FAQ
- Laminate Flooring
- Rigid Core Flooring
Audacity is a waterproof laminate flooring, that combines the durability and the realistic wood look of laminate with waterproof of luxury vinyl. The result is a beautiful and truly multi-functional flooring with click that can:
- Resist household spills;
- Be wet-mopped for easy maintenance;
- Installed in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms;
- Be installed over 300% larger areas than traditional laminate floors without unsightly transition strips in between areas and rooms – up to 4000sq.ft. / 400m2
Compared with regular laminate flooring, Audacity has a much more stable core, which means you can:
- Install it over an area of up to 4000sq.ft. / 400m2 without unsightly transition strips in between areas and rooms;
- Wet-mop it, unlike regular wood fiber based floors such as laminate;
- Install in full bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms.
Typically, resilient and vinyl flooring have certain advantages to normal laminate, such as its waterproofness, but with Audacity it is no more relevant, as Audacity floors can now also be wet-mopped, installed in moist areas and resist household spills.
Apart from the above, Audacity also solves the issues related to standard vinyl products:
- – The Audacity flooring is resistant to high temperature variations, e.g. in sunny rooms orrooms with large windows;
- – The flooring is extra resistant to stains, e.g. spilled coffee or wine;
- – Extra resistant to scratches and wear, e.g. from your pet’s untrimmed claws;
- – Features a thick (total thickness is 12mm), rigid core – which means no moretelegraphing of small subfloor’s imperfections;
- – Deep synchronized surface for a more natural and authentic wood look & feel.
Audacity consists of five layers of materials bonded together under extreme heat and pressure. Absolutely no harmful glues or toxic chemicals are used in the bonding of our products, ensuring safe and worry-free flooring for your family. The mentioned above layers are:
- The first component is the wear resistance layer. While a standard CE laminate is usually provided with an AC3 wear rating, not compatible with a commercial use, Audacity comes with an AC4 highly resistant, commercial rating. This means you don’t have to worry about high foot traffic or your kids & pets having fun in the house. However, you should keep in mind that no floor covering is impervious to damage;
- The second layer is a decorative paper. This layer provides the beautiful and unique look that will compliment your interior;
- The third component is Audacity’s high density, extra stable and 100% natural core, made of wood fibers. The floor’s core is protected against moisture with a special, factory-applied coating;
- The forth layer is the balancing layer – this moisture-resistant backing layer guarantees a perfectly balanced board that will not cup or bow when properly installed and maintained;
- The fifth later is a pre-attached 2mm pad, providing additional comfort and sound absorption. This also means you don’t need an additional underlay.
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance not only in all wood, formed by elements found in our environment like carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, but also at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts per million (ppm), in both outdoor and indoor air. While formaldehyde is naturally occurring, high levels can be harmful to humans.
All Audacity floors are subjected to rigorous tests that are designed to ensure that all products abide by the highest standards and do not harm indoor air quality. This makes our floors safe for you and your loved ones.
All Audacity floors in the United States are in full compliance with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) 93120 Title 17 Phase II standards for formaldehyde. All of our sources for composite wood components have been tested by an independent, third party CARB-approved certifier and confirmed to meet the exacting standards of the state of California. We also regularly check our certifications to make sure they are updated and that all requirements are continuously being met.
In addition to this we have taken steps for certification by another third party, the FloorScore. It is an industry-independent organization that aims to protect human health by enhancing indoor air quality and reducing people’s exposure to pollutants by certifying products for extremely low chemical emissions.
All Audacity products worldwide are certified by the FloorScore Program which requires that products undergo independent, scientific testing and ongoing monitoring of their chemical emissions. Only products that meet its stringent emissions standards qualify for certification. These standards are based on established criteria from key public health agencies.
With its rigid core and a convenient tap down click system, Audacity flooring is easy and fast to install, and thanks to floor’s rigidity, it only requires a minimum subfloor preparation (subfloor should be leveled to 3/16” / 5mm within a 10ft / 3m span). A do-it-yourselfer can click together a living room size floor in about a day, and start enjoying it immediately.
Audacity flooring can be installed in any room inside the house where the floor is solid and flat, including full bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. Special precautions should be used when installing in moist areas, such as bathrooms or laundry rooms, by adding a silicone sealant in the expansion spaces at the perimeter and all vertical interruptions. Audacity should NOT be installed in rooms with sump pumps or floor drains, or in motor homes, boats or planes.
Audacity floors are waterproof; however, special precautions should be used when installing in moist areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, by adding a silicone sealant in the expansion spaces at the perimeter and all vertical interruptions.
