Glue Down vs Click LVT: How to Choose the Right Installation Method

Every LVT purchase starts with the same decision: glue-down or click-fit? Both use luxury vinyl tile. Both give you waterproof, durable, realistic flooring. But the way they’re installed — and the trade-offs that come with each method — make them better suited to different situations. Get this decision right and the floor performs beautifully for years. Get it wrong and you’re either overpaying for installation you didn’t need or dealing with problems that the wrong format can’t handle.

This guide covers the practical differences between glue-down LVT and click-fit LVT — including SPC rigid-core products — and explains which to choose for each scenario.

How They Work

Glue-Down LVT

Glue-down (also called “dryback”) LVT is a thin, flexible vinyl plank or tile — typically 2–3mm thick — that is fully adhered to the subfloor using pressure-sensitive or wet-set adhesive. Each piece is positioned individually and pressed into the adhesive. Once cured, the floor is permanently bonded to the surface beneath it.

The result is a floor that sits flush with the subfloor, has no movement or flex between planks, produces no hollow sound when walked on and creates a fully sealed surface when all tiles are bonded edge-to-edge.

Click-Fit LVT (Including SPC)

Click-fit LVT uses a tongue-and-groove click-lock mechanism to join planks together. The planks float over the subfloor on an underlay (or integrated acoustic backing) rather than being bonded to it. Most modern click-fit products use SPC (Stone Polymer Composite) rigid cores — thicker planks (typically 4–6.5mm) with a limestone-polymer core that provides structural rigidity.

The result is a floating floor that can be installed faster, doesn’t require adhesive, can be uplifted and relaid and tolerates minor subfloor imperfections that would show through glue-down LVT.

The Key Differences

Installation Speed

Click-fit is significantly faster. An experienced fitter can lay a standard room (15–20m²) in click-fit SPC in 3–4 hours. The same room in glue-down takes 6–8 hours because of adhesive application, positioning, rolling and curing time. If you’re fitting multiple rooms or working to a tight deadline — between tenancies, before a property listing, or during a commercial fitout — click-fit saves real time.

Subfloor Requirements

Glue-down LVT is unforgiving. Because the thin, flexible plank conforms to whatever is beneath it, every bump, dip, crack and piece of debris in the subfloor will telegraph through the finished floor. The subfloor must be flat, smooth, clean and dry — which often means screeding, levelling compound, or extensive prep work before installation begins.

Click-fit SPC is more tolerant. The rigid core bridges minor imperfections (manufacturers typically specify up to 2mm variation per metre). This means less subfloor prep, which saves both time and cost — particularly over existing floors like old tiles or concrete with minor surface irregularities.

Waterproofing

Both formats are waterproof at the plank level — the vinyl and SPC materials cannot absorb water. The difference is at the joints. For a deeper room-by-room breakdown of waterproof flooring options, see our complete guide.

Glue-down LVT, when properly installed, creates a near-continuous sealed surface. Water can’t reach the subfloor because every plank is bonded down with no gaps. This makes glue-down the superior choice for wet environments: bathrooms, laundry rooms, commercial kitchens and any space where standing water is routine. For a full bathroom-specific breakdown, see our best flooring for bathrooms guide.

Click-fit joints are tight but not sealed. Casual spills and mopping are no problem — the water sits on the surface and gets cleaned up. But prolonged standing water (a slow leak, a bath overflow) can seep through the click joints and sit on the subfloor beneath the floating floor. For rooms with routine water exposure, this is worth considering.

Thickness and Floor Height

Glue-down LVT is thin — typically 2–2.5mm. This means minimal change to floor height, easy transitions between rooms and no need to trim doors. It’s the practical choice when fitting LVT adjacent to existing flooring in other rooms, or when door clearance is tight.

Click-fit SPC is thicker — typically 4–6.5mm plus any underlay. This adds noticeable height to the floor, which can mean trimming doors, adjusting thresholds and planning transitions to adjacent rooms. In new-build or full-property installations where every room gets the same floor, this isn’t an issue. In single-room retrofits, it needs consideration.

Underfloor Heating

Both formats work with underfloor heating, but glue-down LVT transfers heat more efficiently. The thinner profile and direct bond to the subfloor means less material between the heat source and the room. Click-fit SPC works fine with UFH but the thicker construction and air gap beneath the floating floor reduce heat transfer slightly. Most SPC products are rated to 27°C surface temperature. For a full breakdown of UFH-compatible flooring across formats, see our best flooring for underfloor heating guide.

Repairability

Click-fit has a clear advantage here. If a plank gets damaged, you can disassemble the floor from the nearest wall, remove the damaged plank, replace it and reassemble. Individual planks can be swapped without disturbing the rest of the floor (though it does mean lifting from the edge, not just pulling out a single plank from the middle).

Replacing a damaged glue-down plank is more invasive. The plank needs to be cut out, the old adhesive scraped away, the area cleaned and re-prepared and a new plank glued in place. It’s doable, but it’s a skilled job and the repair area needs time to cure.

Acoustic Performance

Glue-down LVT is quiet underfoot because it’s bonded directly to the subfloor — no air gap, no hollow resonance. It produces a solid, muted sound when walked on.

Click-fit SPC can produce a tapping or clicking sound on hard subfloors if the underlay isn’t thick enough. Products with integrated cork or IXPE underlay perform better acoustically. In upper-floor apartments or rooms above living spaces, acoustic performance matters — glue-down or a click-fit product with substantial integrated underlay is the way to go.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Glue-Down When:

The floor is going in a bathroom, wet room, or commercial kitchen — anywhere standing water is routine. Glue-down gives you the most waterproof installation possible.

