Engineered Floating Floor Installation

Installing one might appear to be a frightening task but with proper preparation and planning any home improvement diyer can do it.

Engineered floating floor installation.

Floating engineered wood flooring problems mainly come from moisture and not taking the proper steps to ensure the wood is protected from underneath the main drawback of using a floating floor installation for the engineered wood is the initial extra step to secure the boards. A concern with engineered flooring however is that the colors may be quite uniform within an entire box but have distinct tonal differences from one box to the next. Click lock vinyl plank flooring also creates a floating floor but instead of having an adhesive connect the planks like gripstrip does the planks interlock with tongue and groove joints that easily snap together for a. Floating floors are an easy mess free way to install new flooring without necessarily having to remove the existing flooring.

Floating is the most common installation method for engineered wood although gluing is also an option. Engineered flooring goes down over a thin foam sheet which provides cushioning and sound dampening. See my flooring install playlist. A floating floor is simply a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the floor underneath it.

You need to leave a 5 16 inch gap between the flooring and the baseboard or wall around the perimeter of the room to allow the floor enough space to expand. The planks glue together to create a floor that floats moves freely as a unit. If you were to install the floor by using all the planks from one box before opening the next you run the risk of installing the floor with large mismatched patches of flooring. This installation method is preferred when the subfloor is cement tile or a floor with radiant heat.

Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. Floating involves attaching or clicking the panels which blocks out moisture. If you ve decided to install engineered hardwoods there are four possible installation methods depending on the subfloor. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade.

Made from layers of real wood compressed together engineered hardwood floors are better able to handle changes in moisture and humidity than solid hardwood.