Things to Consider Before Choosing Floating Floors

When choosing new flooring for your home there are multiple
aspects to consider. Every room has different needs, so this needs to be
taken into account, as well as the aesthetic value.

When
selecting a flooring option think carefully about the
following:

• Budget
• Comfort
• Sustainability
• Style
• What the room is used for

Floating Floors

Floating
floors may sound unusual however they are actually a common installation
method. A floating floor is not a specific material used for flooring; rather
they are a modern way of mounting wooden and even tile flooring. This process
involves the wooden planks being attached by glue or by snapping them
together like a giant jigsaw puzzle – as opposed to nailing them down to the
substrates (the floor below) as in the past.

How Do They
Work?

It may seem that this type of flooring may not be as
stable as its older counterpart; however floating floors are made to stay
perfectly in place thanks to many factors. Firstly the boards are engineered
to be stable thanks to their shape; seamlessly joined together sometimes with
the assistance of glue. Secondly, an underlay is placed down beforehand that
controls the friction and movement. Next the shape of the room helps to keep
them affixed, as they go wall to wall filling the entire space. Finally although
they can feel light, when all in place the overall weight of the planks keeps
them firmly locked down.

Things to
Consider

If you are thinking about installing floating
floors, you will need to weigh up the following benefits and
drawbacks:

Advantages

1. Price: Floating
   floors are a much cheaper than installing solid wooden flooring.
2. Time: They can be quickly
   and easily
   fitted.
3. Flexibility: They
   can be used in rooms where installing hardwood flooring may be difficult; for
   example if the substrate is not fully level. They can also be installed
   directly onto concrete floors – making them perfect for basements.
4. Changing Conditions: By
   using this process of installation, the floor is able to expand and move with
   the changes in humidity and temperature.
5. Width: Because it is
   thinner, it can match existing floor levels
   easily.
6. DIY: As this
   installation method requires very few specialist tools, you may be able to
   fit it
   yourself.

Disadvantages

1. Strength:
   Although this method does create strong flooring, it is not as solid as more
   traditional installations as the material is not as
   thick.

1. Value:
   If you choose to sell your home, floating floors do not have as high a resell
   as their hardwood counterpart.

1. Expansion/Contraction:
   If the room’s conditions change a great deal frequently, the floor can
   eventually become
   damaged.

1. Refurbishment:
   This type of flooring is unfortunately not able to be sanded and then
   refinished.