What is Floating Floor

Are you in the initial stages of shopping for flooring and aren’t quite sure what a ‘floating floor’ is?

We get it! Here we unpack everything you need to know.

Floating flooring explained

Floating flooring doesn’t refer to a particular type of floor covering; its name is linked to how the flooring is designed and installed.

Floating floors work pretty much as their name says: they ‘float’ or sit above the subfloor. Rather than being attached to the subfloor, the boards or plank that form part of this flooring are made to link to each other with minimal (or no) nails or glue.

How do they work?

Floating floors work thanks to friction and gravity.

Kind of like a jigsaw puzzle, the edges of each plank or board can be neatly secured to each other (often they simply click together), helping them stay firmly in place.

When linking floor pieces interlock, it creates strength and a firm surface that can be walked on. Similarly, when joined in large numbers, the weight of the floor means it won’t shift.

Floating floor FAQs

• What about temperature changes? Floating floors include expansion gaps that allow for expansion and contraction as the weather shifts.

• Is an underlay required when installing floating floors? Absolutely because it creates friction that stops floorboards shifting.

• Are they suitable for all spaces? As long as the area has an even subfloor, floating floors can work in any residential or commercial environment.

What there is to love about floating floors

The major benefit of floating flooring is that it’s specially engineered to be simpler to install.

As that generally means it’s cheaper and faster to put in place – yet still offers great quality, longevity (even in high traffic areas), comfort and aesthetic appeal – it’s become a highly popular flooring choice for homeowners and property investors.

There are also many fabulous styles to choose from and floating floors come in a range of materials.

Are there any downsides?

When they were first introduced, floating floors may have struggled to match the quality of more traditional options, however advances in technology mean you can now shop with confidence.

Some floating floors can be less effective at absorbing sound but with a good underlay, this can be overcome, and the underlay also offers thermal benefits.

What floating floor options exist?

At Parrys, we offer a range of stylish hybrid and engineered timber floating floors.

Talk to our friendly Parrys Flooring Solutions Specialists about what’s right for your space.

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