What is a Floating Floor?

Floating floors have become more popular in recent times because of convenience, and the ability to fit them without a fitter. But despite the name ‘floating floor,’ it is not a product in its own right.

So what is a floating floor? It is a method of installation, and all kinds of floors can be installed this way! Engineered wood (real wood), laminate flooring, and vinyl flooring, or luxury vinyl tiles. Now that many manufacturers produce their floors with a click lock system, in which the boards will click together like a jigsaw puzzle, the floor can simply be laid (floated) on top of the subfloor without any glue or having to be nailed down. Hence the term “floating floor.”

Because the process is greatly simplified and cuts the total time and materials of installing a floor, the installation costs for a floating floor go way down. On top of that, you can save even more money by fitting the floor yourself. This makes the floating method of installation a go-to option for enthusiastic DIYers. Due to not having to use glues or adhesives, this makes the floating installation the most environmentally friendly option to install a floor.

Another merit of the floating method of installation is that it allows the floor to move around, a benefit for real wood, and to a lesser extent laminate. During seasonal changes, humidity and temperature levels in the home will fluctuate due to windows being open, or the heating being turned on, etc. This will make your floors (especially real wood) expand & contract. When the floor is floated, this process is easier and the chance of the floor buckling is decreased significantly. 

If you are installing a floating floor, there are still precautions to take. The subfloor should be perfectly even to prevent voids under the floor, thus causing squeaking when walked over. Since they are not glued or nailed down, floating floors can be very prone to squeaking if the installation is poor, they may also feel more ‘hollow’ under foot due to the thin material.

Best Floating Floor Options

• Engineered wood flooring

• Laminate flooring

• LVT flooring

• SPC flooring

Engineered Wood Flooring (Real Wood)

Engineered wood makes for a good candidate for floating installation because many engineered boards are manufactured with a click lock system rather than traditional tongue and groove. Engineered hardwood floors are also less likely to move around to the extent that a solid wood floor would. This is because engineered wood floors are made up of a veneer (thin layer) of solid wood that sits on top of multiple layers of plywood. The Veneer is fixed to the layers of plywood at 90 degree angle for stability. Plywood is made from thin layers of wood bonded together with adhesive, made of Birch, Eucalyptus, or Poplar. The layers are cross layered in a way that prevents excessive movement of the board under different environmental conditions like fluctuating temperatures or moisture.

Laminate Flooring

This is the most cost effective floor in terms of material, and if you are choosing to install a floating laminate floor, then you will save a lot of money! Laminate still retains the durability of real wood, and is a lower maintenance product in general with less strict guidelines on how to clean it up if there is spillage. Laminate floors are not made of wood, but are a synthetic man-made product. They are made to emulate the appearance of wood by using ultra-high resolution digital images. To an untrained eye laminate and real wood would look identical.

LVT Flooring (Luxury Vinyl Tiles)

In terms of aesthetic, LVT, or Luxury Vinyl Tiles (vinyl flooring), is similar in principle to laminate, in that it is a synthetic man made product made to emulate wood or stone using incredibly detailed high-resolution images. 

The difference between LVT and laminate is that LVT is built to be fully waterproof, unlike laminate which is classed as ‘water resistant.’ This makes it suitable to go into your bathroom or kitchen, and you won’t have to worry about the floor being ruined if you have a leak!

SPC (Rigid Core Vinyl) Flooring

SPC, or rigid core vinyl flooring, is an excellent alternative to LVT. In this regard it performs the same functions as LVT in that it is fully waterproof and is a synthetic man-made product made to emulate wood or stone. The difference is mainly the materials used to make the flooring. SPC stands for Stone Plastic Composite, so as the name suggests, there is a mixture of stone and synthetic materials in the core, giving it more durability than traditional LVT floors due to the strength of the stone. The Aquacore and Next Step Richline ranges by Timba Floor are SPC Vinyl flooring.

Getting a floating floor ultimately comes down to preference. If you are a keen DIYer and looking for cost effective alternatives to traditional flooring solutions, then the floating method of installation will be perfect for you.