A PVC floor is a popular choice for homes and apartments on the Costa Blanca. The material is strong, easy to maintain, and resistant to temperature differences.
Still, in practice, we regularly see PVC floors cause problems over time. Planks come loose, seams open up, or the floor starts to warp.
Important to know:
This is almost never due to the quality of the PVC itself.
In most cases, the problem is under the floor.
The real problem lies in the subfloor
Many homes in Spain have a concrete subfloor or an existing tile floor. At first glance, this seems like a good base.
But appearances can be deceiving.
What we often encounter:
- subfloors that are not yet fully dry
- residual moisture trapped under the leveling compound
- old tiles that are not properly prepared
- poor adhesion between different layers
A PVC floor is thin and follows exactly what happens underneath.
If the base is not good, it will show sooner or later.
Common mistakes when laying PVC floors
In projects where things go wrong, we almost always see the same mistakes.
1. Laying too quickly after leveling
Leveling compound often seems dry on the surface but can still contain moisture inside.
If laid too quickly, the moisture has nowhere to go.
Result: adhesive coming loose and open seams.
2. Not performing moisture measurement
In Spain, this is surprisingly often skipped.
Without measurement, you simply don't know what is happening in the subfloor.
And gambling with a floor worth thousands of euros is... let's say: optimistic.
3. Using the wrong adhesive
Not every adhesive is suitable for the Spanish climate.
High temperatures and temperature differences require the right choice of adhesive.
The wrong glue can lose its grip, with all the consequences that entails.
4. Poor preparation of the subfloor
Dust, grease, old glue residues, or poorly sanded leveling compound cause poor adhesion.
It seems like a detail, but this is exactly where it often goes wrong.
Why this problem occurs more often in Spain
The climate plays a bigger role than many people think.
- higher temperatures
- rapid surface drying
- large temperature differences between day and night
That makes a floor seem “ready” faster, while technically it is not yet.
And yes, that’s where it goes wrong.
How do you prevent a PVC floor from coming loose?
The good news: this is almost always preventable.
Provided you do it properly.
Important steps:
- professionally assessing the subfloor
- performing moisture measurement
- using the right primer and leveling compound
- allowing sufficient drying time
- choosing the right glue (fiber-reinforced or 2K)
- working with a well-thought-out structure
It takes a little more time and attention but prevents serious problems later.
Our method at Port of Altea
In every project, we don’t start with the floor but with the foundation.
We assess the subfloor, measure where necessary, and only then determine the correct structure and materials.
That sometimes means we have to slow down customers.
Not always fun… but the reason our floors simply stay in place.
Conclusion
A PVC floor that comes loose is almost never “bad luck.”
In most cases, it is a result of:
- wrong preparation
- wrong materials
- working too fast
Do you want a PVC floor that not only looks beautiful at delivery but also stays tight for years?
Then everything starts with what you don’t see.