Every room needs flooring, which can be chosen from a variety of options depending on the type, color, structure, width, and other factors. Flooring is also a crucial architectural detail. Once you’ve decided on a floor, you then have to deal with the additional hassle and cost of having it installed, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process, depending on the flooring you’re installing.
When installing a floor, individual boards are locked together without being nailed or glued down. This is known as a floating floor.
A revolutionary type of flooring has emerged in recent years and it is getting better and better – multilayer flooring, as it is referred to in the industry. With it comes a new method of producing flooring, which modifies how we currently install flooring by using a floating floor method as opposed to the conventional nail and glue installation methods. Today, we’ll answer two questions: what are floating floors and why does everyone want one.
What Are Floating Floors?
As the name suggests, floating floors are surfaces that can be installed to literally float above the subfloor or substrate (or, in some cases, old flooring and old subflooring if it cannot be removed). This is a very innovative concept for the flooring industry because, prior to the invention of floating flooring, floors were installed using one of two methods (or occasionally a combination of them). One involves nailing the flooring to the subfloor, and the other involves gluing it. These two things take time and money.
Why Does Everyone Want a Floating Floor Today?
Floating flooring is popular with homeowners and trade professionals, but they both love it for some of the same reasons:
- No subfloor required reducing installation time and subfloor costs
- Can be installed at, above, or below grade – not possible with traditional solid flooring
- Very Affordable
- Easy to install, great for do-it-yourselfers
- Costs less to install than glue or nail down flooring like tile and solid hardwood flooring
- You can pick up and take the flooring with you if you ever move
- Features like built-in sound dampening technology, Microban anti-mold and mildew treatment
- Options and compliance with environmental initiatives like CARB2, LEED, FSC
- Residential and commercial warranties
- High-quality finishes that are resilient and easy to care for
Remember that some of the features mentioned above might only be available from certain brands, so do your research to ensure that the floor you select offers the same level of quality, value, and details.
The amazing selection is one more reason floating flooring is so well-liked, in addition to the advantages mentioned above. Floating flooring used to only come in a few different styles, but thanks to modern manufacturing and design techniques, you can now find them in a wide variety of looks and hues. Wide plank laminate flooring, cork flooring, engineered wood flooring, wide plank leather flooring, and luxury vinyl plank flooring are all options.
One more incredible advantage of Torlys Smart Floors is the capability of replacing individual boards if damage ever develops; this is practically unachievable with any other floor.
Is a Floating Floor a Good Option?
A floating floor is a good option if you are on a tight budget or into DIY. However, it has quickly spread to a number of other materials. Historically, floating laminate flooring was the first in line for this technique. (Read More: 10 Best Mop For Laminate Floors – Best Ways to Clean)
Essentially, a floating floor is made of individual planks that fit together like puzzle pieces. They are therefore perfect for laying over existing floors. For instance, if you have a worn-out hardwood floor that requires extensive repairs, you can temporarily conceal it with a floating wood floor while you wait to fix it.
What is more, floating timber floors are non-invasive; they do not damage the subfloors. They are reused because of their click-lock design. They are more effective and simpler to install because they are ideal for floor heating systems.
The Main Advantages of a Floating Floor Installation
It is Less Expensive Than the Traditional Methods
Floating engineered hardwood or any other type of “floating” material is usually less costly to install. Many people turned to DIY projects around the house in the past 18 months while being quarantined in their homes due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
If you want to do the remodeling yourself, floating floors can be a great idea. They typically don’t need nails or adhesive, and they can usually be quickly laid down.
DIY-friendly
Yes, exactly; you can practice your newly acquired DIY skills in a room or the basement first before expanding to the entire house.
With this installation technique, the floor can expand and move in response to changes in the humidity and temperature of the air in the room. More than that, in the basement, you can install it over the concrete subfloor
Variety and Versatility
From floating tile floors to floating hardwood floors, it is offered in a variety of materials and types.
The Installation Process is Eco-friendly
It uses less wood, fewer materials, no adhesive, no nails—just you, with a bunch of click-lock or tongue-and-groove planks of wood or tiles. You can get assistance from a handyman if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Floating Floor Disadvantages
You Might Need to Replace Them More Frequently
The floor is thinner to begin with. It may also feel a little hollow under your feet due to its second foundation, which is the subfloor and a tiny bit of air. Some of your daily activities might have a damaging impact on it.
