What is floating flooring?
Floating floors are not a floor covering itself, but rather a method of installing planks, boards and sometimes tile flooring. Floor coverings like laminate, luxury vinyl or engineered wood flooring may be snapped together to create a one-piece uniform surface, rather like a jigsaw puzzle.
Can you lay a floating floor on top of a subfloor?
While you never want to lay one floating floor on top of another, you can use this installation method over flooring that is firmly attached to the subfloor like hardwood, linoleum, or tile. Want to change the look of your rooms down the line?
Does floor underlayment float?
Yes. Floating is relative to lateral floor movement, not vertical. The floor compresses on the underlayment. It doesn't defy gravity and float. An appropriate underlayment may minimize noise.
What are the best floors for floating floors?
Another popular option with homeowners that want floating floors is laminate. It’s one of the best styles for this type of installation, aside from a few exceptions. Some companies produced laminate that’s nailed down, while others require adhesive along that edge. Your floor still “floats” with the latter, but can’t be taken apart.
How do you prepare a floor for a floating floor?
0:444:27How To Lay Floating Floors Part 1: Preparing The Room - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou might have to use a waterproof compound. You can use an expensive meter or as we've done justMoreYou might have to use a waterproof compound. You can use an expensive meter or as we've done just cut a 600 millimeter square of plastic tape it to the concrete. And leave it for 24.
Do all floating floors need underlayment?
Underlayment is required for any installation of laminate flooring or engineered real wood flooring. Both types of flooring are installed by a “floated,” or "free-floating," method, meaning they are not actually attached to the sub-floor.
What holds a floating floor in place?
Floating floors have become popular in DIY circles due to their ease and speed of installation without specialized tools. Rather than being nailed down, it is held in place by its weight, friction between the floor and its underlying subcontrols, and/or its snapped-together joints.
What happens if you don't put underlayment under laminate flooring?
Without underlayment to add a layer between these damp subfloors and the surface flooring, your laminate can quickly become wet, warped, and mildewy, harming its overall integrity. Moisture over time can also break down floor adhesive which causes the floor to start warping.
Can mold grow under vinyl plank flooring?
Although vinyl plank flooring is well-known to be waterproof, it does not mean that liquids can seep through the cracks, grooves, or edges and become trapped under the planks, allowing mold to grow underneath your floors.
Can you install laminate directly on concrete?
Laminate flooring can be used immediately after installation. Laminate flooring can be installed over concrete, wood or carpet subfloor or other surfaces. Installation of good quality underlayment is highly recommended. Installing underlayment is easy but it has to be done precise to avoid any tears.
Why do floating floors fail?
The most common cause of peaking is no expansion in your floating floor between the walls/vertical surfaces, or the overzealous use of water. This “expansion gap” allows for the entire floor to expand/contract in situations of changeable weather conditions, for example when it is raining or when the weather is warm.
Is it normal for a floating floor to bounce?
Although they can be quite annoying, bouncy floating floors are quite normal. A normal amount of bounce is referred to as “deflection” by flooring professionals. While engineered hardwood floors feel solid immediately after installation, laminate floors may take a few months to fully settle.
Can you put heavy furniture on a floating floor?
If furniture must be moved within a room, do not drag it across the floor. Dragging heavy furniture across floating laminate flooring can seriously damage, or even rip apart, the laminate boards. If furniture that is too heavy to carry must be moved, load it onto a dolly and slowly push it across the floor.
What can I use instead of underlayment?
If your laminate flooring comes with attached foam underlayment, or if you bought standard foam underlayment, you can use a vapor block film to prevent moisture and protect your flooring investment.
Do you have to put a moisture barrier under laminate flooring?
No matter which underlayment you choose, if you are installing on a moisture prone subfloor or concrete subfloor, you really need a moisture barrier underlayment. Protect your laminate flooring from moisture for years to come by installing moisture barrier underlayment.
Do you put anything under laminate flooring?
Yes. Underlayment for laminate flooring provides proper support, stability, noise reduction and helps the click lock system to provide a structurally sound floor.
Is underlayment necessary for luxury vinyl plank flooring?
If you're wondering about luxury vinyl plank underlayment, that's one of the appeals — it usually doesn't need underlayment. In fact, as a softer flooring, adding an underlayment could mean too much cushion, resulting in dents and more wear and tear sooner. Opt for a dense underlayment if you go for one.
Is underlayment necessary?
Underlayment is not optional. If your laminate planks don't have it already attached, we recommend that you buy rolls of underlayment on which to install your laminate floor.
Can you lay laminate without underlay?
