Floating Floor – I’ve heard a lot about it, but what is it Exactly?
Are you in the middle of a renovation? About to start and trying to determine if a floating floor is suitable? Not sure which type of flooring to choose, what is going to best suit your project or what is going to be the most functional?
Well I can almost guarantee that you have heard of floating floors, but what really is it?, and can you install it yourself?
Floating Floor – A Flooring product that is manufactured from Engineered Timber, Luxury Vinyl, Laminates and Hybrid Materials in a ‘click together’ plank design that is DIY easily installed over the top of existing floors creating a new floor finish which is “FLOATING”
What is a Floating Floor?
A floating floor is exactly that, a flooring product that floats over the existing flooring or subfloor.
The term “Floating Floor” does not refer to the type of material that the product is made from. Instead it refers to the method of installation that the product requires.
All floating floor products are designed in the same way. Although each manufacturer will have their own individual design, but essentially they all work on the same principle.
The flooring will come in pre manufactured and finished planks. These planks will vary in size, but are designed to interlock and click together edge to edge to form a complete floor finish.
Floating Floors or Laminate Floors are not glued or nailed down. They are floating, allowing them to expand and contract with the difference in temperatures.
Due to being DIY friendly, floating floors are very popular with the home renovator as a flooring choice.
It is relatively easy and quick to install. It still requires a good level subfloor (your existing flooring or substrate) to achieve a good end result.
If you are considering a timber look laminate flooring product that is easy and quick to install, one that eliminates the need to pull up and remove existing tiling. Then I don’t think you can go past the range of floating floors that are now available.
Benefits of Floating Floors
Floating floors are the most affordable flooring option compared to tiling and Solid timber flooring. Simply because they are the easiest and quickest to install.
If you are a little DIY handy, then you could easily tackle this project yourself over a weekend. Traditional solid timber flooring can be very expensive and requires expert installation.
They have higher maintenance requiring to be sanded and recoated after several years. Where as the floating floor timbers are pre finished and do not require any further maintenance after installation other than regular cleaning.
Another benefit that floating floors have over traditional glued down flooring is. If a floating floor plank is damaged, you can easily remove and replace that one plank without the need of lifting up the majority of the floor.
Types of Floating Floors
Engineered Timber Floating Floors
An Engineered wood flooring is the most expensive in the range of floating floors. However it also has the best quality and look.
Engineered wood flooring is made up of multiple layers composed of a timber veneer. A layer of a solid timber species surface layer sitting on a cheaper substrate of ply, pine or rubber wood.
The top layer of timber is generally thin (1mm – 4mm), making it easier to age and condition the wood. This drastically reduces the expansion and contraction.
Being an engineered product, it has a very good resilience to expansion and contraction. Meaning it is very stable as compared to a solid timber flooring material..
With an engineered wood floor the key features is that you can have the wood delivered, laid and be walking on all in the same day.
Having a top layer of real timber of approx 4mm allows you if needed at a later date after installation, to have the floor sanded and recoated while still in place, if it was required.
Laminate Floating Floors
Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic, or man made, flooring product fused together with a lamination process. A laminate floor simulates wood with a photographic image.
A photo or a real timber texture and color is laminated or fused to the surface of the floor plank. This gives the perception of real timber as a laminate floor.
Laminate flooring is not actually real timber but it is a cheap version of the real thing. This makes it very popular as a flooring choice that fits in with most renovating budgets.
This flooring is resistant to the scratches and indentations which makes it a good option for a growing family with children. It is easy to be installed by any handyman and does not require professional installers..
Hybrid Flooring
Hybrid Floating Flooring is as the name suggests, a Hybrid of several layers to make a finished floor plank which is durable and waterproof. This makes it especially great for areas prone to moisture like Kitchens.
It is generally made up of four layers. The commercial grade wear layer on hybrid vinyl flooring is the same protective finish as onl laminate flooring.
This wear layer combines the same dent, stain, UV and scratch resistance that makes laminate such a popular choice.
The design layer which gives the timber look at pattern has the same realistic textures and styles available as a laminate.
The waterproof core construction gives the hybrid floating floor an added stability and dimension. Also making the flooring waterproof just like a luxury vinyl flooring.
Most hybrid floors will come with some form of backing. Either cork or rubber backed substrate to provide sound absorption and added cushioning.
Hybrid floating flooring is a great choice as a very low maintenance floor as compared to the engineered hardwood flooring. While still achieving a mostly realistic finish. Hybrid flooring will better suit an area prone to water spills such as your kitchen.
Installation of Floating Floor
Floating Floor Installation can easily be completed by the home handyman. All three of the most common floating floor materials as outlined above share a nearly identical installation method.
What materials you will need to install your floating floors yourself.
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- A sharp Utility Knife (spare blades)
- Jointing Tape – to tape underlay joints
- Tape Measure
- A square
- Jigsaw
- Either a circular saw or drop saw.
- Safety Glasses
- A rubber Mallet
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I would say that all quality floating flooring manufacturers will provide a detailed installation guide on floating floor installation with your flooring product. As a guide for you now, this is the basic application for all floating floor installs.
Step One
Firstly you need to prepare the subfloor, taking particular attention to make the surface as flat and smooth as possible. Remove any existing fixtures such as existing vinyl flooring if unsatisfactory, carpet, smooth edging etc. Ensure the surface is clean and free from grit.
Step Two
Most floating floors will be provided with an underlayment material. This is primarily made from foam but can vary from each manufacturer.
This underlayment is rolled out to cover the entire floor and taped at every seam joint. This underlay helps to absorb any flexing in the surface flooring and makes it softer and quieter underfoot.
Step Three
Next, the flooring planks are assembled. Start the planks at the wall that will have the most focus on it to keep any cuts along the wall that is less noticeable.
Start along the wall installing the planks end to end until you have one row. Most floor packs will come with three different plank sizes. This is so that you can stagger the joints as you lay down each row, starting with a different size plank on each row.
Step Four
It is important to ensure that you leave at least a 10mm gap from your floor plank to along all walls and any wall frames that you need to cut around.
This is to allow the floor itself to be able to contract and expand as a whole without it puckering up. If you were to lay the flooring tight against walls and the flooring wanted to grow due to heat, it would have nowhere to go other than up. This creates a huge belly in the center of the room.
A small beading will be installed along all of the edges to cover the gap once you have finished the laying process.
Final step is to give the area a good clean. Sit back and admire the great job that you have achieved. It is amazing how much changing your floor coverings can alter the look and feel of a room or space.
Maintenance and Repair
How you clean and maintain your floating floor will be determined by the type of material and flooring that you have chosen.
For example, cleaning for laminate flooring, luxury vinyl and Hybrid floors is generally just a matter of damp-mopping as you would for a tiled floor.
The engineered timber flooring however needs to be treated differently. You must avoid getting it too wet. I use a really good quality spin mop with boiling hot water and 5% methylated spirits mix. Spin the mop and get it as dry as you can possibly get it.
Where to use Floating Floors
Floating floors can be used almost anywhere you have a suitable subfloor, such as Bedrooms, Bedroom Offices, Living Areas and Kitchens.
Where to Buy Floating Floors
There are many floating floor manufacturers and retailers. As a start I would recommend looking at these Suppliers.
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