Water Block Warranty guarantees that the Audacity flooring will not be damaged from localized topical moisture resulting from a normal household spillage, e.g. from wet shoes, liquid spills or dripping while exiting a bath tub or shower, provided they are removed within 72 hours. However, flooding is NOT covered by the warrantee, which means standing water must be avoided at all times.
Very few: a room with a floor drain, sump pump or one that is exposed to the elements.
- Ensure that the subfloor is flat and level (3/16” / 5mm within a 10ft / 3m span).
- The subfloor moisture level must be max. 2.5% moisture content (CM method).Crawl space and/or basement should be ventilated and dry. A minimum 6-mil / 0.15mmpoly sheeting should be used as a moisture barrier.
- Acclimate Audacity in the room in which you intend to install it a minimum of 48 hoursbefore the installation.
- For floor surfaces exceeding 4000sq.ft. / 400m2 and or lengths exceeding 65ft / 20mand overlaps to new rooms and floor surface which do not join symmetrically, useexpansion joints to divide the floor sections.
- For installation instructions and tips, please see our detailed Audacity InstallationManual.
For the best result, it is recommended to acclimate Audacity floor prior to installation. Keep the boards in room temperature for at least 48 hours in unopened package before you start the installation. The room temperature must be between 60 ̊to 95 ̊F / 15° to 35°C before, during and after installation. Relative Humidity Levels of your room should be maintained at 30-65 %.
Audacity floors are waterproof; however special precautions should be used when installing in moist areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, by adding a silicone sealant in the expansion spaces at the perimeter and all vertical interruptions. Water spillage as in the case in bathrooms and kitchens won’t damage the floor but standing water must be avoided at all times. Localized, topical water spills must be cleaned up as soon as possible within 72 hours.
Install parallel to incoming light from any windows or if lighting is not a concern, parallel to the longest wall in the room.
The recommended expansion space is 1/4” / 6 mm for areas ≤1076 ft2 / 100 m2 or lengths ≤32.8 ft / 10 m; and 1/2” / 10 mm for areas ≥1076 ft2 / 100 m2 or lengths ≥32.8 ft / 10 m) for all vertical interruptions, be they the walls, moldings, pillars, HVAC vents, flooring receptacles, masonry, toilet flanges, etc. When installing around pipes, drill the holes ¾” / 20 mm larger than the diameter of the pipes.
Audacity installation allows up to 65ft / 20m, in either direction, with no unsightly transition moldings needed as long as the flooring can freely move. Or a total of 4000ft2 / 400m2.
As long as you are within the limit that does not require transition strips, those transitions are fortunately not required either. Audacity installation allows up to 60ft / 20m, in either direction, with no transition moldings needed. Make sure to respect the proper expansion space around the perimeters of the room.
Audacity floors can be installed over most existing hard surface flooring, including wood, concrete, and vinyl sheet. You can also install over tiles, as long as it is NOT a floating installation.
The exceptions are laminate, floating floors of any type, loose lay, and perimeter fastened sheet vinyl. These types of flooring should be removed prior to installing Audacity. The existing floors still have to meet the level requirements, which is no more than a 3/16” / 5mm difference in a 10ft / 3m span.
Moisture barrier needs to be installed over concrete substrates. In the case installation is done over a wood substrate on or below-grade a vapor barrier must be installed if there is not a vapor barrier existing in a well-ventilated crawl space. A minimum 6-mil / 0.15mm poly sheeting should be used as a moisture barrier.
Yes, Audacity is compatible with water-based floor heating systems. You should ensure the radiant heat surface temperature doesn’t exceed 81°F / 27°C.
Due to the speed of sudden temperature changes, which has the potential to negatively affect laminate flooring construction, it is not recommended to install over any electrical radiant heating system.
For detailed instructions regarding the installation over water based heating systems, please refer to Audacity Installation Manual.
Yes, you can. Many designer use Audacity for partial wall installation because of the unique and highly realistic color available in the Audacity selection.
For wall and ceiling installation the planks need to be fully glued down on the substrate. For this job, we recommend Taylor 2091 (for commercial applications) and Henry© 650P glues. Note: The Audacity warranty does NOT cover wall installation
The pre-attached backing provides a natural sound barrier and extra joint support for noise resistance attributes versus traditional laminates or click vinyl planks. And best of all – you will not need to use any extra underlayment!
No, if your Audacity floor has a pre-attached foam backing, which means no additional underlayment should be installed.
Note: Adding an underlayment to Audacity with a pre-attached foam backing will void your warranty.
