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You may have heard about ‘floating floors’ as a popular way to floor your home. They’re an ideal option for DIY enthusiasts who don’t want to pay for an expensive professional service, but how can you install them yourself, and what materials are best suited to the technique?
Our guide will tell you everything you need to know about floating floors, their advantages and disadvantages, and how you can add one to your home.
In this guide:
What are floating floors?
Simply put, a floating floor is a floor that doesn’t need to be nailed or glued to your subfloor. While some traditional flooring methods attach your materials directly to the foundations of your room, floating floors simply rest above them on an underlay. The locking system of the boards keeps them in place, meaning you don’t get any uneven floors despite your materials being unsecured. Floating floors work with a variety of materials, such as certain types of LVT flooring, laminates, and engineered wood.
What are the benefits of a floating floor?
Compared to glued or nailed flooring, floating floor installation is easy, meaning even someone with minimal DIY knowledge can add one to their home. Floating floors can also give your room excellent sound and heat insulation due to the underlay being applied directly over your concrete subfloor, cushioning your footsteps as you walk.
With the right underlay, your floating floor can also be compatible with underfloor heating, as specially designed-options with low thermal resistance can help transfer heat to your rooms. Repairs and replacement are also cheaper for floating floor options than traditional methods, and with self-installation being such an easy option, you can typically save money on a floating floor by not paying for a professional service.
Disadvantages of floating floors
While they’re beneficial for a range of reasons, floating floors are susceptible to moisture damage and shouldn’t be installed in high-moisture environments such as bathrooms. When exposed to high levels of humidity for long periods, your floating floor may start to warp and buckle, leading to an uneven fit and chances of damaged boards.
Additionally, traditional floors are typically more durable and have a longer lifespan than floating floor options. Not only does their attachment to the subfloor ensure they’re held in place throughout their continued use, but traditional floors can be re-finished over time, while floating floors typically can’t.
How to install a floating floor
Floating floor installation is easy with the right materials, tools, and DIY knowhow. Before you start installing your floor, make sure you have the following:
- Flooring materials
- Underlay
- Utility knife
- Circular saw/jigsaw
- Spacers
- Duct tape
- Moulding
Got everything you need? Then here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Measure up – Measure your space to ensure you have the right amount of flooring and underlay. Remove any dirt or debris to ensure your subfloor is even and clean.
- Put down your underlay – Roll out your underlay so that your whole subfloor is covered by a single layer, cutting sheets with a utility knife and tacking them down. Once your whole subfloor is covered, use duct tape to seal the seams between your underlay.
- Add your spacers – Add a 5/16 inch spacer against the wall furthest from your door. This will allow for enough space to let your floating floor expand and contract depending on temperature changes.
- Start fitting pieces together – Snap two of your flooring pieces together using their interlocking tongue-and-groove. Your floating floor material should have one of these systems, whether you’re laying LVT click flooring, engineered wood, or laminate floors. Place these boards on your underlay and continue the process across your room until it’s fully floored.
- Cut the edges to size – When adding the last board in your row, ensure it’s cut to an appropriate size with a circular saw or jigsaw.
- Lay down your flooring – Continue this process for the remaining rows until your room is fully floored. Be sure to stagger the spacing of your joints between rows for extra durability, and follow a uniform pattern for the best look.
- Finishing touches – Remove your spacers and install moulding across the perimeter of your wall.
What materials work best for a floating floor?
Some materials aren’t appropriate for floating since they need to be attached directly to your subfloor. There are a variety of different types of floating floors, but the best fitting materials tend to be laminates, engineered wood, and rigid click LVT – which sometimes comes with an underlay built in.
Choosing the right material for your floating floor depends on a variety of factors. For example, the cost of LVT is typically greater than laminate, but it’s more resistant to scratches and scuffs. Research your options and consider your priorities when choosing a material for a floating floor.
What materials don’t work for a floating floor
Some of the flooring types that are incompatible with floating floor installation are solid wood, parquet, and non-rigid click LVT. If you’re looking to install any of these materials, you’ll be better off hiring a professional flooring service rather than opting for the DIY installation that floating floors are typically best for.
Floating floors are a great choice for anyone looking to install a low-maintenance floor without hiring an expensive installation service. They can provide a cost-effective and versatile flooring option with many of the same benefits of traditional floors, but care must be taken to only apply them in suitable areas of your home. Your floating floors may not last as long as other options, so be careful to take good care of your floors to avoid expensive repairs.
If you’re looking to add floating floors to your home, make sure you check Flooring King’s collection of materials for the best offers available. Whether you’re fitting your room with laminate floors or engineered wood, our online range of flooring can help you find the best option for your home at an ideal cost. Get in touch today to see how our experts can help give your home the best floors possible.