Rolling your office chair across the floating floor, for instance, might cause signs of wear to appear more quickly than you would anticipate since you all work from home during these times.
The kind of daily traffic that passes over your floors will, of course, have an overall impact. This might not be a problem if it’s just the two of you working from home. The floating floors might not hold up for very long, though, if there are children, guests, or pets running, thumping, and walking around.
They May Lower the Real Estate Value of Your Property
Yes, they are simple to DIY and simple to install and remove. However, they are not very popular on the real estate market and are still deemed cheap when added to the value of a house. Therefore, it might be a good idea to avoid this type of floor if you intend to sell your house soon.
By far, the resale value of floating floors is lower than that of other conventionally nailed-down floors.
You Cannot Refurbish Them
Unlike solid floors, floating floors cannot be refinished or sanded. Extreme and regular changes in humidity and temperature can make the flooring expand and contract, which can eventually lead to damage over time.
Most Common Floating Floor Types
Floating floors can be used with a variety of materials, as we mentioned earlier. However, there are three main types of flooring that are popular for this method.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate floating floors were most likely the first kind of floating floors. It can contract and expand without buckling as a response to the humidity in a room. Typically, a click-lock or fold-and-lock system is used to join the planks together along their edges.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF)
Without using glue, you can simply snap the boards together. Some, however, might need a specific kind of adhesive to attach to the subfloor. The small tongues and grooves on each edge of the vinyl planks, which are typically semi-flexible, help them lock together.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is traditionally installed by nailing it down to a plywood subfloor. However, if you want to save money and make things simpler, you can choose floating engineered hardwood.
Frequently Asked Questions About Floating Floors
Now that the majority of the fundamentals of installing a floating floor have been covered, let’s address some of your questions regarding the viability and longevity of floating floors. You saw what the disadvantages are, as well as the advantages. Let’s delve a little further, though.
What is the Purpose of a Floating Floor?
“Floating flooring” refers to the construction of flooring material that’s essentially locked together using a system similar to puzzle pieces. Without any actual attachment to the subfloor, the tight fit between the floorboards makes your floor stable.
What Are the Problems With Floating Floors?
Floating flooring is not as durable a solution as glue-down flooring; – Noisier inside the house: the way it is installed means that there is space between each layer, and because of this this this type of floor can cause more noise when you walk around inside the house.
How Does a Floating Floor Stay in Place?
The term “floating floor” refers to a method of installing flooring in which glue, nails, or staples are not used to attach the flooring to the subfloor. It actually lays on top of the subfloor and each panel or plank is secured to each other by a locking system or adhesive and simply “floats” on top of the subfloor.
Check the following mop reviews before buying!
The Mr. Clean Spin Mop heads work best for dust mopping and absorb too much water for wet mopping. But wringing out the mop is extremely difficult.
When it comes to surface exposure, the Libman Tornado Twist Mop is a far better option than sponge mops. Even with vigorous scrubbing, you can clean with it effectively.
Mighty Thirsty Mop is a quick-absorbing mop made of polymer. Its thin mop head can fit underneath furniture and into other small spaces around the house.
If you have the Floor Police Motorized mop, you can quickly and easily spin away that dirt! The spin mop that does all the work for you is a cordless, lightweight product.
The cleaning efficacy and usability of the Bona Spray Mop are its greatest benefits. Use it to maintain the floors in between more thorough moppings.
With the Bissell PowerFresh steam mop, you can mop more effectively while saving money and combining convenience and power.
O Cedar Mop is incredibly shaky and spills way too easily. If you have to pick up the clean water tank, it will stop spinning and be inoperable.
The H20 X5 Mop won our comparison as the most adaptable mop. This mop effectively removed stains from the floor that had been there for several hours.
The Norwex Mop is available in two sizes (large and small) and three different mop pads. The system is easy to use if you follow the directions.
The Shark Steam Mop is a cheap steam mop that does a good job of sweeping and disinfecting floors. This Shark steam mop is a lightweight, simple-to-use steam cleaner.
