cleaner. It is important to constantly move the steam cleaner.

The texture of the cork layer, with its many small air pockets, forms a natural insulator which releases stored heat at a slower rate compared to other floors. This is why the surface feels warmer when walking on it.

Yes, particularly when it comes to ambient sound (footfall sound). EGGER Comfort flooring achieves an ambient sound reduction of up to 14 sone thanks to the sound insulating properties of the raw material cork, which means it is 50% quieter than the reference flooring (8 mmlaminate flooring on 3 mm PE foam underlay) according to IHD W 431. Ambient sound refers to the sound that occurs and is perceived when walking on laminate flooring in a room.

Thanks to a special manufacturing process, the upper cork layer is almost 3 times more dense compared to the raw material cork, which means that our Comfort flooring achieves significantly improved values and properties regarding indentation behaviour and resistance to impact. With proper use and care, the tough yet simultaneously elastic surface coating guarantees a beautiful surface over many years.

The sealed surface enables straightforward and simple cleaning. Normal maintenance cleaning should be performed by sweeping, vacuuming or damp wiping.

The Comfort flooring has a multi-layer structure consisting of the following components: environmentally-friendly UV protective layer, digital decor print, Comfort cover layer made of cork, high density fibreboard, and silent cork underlayer board. During the first production stage, the two cork layers are laminated onto the coreboard. During the second production stage, the decor print is applied using HD digital print technology.

In general, EGGER Comfort flooring is suitable for the use of chair and furniture wheels. Please note that these must correspond to the type “W“ (soft) and must be cleaned regularly. As an alternative, fitted office chair underlays may also be used.

EGGER Comfort flooring collections have earned the well-known Blue Angel environmental badge. The Blue Angel is an environmental label of the German Federal government for the protection of people and the environment. The Blue Angel ensures that products and services meet high standards regarding environmental, health and performance characteristics. The environmental label “Blue Angel” stands for energy-efficient, lasting and recyclable products, made with sustainable raw materials / materials with low emissions and that only produce low levels of noise.

Additional underlays may not be placed under EGGER Comfort flooring with integrated cork underlay. On mineral sub-surfaces however, a moisture protection film with an SD value > 75  m always has to be installed first, over the entire surface and extending up the walls.

No, in addition to its positive application characteristics, our Comfort flooring also has a complete ecological profile which identifies it as an environmentally friendly floor covering with no negative effects on health (e.g., PVC free and no softeners). It consists mainly of the renewable raw materials wood and cork, is PEFC-certified and was awarded the “Blue Angel” environmental label. The flooring is produced in highly modern production plants which are subject to the most stringent emission and environmental protection requirements, and are equipped with their own energy and heat recycling systems.

No, EGGER Comfort flooring is not suitable for installation in rooms with a high moisture exposure such as bathrooms, saunas or similar rooms.

Thanks to the high quality of the coreboard and the high density, elastic surface layer (with cork+ technology), EGGER Comfort flooring is highly resistant to indentations. Thanks to the elasticity of the natural product cork, the cork cells expand again after being subjected to pressure and regain their original shape in many cases. At the same time, the elastic coating composition prevents the decor and wear layer from breaking under point loads.

Construction site waste of EGGER Comfort flooring, and waste from demolition projects, should primarily be used in material recycling. If this is not possible, Comfort flooring waste that is not suitable for further use must be utilised as an energy source – due to the high heating value of approximately 16MJ/kg – and used for the generation of process energy and electricity (cogeneration) instead of being disposed of in a landfill (waste code according to the European waste catalogue: 170201/030103). If a user delivers EGGER Comfort flooring separately or mixed with other types of waste to a municipal waste disposal company, it shall be classified under waste codes 200138 (pure) or 200307 (bulky waste) for housing waste. According to these waste codes, thermal use (delivery at the recycling yard or directly at the thermal power station) is also possible. However, landfilling, e.g. with rubble, is not allowed within Europe.

