True Earth Floorworks FAQs

No. The product is thermally fused through our exclusive manufacturing process. This creates a more stable product that is 10 times less likely to delaminate from glue failure.

True Earth is guaranteed from domestic pet stains. We do require it to be cleaned up within 24 hours. We warrant that True Earth will not stain from pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces and vomit, providing it is cleaned within 24 hours.

True Earth flooring is made of 100% natural materials. We do not use nanotechnology or formaldehyde in the manufacturing process. True Earth is also isocyanate-free.

True Earth floors are subject to rigorous tests by third-party laboratories designed to ensure all True Earth products meet the highest standards and do not harm interior air quality. This means our products do not release harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into living environments. True Earth is also free of harmful plasticizers, such as ortho-phthalates.

This rigorous control has resulted in The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute to certify all True Earth floors worldwide with its highest certification: GREENGUARD Gold. GREENGUARD Gold 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.

True Earth is extremely stable. The floor is not affected by humidity or moisture.

True Earth floors can be used in homes where wheel chairs are needed, but True Earth should NOT be applied to ramps. We recommend that you glue-down the joints when motorized chairs will be used.

Yes, the entire plank, including the backing, is 100% waterproof.

True Earth can be 100% recycled by a company with adequate equipment for separating the different materials used.

The 100% recycled cork is sourced from the wine industry.

The leather used in True Earth flooring is sourced from the fashion and meat industries.

This material is 100% sawdust from production leftovers sourced from sawmills.

The rubber in True Earth flooring is natural rubber harvested from rubber trees.

They are 100% leftovers from the production of cooking oils such as sunflower oil.

No. True Earth is bonded via a heat process using natural binders for adhesion and waterproofing.

True Earth has an IIC rating of 59 (ASTM E492-09) which is one of the highest in the industry. The attached cushion and patented comfort core are what allow us to attain such good sound ratings. Walking sound is a lot softer and quieter compared with most hard surface floor coverings such as ceramic, wood or laminate flooring.

The sound of walking in hard shoes on laminate is 60% louder compared to walking on True Earth flooring (walking sound), 60% more room noise (the sound in the overall room) and 40% more transmission sounds to the next room than on True Earth flooring. The top layer of leather and bottom layer of cork make for a much quieter floor than laminate. This goes for the sound created in the space as well as adjacent spaces.

The 5-layer Hotcoat®, a proprietary blend of acrylic, natural urethane, and aluminum oxide, allows for flexibility and movement. This makes it more durable and resistant to wear and tear compared to other flooring products, while reducing room and footfall noise for both better underfoot comfort and sound quality.

The LICO Click locking system has a proprietary modification that increases the locking system's strength.

The True Earth locking system provides additional strength over a traditional click system. It increases lock strength while leaving space for adhesive when installed where heavy rolling or high-torque loads are present, e.g., an auto showroom.

No. The True Earth locking system is an angle/angle or angle tap system, just like traditional click systems.

True Earth flooring has a digital print, so the number of repeats is minimal. You'll notice the same plank characteristics every 12-20 planks, depending on the complexity of the grain, but true exact repeats are rarer.

True Earth can be reintroduced back into the market by a LICO-authorized manufacturer where the flooring is run through our 2^nd Life restoration process.

Yes. True Earth flooring, like every manufactured product on the planet, will eventually end up in a landfill. The good news is that True Earth flooring will eventually decompose as it is made of 100% natural materials and contains no plastics or PVCs.

The LICO factory is carbon negative, and it produces less CO2 than a single-family home.

LICO is endorsed by LEED, GREENGUARD, Blue Angel, Floor Score and is EPD certified.

The necessities are a hammer, tapping block and a pull bar. We highly recommend using 1/4-inch inch spacers and a crosscut power saw with a blade suitable for plastics. Other basics to have on hand include a pencil, chalk line and tape measure.

Yes. True Earth is designed to be a floating floor but the superior, heat-infused extrusion process allows superior bond strength of the underlayment that can be installed with any standard, pressure-sensitive LVT glue.

Recommended adhesives include:

Dry back True Earth (no click) - Mapei ECO 811

True Earth Click flooring - Mapei Ultrabond ECO 373

True Earth (dry back or click) where there is the possibility of moisture - Mapei Ultrabond ECO 399

Our 100% waterproof planks and tiles can be installed in any room of your home, from basement to top floor. True Earth is an interior product and must be stored/installed in a temperature-controlled interior environment, maintained between 55 and 85 degrees F (13- 29C). Before installing the product, however, you must acclimate the product in the room of installation for a minimum of 48 hours at a temperature between 65F to 85F.