If you are installing the laminate flooring in an area that receives little attention such as a mudroom or laundry room, and you simply need to quickly install cheap flooring, laminate flooring can be installed without underlayment. The subfloor must be perfectly flat and featureless: no nails, screws, bumps, or dips.
Do you have to use underlayment for vinyl plank flooring?
And here is the truth; an underlayment is a great addition to any flooring project. But really, do you need underlayment for vinyl plank flooring? Short answer – yes, a vinyl plank floor may require an underlayment.
Do you need to install new cabinets before or after floating floors?
Ideally, you want to install new cabinets before putting down floating flooring. While that’s not always an option, constriction and retraction can...
Can I install floating flooring over carpet?
It’s entirely possible, but depends on the type of flooring and height of the carpet. Materials that are rigid like laminate are usually better opt...
Is underlayment still required for floating flooring?
That depends on the flooring you plan on installing in your home, and if it already has backing attached.
What is floating floor?
First and foremost, the term “floating floor” refers to an installation style rather than a specific product. In other words, almost any type of flooring material can be installed as a floating floor, with a few exceptions. Now, you might be inclined to think that floating floors literally float.
What is the hardest part about floating floors?
The hardest part about installing floating floors is making sure that each sheet or plank is properly connected to its counterpart. That’s basically it.
Why are floating floors loud?
A lot of factors go into the noise a floor produces: the type and thickness of its material, its underlayment, and so on. Because floating floors can be thinner than, say, solid hardwood floors, they can be noisy. Some buyers complain of a “hollow sound” not unlike the sound of banging on thin drywall.
What is the difference between floating and non-floating floors?
Floating Floors vs. Non-Floating Floors: What Are the Differences? 1 Nail-down floors are (gasp!) nailed to a subfloor or underlayment. And while that might give them some advantages, they are harder to install and remove. 2 Staple-down floors are put in similarly, but are usually reserved for lighter floors like vinyl or soft (er) hardwoods. 3 Glue-down floors use adhesives (sometimes containing harmful chemicals) to attach the floor to the subflooring.
Why are floating floors cheaper than non floating floors?
Floating floors are often cheaper to install than non-floating floors because they’re less time- and labor-intensive to put in.
What is floating floor maintenance?
Okay, it’s very important to understand that when we say “floating floor maintenance,” we’re referring to maintenance you would specifically perform on floating floors. In other words, you’ll still have to do whatever maintenance the material of your floor requires (i.e. vinyl needs a good scrubbing).
What is the disadvantage of floating floors?
What is a floating floor’s other greatest perceived disadvantage? That it may offer less resale value than a traditionally-installed floor. But there are a ton of technicalities here (and there’s no real evidence that it’s true), so take it with a grain of salt.
What is the best flooring for floating floors?
Engineered wood flooring is one of the best available wood flooring materials installed as floating floors. Layers of wood veneer glued to layers of plywood are very stable and look like solid flooring.
What is floating floorboard?
So, the floor is more or less “floating” over the substrate rather than being firmly attached to it. The floating floorboards make installation fast, simple, and efficient budget-wise. This method works for various floor materials, from plywood to concrete, sheet vinyl or even ceramic tiles.
What is a floating floor, and is it still used in 2021?
A floating floor is a flooring installation that does not require the use of nails. Instead of nailing down wood planks, you attach them by snapping them together like a puzzle. So, the floor is more or less “floating” over the substrate rather than being firmly attached to it.
What would be attached to the subfloor?
Historically, we would attach the floor to the subfloors. Ceramic and porcelain tiles would be mortared to the base, and hardwood floors would be nailed down to the subfloor.
Why does my floor feel hollow?
First of all, the floor is thinner. Second, it rests on the subfloor and a tiny bit of air; that’s why it might also feel a bit hollow under your feet. Some of your daily activities might have a damaging impact on it.
Is floating laminate flooring good?
A floating floor is a good option if you are on a tight budget or into DIY. Historically, floating laminate flooring was the first in line for this method, but it has quickly spread to several other materials.
Is floating floor a material?
Well, that is not entirely correct, as floating floors are not a specific kind of material for flooring but rather a method of installation.
What are the different types of flooring?