You need minimal floor height increase — retrofitting a single room, tight door clearances, or matching an adjacent floor level.

You want the best acoustic performance — glue-down produces no hollow sound and requires no separate underlay.

You have underfloor heating and want maximum heat efficiency — the thin, bonded profile conducts heat better than a floating floor.

Browse our full glue-down LVT range. Popular glue-down ranges include Nordikka Original, Nordikka Select, Amtico Spacia, Amtico Signature, Karndean Van Gogh and Karndean Art Select.

Choose Click-Fit SPC When:

You need fast installation — fitting between tenancies, working to a handover deadline, or covering a large area quickly.

The subfloor isn’t perfectly level — minor imperfections that would show through glue-down are bridged by the rigid SPC core.

You want easy future access — the floor can be uplifted and relaid to access underfloor services, or individual planks can be replaced if damaged.

You’re installing over existing hard flooring — click-fit SPC floats over tiles, concrete, or old vinyl without needing to remove the existing surface (as long as it’s flat and stable).

Browse our full click-fit LVT range. Popular click-fit/SPC ranges include GF SPC, Nordikka Click SPC, Karndean Knight Tile Rigid Core, Karndean Van Gogh Rigid Core, Amtico Click Smart and Invictus Maximus Click.

Can You Mix Both in the Same Property?

Yes — and it’s common. Many homeowners and property professionals use glue-down in bathrooms and kitchens (where maximum waterproofing matters) and click-fit SPC in bedrooms, living rooms and hallways (where fast installation and subfloor tolerance matter more). The key is matching colourways across both formats. Several of our ranges offer the same design in both glue-down and click-fit versions, making it easy to run a consistent look throughout a property while using the right installation method in each room.

Within the Nordikka range, you can match glue-down Original planks with click-fit Click SPC planks for exactly this purpose.

Installation Guides

For step-by-step installation guidance covering both methods, subfloor preparation, acclimatisation and common mistakes to avoid, read our LVT installation guide.

See Both in Person: Our 24/7 Smart Showroom

The difference between glue-down and click-fit is something you can feel. Pick up a 2mm glue-down plank and a 6mm rigid-core SPC plank — the weight, rigidity and thickness difference is immediately obvious. Our 24/7 Smart Showroom in Altrincham is open any hour of day or night — no appointment needed. Request a security code online or scan the QR code on the front of the showroom and visit at a time that suits you.

Order Free Samples

Order up to five free samples and compare formats at home. Feel the flexibility of glue-down versus the rigidity of SPC. Check colours in your room’s lighting. Test the click mechanism. Browse our glue-down range or click-fit range and add samples to your basket. Not sure which format suits your project? Get in touch — our team can talk you through the options for your specific rooms and subfloor situation.

For real fitted prices across every glue-down and click-fit LVT brand we stock, see our LVT supply & fit pricing guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is glue-down LVT better than click-fit?

Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on your project. Glue-down LVT is the superior choice for wet rooms, bathrooms, commercial kitchens and any space where standing water is routine, plus projects where you want the thinnest floor profile and the best acoustic performance. Click-fit SPC is better for fast installation, fitting over existing hard floors and projects where the subfloor is not perfectly level.

Is click-fit LVT waterproof?

The plank material itself is waterproof — SPC cores cannot absorb water. However, the click joints between planks are tight but not sealed. Casual spills and routine mopping are fine, but prolonged standing water can seep through joints and sit on the subfloor below. For wet rooms and bathrooms with frequent water exposure, glue-down is the safer choice.

What is click LVT flooring?

Click LVT (also called click vinyl flooring or LVT click flooring) is a luxury vinyl product that connects plank-to-plank using a mechanical click-lock mechanism rather than adhesive. Each plank floats over the subfloor without being bonded to it. Click LVT is typically thicker than glue-down LVT (4-6mm including a built-in underlay vs 2-2.5mm for glue-down) and is significantly faster to install. The format includes both flexible vinyl click and rigid-core SPC click variants.

What is glue down LVT flooring?

Glue down LVT (also called glue-down LVT or LVT glue down flooring) is a luxury vinyl product that is fully bonded to the subfloor with adhesive. Each plank or tile is laid wet-adhesive and pressed into place, creating a continuous sealed surface. Glue-down LVT is typically 2-2.5mm thick, giving the thinnest possible floor profile and is the standard specification for commercial installations and wet rooms because the bonded joints are fully waterproof.

Can you install click-fit LVT over an existing floor?

Yes in most cases. Click-fit SPC floats over the existing surface, so any existing hard floor that is flat, stable and well-bonded can serve as the subfloor for a new click-fit installation. This avoids the labour cost of lifting the old floor. Confirm with a fitter first if the existing floor has loose edges or uneven sections.

Which LVT brands offer both glue-down and click-fit formats?

Most premium brands offer both. Karndean Knight Tile and Knight Tile Rigid Core share the same designs across glue-down and click formats. Karndean Van Gogh and Van Gogh Rigid Core match similarly. Invictus Maximus has a Maximus Click equivalent. Amtico Click Smart is Amtico’s click format. This means you can run the same design across rooms using whichever format suits each space.

How much does glue-down vs click-fit LVT cost?

Product RRP is broadly similar between glue-down and click-fit at the same wear-layer specification — click-fit SPC carries a small premium for the rigid core. The bigger cost difference is installation: glue-down typically takes around twice as long as click-fit because of adhesive application, careful positioning and curing time and subfloor preparation is more demanding. Real fitted prices across every brand we stock are published in our LVT supply & fit pricing guide.

Last reviewed: May 2026.