All EGGER flooring is suitable for underfloor heating, whether using warm water or electricity (the thermal resistance of the entire flooring structure must be < 0.15 m²K/W) if the supply and operation temperature can be controlled digitally, and a maximum surface temperature of 28°C can be controlled and is not exceeded. Detailed information in this regard is available in the installation instructions.

Flooring surfaces consisting of individual floor boards, such as EGGER Laminate, Comfort or Design flooring look best if the boards are installed parallel to the light incidence. However, there are no binding indications regarding the direction of installation. Exception: If wooden board flooring has been used as a sub-floor, the installation must be at right angles to the boarding.

The cutting and fitting of the individual elements can be done with a commercial immersion saw, circular table saw, and/or jigsaw. In all cases, the finest possible teething and suitability for wood processing are recommended. Resulting sawdust should be vacuumed off. Alternatively, there is also the option of cutting flooring elements with so-called “laminate punches”.

In the case of regular installation in standard rooms with square or rectangular flooring surface, the necessary quantity of Laminate, Comfort, or Design flooring can be calculated with an average offcut of 5 %. Measured floor surface (m²) + 5% offcut = order quantity flooring (m²).

In order to prepare the last row to be cut to size and installed, place the flooring elements to be built in at the planned position exactly on the row before the last. By means of a residual floor board (element width + edge joint width) it is possible to transfer the wall structures to the floor board within a pre-chosen distance. The adjusted / cut-to-size floor boards are then clicked into the row before last.

When the screed meets the criteria regarding moisture, evenness, load-bearing capacity and cleanliness (it is ready for installation). The same applies to all other types of subfloor.

EGGER Laminate, Comfort and Design flooring with floating installation can be accessed and used immediately after installation.

A moisture protection film, also called vapour barrier, protects the floor against the possibility of rising subfloor moisture. In the case of floating installation of EGGER Laminate, Comfort or Design flooring on mineral sub-layers (e.g. screeds/tiles), a moisture protection film with an SD value ≥ 75 m must always be installed as vapour barrier across the entire surface. Individual strips must overlap 20 cm in the joining areas.

All wood-based organic materials are subject to a certain degree of movement (shrinkage/expansion) due to changes in climate conditions within the room (temperature and air humidity). By means of sufficient expansion joints towards all fixed structural components, the finished flooring is not restricted in movement behaviour. As a fundamental principle, expansion joints in a width of 8 mm to 10 mm (0.31"" to 0.39"") must be formed towards fixed structural components such as walls, door frames, pipe conduits, pillars and stairways etc.

Yes, as long as the tile floor meets the criteria regarding moisture, evenness, load-bearing capacity and cleanliness - in other words, it is ready for installation.

With most profile types, the base (sub-profile) intended to accept the cover profile must be installed on the subfloor prior to installing the laminate flooring using drill holes and screws.

A maximum deviation from the evenness >2 mm/m, for both floating installation and full-surface gluing.

Prior to installing a floor, ensure that the subfloor is sufficiently prepared for installation. This means the subfloor is able to bear loads, dry, clean & even (max. deviation from evenness 2.0 mm/m). Suitable sub-layers are all types of screed including hot water-heated screed, wooden chipboard structures, fibreboard and ceramic tiles.

It is of course possible to first install EGGER Laminate, Comfort and Design flooring and then place built-in kitchens and built-in cabinets on top. However, it is highly recommended for built-in kitchens and built-in cabinets to be assembled prior to installation and the EGGER flooring should be placed only until under the plinth panel. On the one hand, this prevents unbalanced loads and fixation of the flooring surface (particularly in the case of floating installation) and also makes subsequent removal straightforward.

Yes, in the case of floating installation of the laminate flooring.

Textile floor coverings do not constitute a suitable sub-layer and must be removed prior to the installation of Laminate, Comfort or Design flooring. Reasons include that carpeted floors may yield excessively under load, and that carpeting is so-called directional for production technology reasons. This would be transferred directly to flooring with floating installation. Hygiene aspects are another consideration, as carpeted floor may rot underneath other floor coverings.