Most floors in residential homes consist of four layers. From the top-down, they are: 1 Floor covering: This is the finished, visible flooring surface, such as hardwood planks, carpeting, ceramic tile, or vinyl. This is the layer that you see and walk on. 2 Underlayment: Just under the visible floor covering is a layer of some kind of material, usually only about 1/4- or 1/2-inch thick. Its purpose is to provide a smooth, flat surface for the floor covering. It can be made of many different materials, chosen depending on the needs of the floor covering. Plywood, hardboard, and cement board are common choices, but sometimes the underlayment is simply a thin foam padding. 3 Subfloor: This layer of OSB or plywood is part of the home's construction and will already be in place when the underlayment and floor covering is installed. These panels of OSB or plywood are integral to the structure of the home and provide strength and rigidity to the floor system when attached to the floor joists. The OSB or plywood is normally 19/32- to 1 1/8-inch thick. 4 Joists: These lateral wooden framing members rest on foundation walls and beams and provide the structural support for the entire framing system. Joists are typically made from 2-by-10 or 2-by-12 lumber or engineered microlam members.
What is the best underlayment for a concrete slab?
They are an ideal underlayment if you are installing carpeting or laminate flooring on a concrete slab since they lift the flooring slightly off the concrete. Cement board: Cement board sheets such as Wonderboard, or fiber-cement-board sheets such as Durock, are used only for mortared flooring, such as stone and porcelain or ceramic tile.
What is a DRIcore underlayment?
Underlayment panels: Underlayment panels are interlocking and come in 2-by-2-foot tiles. DRIcore is one well-known brand of underlayment panels. Fairly expensive, they make the installation go much faster and are great as a moisture barrier. They are an ideal underlayment if you are installing carpeting or laminate flooring on a concrete slab since they lift the flooring slightly off the concrete.
How to avoid underlayment problems?
Keep your underlayment as thin as possible. Thicker underlayments will begin to pose problems since they can create offset issues between rooms with different flooring materials. Transitions can be problematic if the floor level is substantially higher in one room than in the adjacent room. And in rooms with low ceilings, thick underlayments may even pose a problem by shortening the height of the space.
Why is underlayment important?
Because underlayment is a catchall term, it can take different forms depending on the flooring material is supports. Unlike the subfloor, which is part of a home's framework and structure, the underlayment serves mostly to provide a flat smooth surface to allow for easy, attractive installation of the surface flooring.
What is the best plywood for underlayment?
It depends on your situation, but 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick AC grade plywood tends to be the best flooring underlayment for many dry applications (under the hardwood, laminate, and engineered wood). The A-graded side is smooth enough even for the thinnest vinyl flooring.
What is a spruce floor?
The Spruce / Kevin Norris. Although a home's floor is usually thought to be simply the surface layer of a visible floor covering, a floor is a system of layered components, each of which is essential to the function and durability of the floor. And one of the more crucial layers is one that is rarely seen—the underlayment ...
What is floating floor?
Learn more... A floating floor is simply a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the floor underneath it. Installing one might appear to be a frightening task, but with proper preparation and planning, any home improvement DIYer can do it.
When you're finished, do you vacuum the floor?
When you're all finished, vacuum the floor to remove any dust or debris.
How to connect tongue and groove?
Just fit the pull bar down into the seam between the end piece and the wall, and then tap on the upward-sticking tongue of the bar to connect the tongue and groove.
How to use a dead blow hammer to remove padding?
Place the flat edge of a kick tool or wood block against the end of the second piece and hit the kicker with a hammer. Continue this process on the floor along the wall. If you have one, a dead-blow hammer will remove the need for a kick tool or wood block to serve as padding.
Can you use concrete as a subfloor?
Yes, if the subfloor is strong enough. If the subfloor is plywood, such as on a first floor with a basement or a second floor, placing a heavy load will cause it to sag over time if not reinforced. Concrete as a subfloor is a better option if you plan to have something really heavy sitting on that floor.
Can you lay carpet over a carpet?
No. I highly suggest not laying over carpet. The floor will move too much and could pull apart at the joints.
Can vinyl planks get wet?
You can if you use vinyl planks, but not wood or laminate; they should not get wet.
What is floating floor?
Floating floors are not a floor covering itself, but rather a method of installing planks, boards and sometimes tile flooring. Floor coverings like laminate, luxury vinyl or engineered wood flooring may be snapped together to create a one-piece uniform surface, rather like a jigsaw puzzle.
Why are floating floors so popular?
Floating floors have become popular in DIY circles due to their ease and speed of installation without specialized tools. Rather than being nailed down, it is held in place by its weight, friction between the floor and its underlying subcontrols, and/or its snapped-together joints.
How Can I Fix My Floating Floor Problems?
Rather, you’d be better served to replace any damaged boards and solve excessive moisture problems with a moisture barrier.
Why does my floating floor have a high spot?