- Clean the floor regularly. For general cleaning, use a dust mop or vacuum with the correct hard surface attachment – never a rotating brush, floor scrubbers, jet mops, buffers or similar products;
- If necessary, the floor may be cleaned with a damp or slightly wet mop / microfiber cloth and a laminate cleaner. Avoid using too much water and never pour the bucket of water / solution across the floor; be sure to squeeze the water out of the mop before mopping, and rinse the mop frequently. Allow the floor to fully dry after cleaning;The use of residential steam mops on this product is allowed. Use at lowest power with a suitable soft pad, and do not hold a steam mop on one spot for an extended period of time (longer than 5 minutes). Refer to the steam mop’s manufacturer instructions for proper usage.
- Audacity floors must never be waxed, polished, sanded or refinished. Do not use detergents, abrasive cleaners, soaps, waxes or polishes;To protect from scratches, place walk-off area rugs or mats inside exterior doorways to collect small bits of gravel. We recommend using felt protectors on the legs of
furniture and replacing plastic or metal casters with rubber wheels. Replace plastic or metal casters on chairs with rubber wheels and lift rather than slide heavy objects across the floor.
Yes, ordinary vacuuming or sweeping is usually sufficient to keep the floor clean. If needed, the floor may be cleaned with laminate cleaner. Do not allow for moisture to remain on the floor for longer than 72 hours. Pet stains (including urine, feces and vomit from domestic cats and dogs) need to be cleaned within 24 hours.
For chocolate, grease, juice and wine stains, use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cleaner. Nail polish, tar, markers, crayon, lipstick, ink and cigarette burns can be removed using nail polish remover or denatured alcohol. For candle wax and chewing gum, scrape carefully with a blunt plastic scraper.
While no similar flooring is guaranteed against scratching or loss of gloss, the surface of Audacity is textured with a medium graining and a tough wear layer for durability. We warrant
that Audacity will not stain from pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces and vomit, providing it is cleaned within 24 hours.
No, it resists staining, is easy to clean and requires no waxing. Waxing is not compatible with this product and using wax will void warranty.
Support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors. Ideally, the protectors should be at least one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors are also acceptable. Casters with a minimum 3/4″ / 20mm flat surface width or floor protectors are recommended for all moveable furniture. Make sure any metal protectors are rustproof. Replace your narrow-dome furniture rests with wide- bearing ones.
Audacity floors feature AC-4 scratch resistant commercial rating, which is highly scratch resistant but not scratch proof. Here is some information that might help you to prevent or minimizes scratches down the road:
- Use felt pads on the bottom of all chairs/tables/sofas;
- Change all plastic or metal casters on rolling furniture to rubber casters;
- Do not drag heavy furniture across the floor; •
Trim pet nails frequently.
To repair scratches, small chips and dents color fill kits, wood finish repair sticks or putties are easy to use. If significant plank damage, an option may be to replace a plank. Plank replacements can be challenging to the average do-it-yourselfer, we recommend you contact your retailer or a flooring professional who has the proper tools and training for plank replacements.
No. Laminate flooring cannot be refinished or sanded.
If you feel that you have a warranty related problem, you should take your original purchase receipt, back to the retailer where you purchased the floor and file a warranty claim with that store. The store will then contact us to begin the warranty process. An inspector may come to your home to evaluate the conditions and determine what caused the problem. Once an evaluation is completed you will be contacted with the results. The whole process could take up to 20-30 business days, depending on the circumstances, although most issues are resolved much faster.
The length of the warranty is defined on the warranty documentation supplied with the product. Generally Foundation collection is warranted for 25 years for residential use and all the other collections have lifetime guarantee.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is the fearless waterproof floor. We back this claim by warranting an incredible performance in tougher areas or situations where most glue-less flooring products would not be warranted (heat conditions, sunrooms, wide areas without unsightly transitions, humid rooms like bathrooms or kitchens, pet stains and much more).
Two aspects make Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core very different from LVT or WPC (two of the more common hard-surface glue-less flooring categories):
- It contains 0% plasticizers, which are chemical additives which make PVC soft and flexible
- Its limestone based
The combination of these two features makes it rigid and much more stable to temperature variations, as well as sunlight.
The pre-attached backing offers extra noise resistance attributes versus traditional laminates or click vinyl planks.
