Flooring accessories (parquet, laminate & vinyl)

What are they and what are they made of?

Flooring accessories (also called accessories for floating floors) are the parts that finish, protect and optimise the installation of solid/engineered wood (parquet), laminate flooring and vinyl flooring (LVT/SPC). They include skirting boards, transition/expansion/finishing profiles, stair nosing and underlay.
They are manufactured in PVC, WPC (wood-plastic composite), MDF/DM, aluminium or natural wood, with finishes such as melamine, PVC foil, lacquer (white, black, RAL), anodised metal or real-wood veneer/repachado. Underlays are commonly PE/XPS, EVA/IXPE, cork and vapour-barrier films.

Skirting boards (for parquet, laminate & vinyl)

Function

They cover the perimeter expansion gap, protect the wall–floor junction and deliver a professional finish.
Keywords: skirting boards for laminate flooring, skirting boards for parquet, skirting boards for vinyl, white skirting boards, PVC skirting, aluminium skirting.

Materials & constructions

• MDF/DM: stable, easy to lacquer/foil (ideal with laminate).

• PVC: 100% water-resistant (kitchens/bathrooms; vinyl/SPC).

• WPC: wood–polymer core with high stability.

• Natural wood / real-wood veneer: premium visual continuity with parquet.

• Aluminium: minimalist, very durable (high-traffic).

Finishes & colours

Melamine matched to the décor, PVC foil, lacquered white/black/RAL, anodised/lacquered aluminium, real-wood veneer (varnished/oiled).

Recommended sizes

• Heights: 60–70 mm (standard), 80–90 mm (on-trend), 120–150 mm (high ceilings/classic look).

• Thickness: 10–16 mm (12–14 mm very common).
  Keywords: white skirting boards, black skirting boards, aluminium skirting, PVC skirting, wooden skirting.

What to choose by floor type

• Parquet (engineered/solid wood) → wood/veneered skirting, 90–120 mm.

• Laminate → MDF melamine-wrapped or lacquered white, 70–90 mm.

• Vinyl/SPC → PVC or WPC, 60–80 mm (maximum water resistance).

Profiles for doorways and joints (transition, expansion & finishing)

Types & uses

• Transition / reducer bars: compensate height differences between surfaces (e.g., laminate → tile).

• Expansion joint (T-bar): links two runs of the same floor allowing for movement.

• End cap / finishing trim: closes exposed edges (door thresholds, patio doors).

Core & finishes

• Aluminium: maximum stability and durability (anodised silver/black/gold or lacquered).

• PVC base + aluminium top (clip system): fast installation and easy replacement.

• MDF/DM to match: visual continuity (melamine/foiled/veneered).

Indicative sizes & fixing

• Visible width: 30–48 mm (up to 60 mm for reducers).

• Compensation: T-bar ≈ 2–4 mm | reducers ≈ 7–15 mm.

• Fixing: MS polymer adhesive, hidden screws or clip base.

Choice by category

• Parquet → wood or aluminium with veneer cap; expansion breaks every 8–10 m.

• Laminate → aluminium with clip base at doorways and room transitions.

• Vinyl/SPC → slim threshold bars for 1–6 mm floor thickness.

Stair nosing (for stairs)

What is it for?

Stair nosing protects the front edge of the step, covers the expansion gap and improves safety with anti-slip surfaces.
Keywords: stair nosing, stair edge trim, anti-slip stair profile.

Types

• Overlay (surface-mounted): quick and universal.

• Recessed/integrated: accepts the floor plank for a built-in look.

• Square or round nose, with or without anti-slip strip.

Materials & selection

• Parquet → wood nosing (solid/veneered).

• Laminate → aluminium nosing with 8–12 mm channel or matched MDF.

• Vinyl/SPC → dedicated profiles for 4–6 mm.

Underlay for floors (laminate, vinyl & parquet)

What it provides

• Acoustic insulation (impact/footfall noise reduction).

• Thermal comfort (appropriate thermal resistance).

• Vapour barrier against subfloor moisture.

• Click-system stability (compression/puncture resistance).

• Light smoothing of micro-irregularities.

Most common types

• PE / XPS: great comfort-to-price ratio (laminate underlay).

• EVA / IXPE: high-performance acoustic underlay (ideal for flats/upper floors).

• Cork: natural, stable (renovations/parquet).

• LVT/SPC-specific: high density, low thickness (1–1.5 mm).

• With integrated film: built-in vapour barrier (on mineral subfloors).

Recommendations by installation

• Standard laminate → PE/XPS 2–3 mm with vapour barrier.

• Laminate with acoustic priority → EVA/IXPE (higher density/ΔLw).

• Vinyl LVT/SPC (4–6 mm) → high-density 1–1.5 mm (avoid softening the click).

• UFH (underfloor heating) → underlays with low thermal resistance approved by the floor manufacturer.

FOAM7 underlays: ranges & key features (2025)

Economy range

• Basic White 2.0 (PE 2 mm): 5 dB, 20 kg/m³, 0.04 mm vapour film. Use: domestic laminate with no strong acoustic demands.

• Basic White 3.0 (PE 3 mm): 8–10 dB, 18 kg/m³, 0.025–0.04 mm film. Use: laminate with extra comfort.

Home range

• Premium PE 3.0 (PE 3 mm): 12 dB, 30 kg/m³, 0.025 mm film. Balanced mid-range laminate underlay.

• Moisture ALU 3.0 (PE 3 mm + metallised film): 10 dB, suitable for UFH and wet areas; excellent value.

Acoustic (high-performance) range

• Elite Sound ALU 2.0 (EVA 2 mm + Alu film 0.04 mm): 20 dB, 110 kg/m³, UFH-compatible; helps with minor irregularities.

• Elite Sound PRO 3.0 (EVA 3 mm): 23 dB, 110 kg/m³; very stable—great for demanding homes and light commercial.

• Mega Acústica Ultra Density 3.0 (EVA 3 mm): 26 dB, 700 kg/m³; premium choice for heavy traffic & maximum quiet.

Speciality range

• Thermo Foam 2.0 (2 mm): R ≈ 0.038–0.04 m²·K/W, 0.04 mm film; designed for underfloor heating.

• Acoustic Vinyl 1.2 (1.2 mm): ~1,400–1,500 kg/m³ and 17 dB; made for vinyl LVT/SPC.

• Level 4.0 (4 mm): underlay for minor unevenness; 25 kg/m³, 0.04 mm film.

Pro tip: always check the floor manufacturer’s datasheet and UFH compatibility before selecting underlay material and thickness.

FAQs

What skirting height sells the most?
Between 70 and 90 mm, a great balance of looks and protection.

Expansion joint or transition bar?
Same floor either side → T-bar (expansion); change of material/height → reducer/transition bar.

Which underlay for underfloor heating?
Models with low thermal resistance (e.g., Thermo Foam 2.0).

Stair nosing in wood or aluminium?
For parquet, wood keeps visual continuity; for laminate/vinyl, aluminium offers durability and easy fitting.

Need help choosing flooring accessories?

Our agents will advise you on accessories such as skirting boards, profiles, risers, and FOAM7 insulating bases for parquet, laminate, and vinyl flooring. Request your free personalized quote. We ship throughout England.

Call us at +34 605 017 555 or write to us at info@parquets.com