The third of our floating floor problems, peaking occurs when two laminate floor boards are forced together by pressure, which causes them to peak at the seam or joint , resulting in a high spot in the flooring. This is generally caused by a lack of expansion space between the flooring and the surrounding walls and moldings. To remedy the problem, remove the molding and cut away a small portion of the flooring to relieve the pressure. Replace the molding.
Can water be used to clean floating floors?
Surface water can also cause warping or buckling; water should never be used to clean a floating floor. This is one of the most common of floating floor problems. “I’m not sure how to explain it, but there is a certain bounce to the plank, or rather, a hollow under the plank that allows the floor to move up and down.
Can floating floors be chipped?
Since most floating floors are made from thinner materials, they tend to be less substantial flooring options and easily be chipped during installation when a tapping block and mallet are used. This can also result in dents and mars. Chips in floating floors can also be created by cleaning the floor with a beater-bar attachment on a vacuum cleaner.
What Is Laminate Underlayment?
Laminate underlayment is a soft pad that is installed under laminate flooring. The underlayment helps the laminate planks lay smoother, connect better, and for the flooring to feel slightly softer underfoot. Underlayment is either pre-attached to the bottom of the laminate flooring by the manufacturer or it is installed separately by the user.
How thick is laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring has neither thickness nor density since it is usually no more than 12mm thick and it is made of a type of low-density fiberboard. As a result, the underlayment will help boost laminate's sound-absorbing qualities, but only minimally so.
What is luan board?
Large sheets of thin, smooth 1/8-inch luan ply are sometimes installed above the subfloor and below the soft laminate underlayment. While luan boards are often called underlayment, they are not the same as the soft, flexible underlayment required for laminate installation and are used in addition to the soft underlayment.
How wide is a roll of underlayment?
When the underlayment is not attached, rolls must be purchased and installed separately. Underlayment is made of polyethylene foam, felt, or cork. The strips, usually 36 to 44 inches wide, are attached side-to-side with seaming tape or with attached adhesive strips. Rolls are from 30 to 100 feet long, with thicknesses ranging from 6 mm to 8mm.
Can laminate flooring be used to bridge gaps?
Solid hardwood or engineered wood can easily bridge small gaps, running directly over imperfections without the need for underlayment. Even ceramic and porcelain tile can bridge a few small holes and gaps, plus mortar works to fill them in. But laminate flooring will eventually telegraph (transmit or duplicate) subfloor imperfections. Underlayment helps to prevent laminate damage.
Is laminate flooring a wood or a wood?
Laminate flooring is thin and is constructed of a type of fiberboard rather than solid hardwood or even plywood, as with engineered wood flooring. Because laminate flooring can be difficult to install on surfaces that are even the least bit imperfect, underlayment is a recommended supplement.
Is underlayment needed for laminate flooring?
When the underlayment is attached to the flooring, nothing else needs to be done. The laminate flooring is ready for installation. Using a second layer of underlayment is useless and can even be detrimental.
How Do You Seal Laminate Flooring in a Bathroom?
Laminate flooring can be challenging to caulk. That’s one reason why homeowners prefer not to use laminate flooring in a bathroom. But you can seal laminate floors in any room if you use the correct supplies and process. So, here is what you need to know:
Should You Caulk Around Your Toilet?
Caulk also prevents your toilet from moving when the floor joists contract or expand from moisture. So, always caulk around your toilet regardless of which flooring material you choose.
Do You Have to Remove the Toilet to Install Flooring?
Whether you have to remove the toilet to install new floors depends on your bathroom. That’s because some bathrooms feature toilets on separate planes or surrounded by different flooring. For example, most of the space could use vinyl planking, while the area around the toilet uses tiles. So, observe your room. Now, compare that to how you want it to look.
Can You Put Waterproof Laminate Flooring in a Bathroom?
Traditional laminate can look great, but it doesn’t withstand moisture and waterproof laminate. The latter features a moisture-wicking core that prevents damage from water. That means the waterproof laminate is perfect for basements, kitchens, and bathrooms in most homes.
Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Go Under the Toilet?
Vinyl plank flooring is highly versatile, which means you can install it virtually anywhere. Put vinyl planks under the bathroom sink, beneath the toilet, or around your bathtub. Vinyl not only looks great, but it’s also durable and moisture resistant. Plus, you can quickly repair small patches without ripping out the entire floor.
Can a Toilet Install Over a Floating Floor?
You can install a toilet on top of most floors. But laminate flooring floats on top of the underlayment (or sub-floor). As a result, the space can contract and expand when temperatures and humidity change. And over time, those changes can make your toilet foundation unstable.