At high temperatures (above 40°C /105°F), PVC like most plastic based materials become much more flexible and start expanding (like when you put a piece of plastic over a lighter, it melts). Because of their high plasticizer and PVC content, standard vinyl or engineered vinyl planks start expanding and aren’t rigid enough to resist to the force created by the expansion. The planks cannot push each other away and can start to curl as expansion increases.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core, thanks to its very high limestone content, is not only rigid but extremely stable. If certain areas reach such high temperatures (which they rarely do) Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core can naturally expand a little, but will push each other and expand well within our recommended expansion gap of 6mm (1/4″). This is why the recommended 6mm (1/4″) around the perimeters of the room needs to be respected.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core flooring features an embossed texture, which mimics the grain of real wood, as well as stone.
Rarely do we see indentation issues with Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core. Most indentations can be avoided by ensuring there are no heavy rolling loads over the floor, and using traditional installation methods when moving heavy items (e.g. use a smooth plywood panel when rolling in refrigerators, etc.). Also common-sense use of floor protectors under furniture legs, mats under rolling chairs, etc. are also recommended.
While no similar flooring is guaranteed against scratching or loss of gloss, Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is textured with a medium graining and a tough wear layer for durability. We warrant that Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core will not stain from pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces and vomit, providing it is cleaned within 24 hours!
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is safe for you and your loved ones. All Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core floors are subjected to rigorous tests by Third Party Laboratories that are designed to ensure all Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core products meet the highest standards and do not harm interior air quality. This means our products do not release harmful amounts of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into living environments. Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is also 100% free of harmful plasticizers, such as ortho-phthalates.
These rigorous control has resulted in the The FloorScore® Environmental Institute to certify all Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core floors worldwide with their highest certification:FloorScore®
FloorScore® Certification offers the strictest certification criteria, considering safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly), and ensures that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities. It is referenced by both The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building Rating System.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is extremely stable. The planks are not affected by humidity or other types of moisture, to provide you with superior stability.
After detaching the backing, Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core can be 100% recycled by a company with adequate equipment including flooring manufacturers.
Yes, Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core can be installed over most existing hard surface flooring. The exceptions are laminate, floating floors (not glued down) of any type, loose lay, and perimeter fastened sheet vinyl. These types of flooring should be removed prior to installing Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core. You can also install over tiles, as long as it is not a floating installation. The existing floors still have to meet the level requirements, which is no more than a 5mm (3/16”) difference in a 3m (10 foot) span. Please see Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core installation instructions for further details.
Important: Never install Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core over carpet.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is super easy to install.
We use a quick & easy to install click system- no glue, no dust, no mess!
Meanwhile, its rigid core allows for the floor to be installed directly over most hard surface subfloors, with minimum preparations and no acclimation. And by the way, you can event cut Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core with a simple utility knife.
Yes, no problem! Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is waterproof and can be installed in kitchens and Bathrooms without any issues.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core can be installed on all levels of the home including wet rooms, 3 season rooms and directly over most existing hard surface subfloors.
Very few: a room with a floor drain, sump pump or one that is exposed to the elements (like outdoors or in saunas). Although is it 100% waterproof, Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core should also not be installed in areas prone to flooding as water might sip through the bevels.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core can be installed in homes without climate control when proper installation precautions are taken and under the following conditions:
- Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core installation requirements must be met.
- The crawl spaces must be enclosed and vented and meet all requirements and the job site conditions must be correct.
- Insulation of the floor in the crawl space is recommended.
- Temperatures must stay above -15°C (0˚F) and below 60°C (140˚F).
Yes, Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is compatible with embedded radiant floor heating systems. You should ensure the radiant heat surface temperature doesn’t exceed 30°C (85°F). For more details, please refer to the installation manual.
• Ensure that the subfloor is flat and level (3/16” / 5mm within a 10ft / 3m span).
• The subfloor moisture level must be max. 2.5% moisture content (CM method).
• Crawl space and/or basement should be ventilated and dry. A minimum 6-mil / 0.15mm poly sheeting should be used as a moisture barrier.
• For floor surfaces exceeding 6400sq.ft2 / 620sqm2 and or lengths exceeding 65ft / 20m and overlaps to new rooms and floor surface which do not join symmetrically, use expansion joints to divide the floor sections.
• For installation instructions and tips, please see our detailed Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core Installation Manual.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core installation allows up to 25m (80ft), in either direction, or over an area of 620m² (6400 sq. ft.) with no unsightly transition moldings needed as long as the flooring can freely move. Make sure to respect the 6mm (1/4″) expansion space around the perimeters of the room.
As long as you are within the limit that does not require transition strips, unsightly door transitions are fortunately not required either! Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core installation allows up to 25m (80ft.) in either direction, or over an area of 620m² (6400 sq.ft.) with no transition moldings needed. Make sure to respect the 6mm (1/4″) expansion space around the perimeters of the room.
