Superb Flooring: Pros, Cons, and Buying Guide

Look up Superb Flooring online and you get three different companies — a regional retailer, an SPC importer, and a contractor brand all using the same generic name. Superb Flooring as sold to consumers today most commonly refers to a value-tier SPC and laminate line distributed through independent retailers and online discounters. The lineup has matured significantly in the past two years, but the brand still sits in the “you need to know what you are buying” tier, not the buy-with-confidence tier of Mohawk or Shaw.

Product Lineup Breakdown

Superb Flooring carries three main product families. The flagship is a rigid-core SPC plank in 5 mm and 6.5 mm thicknesses with wear layers ranging from 12 mil up to 22 mil. There is also an AC4-rated laminate line at 8 mm and 12 mm thicknesses, plus a small WPC offering aimed at projects that need extra underfoot warmth and acoustic dampening.

• SPC 5 mm with 12 mil wear layer: $1.79 to $2.29 per sq ft
• SPC 6.5 mm with 20 mil wear layer: $2.49 to $2.99 per sq ft
• SPC premium 22 mil with EIR texture: $2.89 to $3.49 per sq ft
• AC4 laminate 8 mm: $1.49 to $1.89 per sq ft
• AC4 laminate 12 mm with attached pad: $2.19 to $2.69 per sq ft

The 22 mil SPC with embossed-in-register grain is the standout in the catalog. It mimics the visual depth of products like COREtec Pro Plus at roughly 30 percent less per square foot.

What the Brand Does Well

Three things keep Superb Flooring on contractor short lists. The price point gets the conversation started — a 1,200 sq ft kitchen and living area can be floored in 20 mil SPC for under $3,500 in material, which leaves real budget for cabinets and counters. The click-lock profile is Unilin-licensed angle-tap, so installation is straightforward for any homeowner who has installed a click floor before. And the visual catalog has broadened — coastal oaks, smoked walnuts, French herringbone patterns, and warm tans all show up in the premium tier.

Plank dimensions on the SPC premium are 48 by 7 inches, which reads as authentic wide-plank when laid in a long room. The pre-attached IXPE underlayment is 1.5 mm and provides decent acoustic dampening — not COREtec Quiet Comfort levels, but a clear step up from no-pad budget SPC.

Where Caution Is Warranted

Three areas merit scrutiny before you order pallets. First, batch consistency. Like most importer-driven brands, Superb Flooring sourced from multiple Asian factories has shown shade and bevel-depth variation between production lots. Always order 15 percent extra from a single lot up front.

Second, warranty backing. The lifetime residential warranty looks impressive on paper, but claims are processed by the importer rather than a US-based factory rep. Document everything during install — photos of moisture readings, expansion gaps, and any visibly defective planks — and route warranty calls through the original retailer.

Third, certifications. Look for FloorScore certification on the specific Superb Flooring SKU, not the brand as a whole. Some product lines carry FloorScore, others do not. If you are putting flooring in a nursery, bedroom, or home with sensitive occupants, request the certification document before ordering.

How Superb Flooring Installs

The SPC product floats over almost any clean, flat subfloor. The two prep requirements are non-negotiable:

1. The subfloor must be flat to within 3/16 inch over a 10-foot span. Skim-coat low spots with a cement-based patching compound.
2. Concrete subfloors need moisture verification per ASTM F1869 (under 5 lbs per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours) or ASTM F2170 (under 85 percent RH).

Leave a 1/4 inch expansion gap at every wall, doorway, and vertical obstruction. Acclimate planks in the install room for 48 hours at the temperature and humidity they will live in. Cut with a utility knife (score and snap for clean cuts) or a fine-tooth jigsaw blade for curves. Average install pace for an experienced DIYer is 150 to 200 sq ft per day.

Superb Flooring vs. Major Brands

The fair comparisons are with other value-tier SPC lines, not with Mohawk SolidTech Plus or COREtec Pro Plus. At the 20 mil wear layer tier:

• Superb Flooring SPC 6.5 mm: $2.49 to $2.99 per sq ft, importer-backed warranty
• NuCore Performance (Floor & Decor): $2.99 to $3.49 per sq ft, retailer-backed warranty
• LifeProof Rigid Core (Home Depot): $2.99 to $3.79 per sq ft, retailer-backed
• Mohawk SolidTech Plus: $3.29 to $3.99 per sq ft, US factory warranty
• COREtec Pro Plus: $3.99 to $4.99 per sq ft, US factory warranty

Superb Flooring beats the value tier on raw price by 15 to 25 percent. Whether that savings is worth the weaker warranty support depends on your project — a rental flip, yes; your forever home, probably not.

Who Should Choose Superb Flooring

The brand earns a place in projects where price matters more than long-tail warranty service. Investors flipping homes, landlords doing turnovers between tenants, and DIYers refinishing basements on a budget all get genuine value from the 20 mil SPC tier. The visuals hold up, the install is forgiving, and the per-square-foot savings compound on larger jobs.

Skip Superb Flooring if you are putting in a high-end remodel where coordinated trim work, cabinet upgrades, and resale value justify spending more on a national brand. In those projects, the extra $1 per square foot for Mohawk or COREtec buys peace of mind that pays for itself the day you need warranty service.

Maintenance and Long-Term Performance

Once installed, Superb Flooring SPC requires the same care routine as any other rigid-core vinyl. Sweep or vacuum daily with the beater bar disengaged. Damp-mop weekly with a pH-neutral cleaner like Bona Pro Series — about $9 for a 32 oz spray bottle. Never use vinegar, ammonia, oil soap, or steam mops. Heat from steam softens the urethane wear layer above 140°F and can delaminate the protective topcoat from the print film.

For high-traffic areas, install a two-mat entry system (coarse outdoor mat plus interior absorbent mat) to capture incoming grit. Use felt pads under all chair legs and replace them every six months. With these basic precautions, the 20 mil premium tier should hold its appearance for 12 to 15 years in a typical family home. The 12 mil mid-tier reaches roughly 8 to 10 years before showing visible wear in traffic lanes. The 6 mil entry tier shows scratches within 3 to 5 years and is best avoided for anything beyond low-use guest rooms.