No. True Earth is not suitable for outdoor flooring.

No. True Earth planks and tiles have an attached Extruded Poly Styrene (EPS) acoustic underlayment layer that provides sound and temperature insulation while naturally resisting mold and mildew.

Yes. True Earth already has superior sound properties, but if an additional underlayment is required, only high-density underlayments, with a density of 20 lbs. per cubic foot or greater, are allowed.

Yes. To provide additional sound attenuation, it is recommended that True Earth flooring be installed over no more than 1mm cork underlayment.

Yes. Even though True Earth is a very dimensionally-stable product, a 5/16-inch space next to walls and adjoining hardwood floors or other fixed objects such as kitchen furniture, etc. is required.

Yes, True Earth can be installed directly 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 True Earth . You can also install over tiles. The existing floors still have to meet the level requirements, which is no more than a 1/4 difference in a 10 foot span. Please see True Earth installation instructions for further details.

Important: Never install True Earth flooring over carpet or any other soft subfloor.

A polyethylene moisture barrier can be used if you like, but is not required. The slippery plastic sheeting will make it easier to slide flooring into place. Although this floor is waterproof, it is not aimed to be used as a moisture barrier. The subfloor must be dry (max 2.5% moisture content - CM method). If installing over a concrete basement floor, a 6 mil polyethylene moisture barrier is required.

Yes. However, you must use moisture proofing, like a 6 mil polyethylene moisture vapor barrier. If you are using a Tramex Moisture Meter and the level is 0%-2%, no moisture barrier is required. But if it is 2%-5%, a moisture barrier is required. Anything over 5% and we do not recommend installing True Earth flooring.

Depending on the project, you can allow the toilet to be placed directly on top of True Earth , on the condition that the floor can move freely underneath the toilet. Otherwise, you could trim/cut it to the toilet as well, leaving an expansion joint. For caulking, please use a flexible silicone caulk.

It is best to use a 6" cut-off piece of True Earth flooring as a tapping block.

Yes, you can. For wall and ceiling installation, the planks need to be fully glued down on the substrate. We recommend reading and understanding the installation guide and treating a wall installation as you would a floor. For adhesive, use Loctite Power Grab Ultimate. Apply to the back of the planks as shown in the image below.

Note: the LICO-US warranty does not cover wall installations. For click-together, interlocking wall panels, please see our Palisade product line.

Yes, True Earth flooring is built to withstand heavy rolling loads (like motorized wheelchairs) as long as you follow the proper installation procedures.

Yes. The simple answer is that you'll install the flooring as you would in any setting except you'll place a dab of adhesive (like a Tite Bond III) at 8" to 10" on center along the long side of each plank's LICO Click lock. This prevents the planks from sliding past each other when there is a torquing load at the surface.

True Earth flooring can be glued down in any setting.

Do not install your kitchen cabinets directly over your True Earth floor. True Earth quality can be guaranteed as long as the floor can move freely.

Yes. Our rigid planks and tiles allow for floating installation over many existing floors, and the clickable installation is suitable for the average DIY installer. Click here for installation instructions.

Of course not. Your local True Earth retailer will be happy to provide professional installation services. And our Angle-Tap floating installation will keep installation costs lower than many other types of flooring.

Yes. Please see the installation manual for detailed instructions and considerations.

Yes, True Earth flooring will work in four-season room applications as long as installation guidelines are followed. As seasons change, everything in your home expands and contracts making it important to ensure the correct amount of expansion space to ensure many years of trouble-free use. Be sure to leave 3/8″ around any fixed object, as stated in the installation instructions.

No need to glue True Earth flooring under a cabinet or island.

Yes, caster chair use is warranted with True Earth flooring. Caster chairs have been tested up to 35,000 cycles on this Class 4 Heavy Commercial-rated floor.

Yes.

No.

Any in-floor heating system is acceptable. Just follow the manufacturer's technical standard requirements.

No.

Most underfloor heat systems max out at 85º F.

The acclimation period for True Earth flooring depends on what temperature the flooring was stored in and the temperature of the room where it will finally be installed. Typically, as long as the flooring is stored at 40º F or warmer, there is no acclimation required, but best practice is to let the flooring acclimatize in the room where it will be installed for 24-48 hours.