Although Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core, thanks to it rigidity, hides minor subfloor imperfections, the subfloor must be clean and level to 5mm (3/16”) within a 3m (10 foot) span.
For installation over existing tile, you would need a self-leveling compound to fill in low grouted joint areas.
When installing Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core, underlayment is not required because of the pre-attached backing .
Moisture barrier is recommended; however, it is not required. Although this floor is waterproof, it is not aimed to be used as a moisture barrier. The subfloor must be dry (the maximum moisture content of the screed is 1.5% (CM method) or Concrete moisture vapor emissions should not exceed 8lbs ASTM F1869 or 90%RH (ASTM F2170) with a PH limit of 9. For floors outside of this range a 6 mil poly-film is required. This product is also not to be installed in areas that have a risk of flooding, such as saunas or outdoor areas.
The recommended expansion gap is 1/4″ (6mm)
If you wish to glue down the flooring to a concrete subfloor, it is recommended to measure the pH level of the concrete prior to installation. A too high alkalinity may cause damage to the adhesives and primers. The ideal condition for most flooring adhesives is an alkalinity-pH level of 9.0pH or less than 9.0pH, at the surface of the concrete BEFORE you install the floor. The exact pH level required is to be determined by the adhesive manufacturer.
Depending on the project, you can allow the toilet to be placed directly on top of Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core. Otherwise, you could trim/cut it tight to the toilet as well. For caulking, please use a silicone caulk.
Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core is extremely stable to temperature variations and it is in general not necessary to acclimate, unlike standard laminate or LVT which usually requires leaving your floor in open boxes 24 to 48h in the room you will install before installation.
Do not install your kitchen cabinets directly over your Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core floor. Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core quality can be guaranteed as long as the floor can move freely.
Yes, you can. For wall and ceiling installation the planks need to be fully glued down on the substrate. Many designers use Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core for partial wall installation because of the unique and highly realistic color available in the Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core selection. Note: the Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core warranty does not cover wall installation.
Yes. We recommend non-staining vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs. We do not recommend the use of rubber- or latex-backed mats because the chemical (antioxidant) used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain your floor.
The planks themselves are waterproof, but once installed they do not provide a fully airtight surface. Water can still sip through the bevels if left over 24 hours. Water spillage as is the case in bathrooms and kitchens won’t damage the floor but standing water must be avoided at all times. We recommend cleaning up water spillage as soon as possible, before 24 hours pass.
No, it resists staining, is easy to clean and requires no waxing. Waxing is not compatible with this product and using wax will void warranty.
We recommend ensuring that your initial flooring purchase includes several extra Audacity Waterproof Hybrid Rigid Core planks in case you have one that needs replacement. Follow these steps to remove and replace a damaged plank:
- Use a circular saw to make several cuts in the board to be removed. Make sure to use the correct depth of the saw blade and protect the surrounding planks.
- Use a chisel to carefully break and remove the part of the plank to be removed. Clean all the debris and dust
- Cut off the groove on the long side and short side of the new plank to be installed.
- Apply one beam of adhesive on the long side and short side tongue of the existing planks that will receive the new planks.
- Carefully place the new planks in position and remove the excess of glue immediately with a damp cloth.
Support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors. Ideally, the protectors should be at least one inch in diameter, made of non-pigmented, hard plastic and rest flat on the floor. Non-staining felt protectors are also acceptable. Casters with a minimum 20mm (3/4″) flat surface width or floor protectors are recommended for all moveable furniture. Make sure any metal protectors are rustproof. Replace your narrow-dome furniture rests with wide-bearing ones.
For chocolate, grease, juice and wine stains, use lukewarm water and a non-abrasive cleaner. Nail polish, tar, markers, crayon, lipstick, ink and cigarette burns can be removed using nail polish remover or denatured alcohol.
The use of residential steam mops on this product is allowed. Use at lowest power with a suitable soft pad, and do not hold a steam mop on one spot for an extended period of time (longer than 5 minutes). Refer to the steam mop’s manufacturer instructions for proper usage.
The length of the warranty is defined on the warranty documentation supplied with the product. Generally Foundation collection is warranted for 25 years for residential use and all the other collections have lifetime guarantee.
If you feel that you have a warranty related problem, you should take your original purchase receipt, back to the retailer where you purchased the floor and file a warranty claim with that store. The store will then contact us to begin the warranty process. An inspector may come to your home to evaluate the conditions and determine what caused the problem. Once an evaluation is complete you will be contacted with the results. The whole process could take up to 30 business days, depending on the circumstances, although most issues are resolved much faster.