Yes, in the case of floating installation, motion profiles are always necessary in doors. Place the flooring elements on the subprofile (basis) on both sides with a distance of 8 - 10 mm. The resulting motion gaps are covered by the top profile.

Yes, in the case of floating installation of EGGER Laminate and Comfort flooring from a room length/width > 10 m and in the case of floating installation of EGGER Design flooring from a room length/width > 15 m.

The maximum surface that can be covered with floating installation in the absence of motion profiles is of 10 x 10 m in the case of EGGER Laminate and Comfort flooring and 15 x 15 m in the case of Design flooring.

Yes, in the case of floating installation (only for private uses) it is necessary to use an underlayer. To achieve proper installation, we recommend the use of the system underlayer EGGER Silenzio Duo.

In the case of floating installation, the floor covering is installed with no permanent connection to the sub floor and only the individual flooring elements are joined to each other at the tongue and groove (click system). It allows the flooring to freely move on the sub floor, i.e. to “float”.

Skirting boards are needed to cover the expansion gaps towards the walls and to create a harmonious skirt moulding. The matching solution can be found in the EGGER accessories programme.

Yes. Slightly damaged packaging is not a big problem. What matters is that the flooring is stored in the room where it will be installed, or in a room with similar climate prior to the start of installation.

Yes, the minimum offset for all EGGER flooring is 20 cm. Exception: Long boards (“Long” format) have a minimum offset of 50 cm.

Only the glues listed and approved under www.egger.com/downloads should be used for the full-surface glueing of EGGER Design flooring and EGGER Aqua+ laminate flooring. All specifications provided by the adhesive manufacturer, for example fitting and setting times, must be observed.

No. Only EGGER Aqua+ laminate flooring, which is labelled accordingly, may be installed/used in the bathroom.

No. EGGER Aqua+ laminate flooring as well as EGGER Design flooring is only approved for wet areas. Wet areas are rooms with elevated but not permanent moisture/liquid exposure and/or periodically high ambient humidity. Examples of wet areas include bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and entrance areas.

Thanks to the click connections, installing laminate flooring is fast and easy. The cutting and fitting of the individual elements can be done with a commercial immersion saw, circular table saw and/or jigsaw. In all cases, the finest possible teething and suitability for wood processing are recommended. Resulting sawdust should be vacuumed off. Please be sure to use appropriate eye and ventilation protection. Alternatively, there is also the option of shortening flooring elements with so-called “laminate punches”. Folding rules (metre stick) and square are needed to measure the edge boards. A spacer is necessary for the right wall distance. Depending on the floor and type of sub-layer, a suitable underlayer and moisture protection film (vapour barrier) are needed. Floor profiles and skirting boards are also needed for the transition areas and wall ends.

The position of the pipes should be measured first and marked on the laminate panel (please take into account the expansion gap). Cut out the hole for the pipes at least 16 mm larger than the pipe diameter using a hole saw. Then use a jigsaw to cut from the outside longitudinal side of the board, which faces the wall side, at an angle of 45°, towards the hole circle. Then place the sawed piece and glue to the panel installed previously.

When installed on stairs, the laminate floor panels must be cut to match the stairs and glued to the sub-layer. Stair profiles (special floor profiles) are used for the edge/wall ends.

A levelling compound is used to balance uneven areas in the installation sub-layer. Only once the sub-layer and the levelling compounds have dried/hardened (observe the manufacturer’s instructions), can the installation of the laminate flooring begin.

Because laminate flooring is designed accordingly, and, like all organic materials, it is subject to certain movement behaviours (shrinking/expanding) due to fluctuating room climate conditions. In the case of this type of installation, the floor covering is installed with no permanent connection to the sub floor and only the individual flooring elements are joined to each other at the tongue and groove (click system). This means that the floor can move freely on the subfloor, which is called "floating".

Small damage to the surface can be masked / removed with the system-relevant EGGER repair paste Decor Mix & Fill or commercial hard wax systems.

