Gaps

Gaps

Check floor temperature

Floor locked in with fastener through molding

Gaps

Gaps

Gaps

Gaps

Gaps

Gaps

Measure installed and uninstalled material

Check floor flatness

Floor locked in place with caulking

Checked humidity and temperature

Check expansion space

Check expansion space

LVP Installed over Carpet

Gaps (Resilient Plank)

Floor Detective® Claims and Conditions Guide

Summary

Gaps in resilient plank flooring are visible separations between adjacent planks after installation. The condition may occur at end joints, long-side joints, or both, and may appear immediately or develop progressively during service. End-joint gaps are often the most visually noticeable pattern because resilient planks are typically much longer than they are wide, so the same percentage of dimensional contraction produces a larger visible opening at the plank ends. Gapping may be influenced by environmental temperature change, installation temperature, dimensional stability characteristics, joint engagement integrity, substrate support conditions, movement restriction, adhesive behavior in glue-down systems, or combined flooring-system interaction. Floating and glue-down resilient flooring systems respond differently to movement forces, support conditions, and environmental cycling. Proper evaluation requires correlation of distribution pattern, dimensional behavior, environmental exposure, installation configuration, and joint integrity rather than appearance alone. Gaps alone do not independently establish manufacturing nonconformance or installation failure. See also Peaked End Joints, Broken Locking Profiles LVT, and LVT and SPC Floor Problems for broader context.

Please subscribe to see all content

Subscribe Login