Yes. However, spilled hair dye must be wiped up as quickly as possible.

After a flood, True Earth flooring can be removed, cleaned, dried and re-installed over the dried subfloor, assuming the subfloor is not damaged or ruined.

With any floating floor, a sealant at the perimeter of any room or space prone to flooding is recommended to prevent water damage to the subfloor.

A vapor barrier is required to allow movement in the floating floor and to keep any moisture at the subfloor surface out of the space.

A PE foil (kraft paper, plastic or even newspaper) underlayment lets the floating floor move as it needs to and extends the life of the floor.

Yes, True Earth flooring can be installed in 3- and 4-season room applications as long as installation guidelines are followed. As seasons change, everything in your home expands and contracts making it important to ensure the correct amount of expansion space to ensure many years of trouble-free use. Be sure to leave 3/8″ (10 mm) around any fixed object, as stated in the installation instructions, and install a vapor barrier/ PE foil to let the floor move as needed.

Will True Earth flooring fade?

True Earth is produced using a proprietary digital printing and UV-cured lacquer process which yields a very stable and durable floor, minimizing fading over time.

In a desert or very dry climate, it is necessary to:

1. Let the floor acclimate in the room where it will be installed for at least 48 hours in open boxes.
2. Use a PE foil, (kraft paper or even newspaper) between the True Earth flooring and subfloor to ensure the True Earth flooring is free to 'move' as needed.
3. Leave 3/8" dilation gap at the perimeter of the floor for minimal expansion.

First, sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floor to remove all loose dirt and grit. Then lightly damp mop with a well-wrung mop. Always use sliding pads when moving furniture or other heavy objects across the floor.

Don't wax the floor, don't seal the floor and don't use any wood care product on the floor as these can leave a film that traps dirt.

Also, remember that True Earth is sensitive to heat, so do not use a steam mop as the steam will damage the wear layer and cause deformation.

Steam cleaning is not covered under warranty.

For regular cleaning, simply sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt and grit. Do not use treated dust mops. For a more thorough clean, use a properly diluted neutral pH cleaner in cool water or ready-to-use spray cleaner that will not leave a residue. We recommend Dr. Schultz Laminate Cleaner or Bona Pro Luxury Vinyl Cleaner, follow label directions.

The single greatest cause of damage to any flooring or floor finish is abrasion from dirt and grit. Wherever possible, use mats at entrances and doorways. Use non-staining floor protectors under heavy furniture, chairs and tables. For scuff marks and scratches, use a quality vinyl floor cleaner and the green side of a Scotch Brite pad to gently work the cleaner into affected areas to hide the scratch. If the scratch has penetrated the top layer, the plank will have to be replaced.

Sharp claws can damage the floor so be sure to keep your pets' nails trimmed. Clean up pet waste accidents as soon as possible. True Earth is guaranteed from domestic pet stains. We do require it to be cleaned up within 24 hours. We warrant that True Earth will not stain from pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces and vomit, provided it is cleaned within 24 hours.

No. True Earth will retain its luster. If the floor is dull or dirty, use a neutral pH floor cleaner that can be purchased at most home centers, hardware or grocery stores.

We recommend using Dr. Schutz LVT and Resilient Floor Care Cleaner. It is available on Amazon.com, here. If the scratch has penetrated the top layer, then the plank will have to be replaced.

First of all, sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floor to remove all loose dirt and grit. Then lightly damp mop with well-wrung mop. Always use sliding pads when moving furniture or other heavy objects across the floor.

Some people are more sensitive to odors than others. Many customers have reported never noticing an odor. Others have reported a slight odor, but there is no dangerous offgassing and our flooring is 100% safe. Before installing the product, you must acclimate the product in the room of installation for a minimum of 48 hours at a temperature between 65F to 85F. If you experience an odor after installing the floor, we recommend opening windows and ventilating the room as much as possible for 3 days.

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 slip through the bevels if left over 24 hours. Water spillage as is the case in bathrooms and kitchens wont 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.

Replacing sections or entire planks is a very complicated procedure that should only be done by floor installation professionals. We recommend ensuring that your initial flooring purchase includes several extra True Earth planks in case you have one that needs replacement.

Support furniture with wide-bearing, non-staining floor protectors. Ideally, the protectors should be at least 1 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-inch 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.

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 20-30 business days, depending on the circumstances, although most issues are resolved much faster.