Depending on the planned installation direction, it should first be checked from which room side installation is due to begin so that difficult installation scenarios can be avoided. Subsequently, the room must be measured to determine whether the width of the first row of boards should be reduced. This will be necessary if the last row is calculated to be less than 5 cm wide. The method for installing the first or the first two rows depends on the click system in use. Follow the installation instructions.

In order to make sure the laminate flooring elements adjust to the room climate, their expansion is stabilised, and the clicking / locking of the elements functions optimally.

The sub-layer must be prepared for installation, which means the subfloor must be dry, able to support loads, even, and clean. Use a max. 2  mm gauge (vertical deviation) at 100  cm intervals. Larger deviations should be handled with suitable measures (e.g., with self-levelling compounds).

The sub-layer must be prepared for installation, which means the subfloor must be dry, able to support loads, even, and clean.

No, the fully and permanently sealed surface of a laminate flooring produced with the established gloss level cannot be processed and/or resealed. Subsequent lacquering or sealing of laminate flooring is neither needed nor allowed.

So far we are not aware of any process by which such a scratch can be fully removed. However, the scratch can be laminated and filled using retouching and a paint stick.

Yes, in order to allow for the flooring movement/expansion behaviour and to ensure the sound decoupling from the remaining structure (to the walls), a wall gap of at least 8 - 10 mm must be integrated when installing EGGER flooring. In the case of rooms of above-average sizes and/or special climate conditions / fluctuations, it is recommended to increase the wall distance accordingly. Commercial skirting boards are generally able to cover edge gaps of up to 17 mm.

Ambient sound refers to the sound that occurs and is perceived when walking on flooring in a room.

Impact sound is the sound generated when walking on flooring and perceived in rooms on lower levels.

Floor profiles are required to cover transitions, edge finishes and expansion joint areas. In the case of floating installation, motion profiles in doors and starting from a room length of more than 10 m are always needed. Place the laminate flooring elements on the subprofile (basis) on both sides with a distance of 8 - 10 mm. The resulting motion gaps are covered by the top profile.

Prior to installation, it should be verified whether the installation sub-layer is suitably prepared. This means that the subfloor must be dry, even, clean and able to provide a supporting surface. Suitable sub-layers are all types of screed including hot water-heated screed, wooden chipboard structures, fibreboard, PVC, linoleum, natural stone boards or ceramic tiles.

No, laminate flooring cannot be sanded. However, individual laminate floor boards can be replaced.

Cutting through with a knife is not possible. However, shortening the Design floor boards by cutting on both sides the front and the back using a cutter and controlled bending over a breaking edge is possible.

No, that's not possible.

Maximum deviation from evenness < 2 mm/m.

e.g. walls, door frames, pipe conduits, pillars, stairways.

A relative air humidity of between 40 % and 70 %

A floor surface temperature of at least 15°C.

Yes, for 48 hours, because a wood-based coreboard (UWF coreboard) is used.

Laminate flooring can be installed on top of existing flooring, such as PVC, linoleum, natural stone slabs, ceramic tiles if they are still in a suitable state and considered to be ready for installation in line with the installation instructions of the laminate flooring. Any other old floor coverings and in particular textile flooring must always be removed.

Every type of floor covering must be protected from coarse dirt and water/snow through suitable clean-off zones. For this reason, entrance areas must be fitted with a properly sized clean-off zone / doormat. In commercial applications where the flooring surface leads directly outside, an appropriately sized clean-off zone that allows 3-4 steps should be built into the floor structure.

Minimum distances to wood stoves / stoves must be observed in line with EU regulations and national construction rules.

Thermal resistance (unit: m² K/ W) is the resistance of a structural component to the transmission of heat. The greater this value is, the better the insulation characteristics are. In order not to impair heating performance, the thermal resistance of the floor structure (floor surface + insulation underlay) should not be more than 0.15 m² K/W for the installation of flooring on a warm water in-floor heating system.