There are many different ways to approach choosing a hardwood floor. Some start with the visual, picking the type of species they are most attracted to, but another way of choosing your hardwood floors is to start at the bottom, with the subfloor and the installation technique. Today, we’re going to look at the floating floors.
Avoid nails and adhesives with tongue and groove floating floors
One of the primary benefits of floating floors is that they, well, float above your sub-floor. So whether you have cement, stone, wood, vinyl, plywood or other, your new floors will be installed above you subfloors. Floating floors are snapped together tongue and groove style or glued together, but always allowing for natural expansion and contraction of your wood floors.
The type of subfloor in your home – as long as it is in great shape – will not have an effect on your floating engineered floors.
However, this doesn’t mean that the quality of your subfloor is irrelevant. Quite the opposite. Because of the gap between your subfloor and your wood boards, any imperfections or unevenness of your subfloors can have a big effect on your new floors. The main problem caused by an uneven subfloor, regardless of the material, is that it will create movement in the space between your boards and the subfloor. This movement can result in a ripple effect across your floors. While you are walking on one side of the room, you may see furniture wiggle or wobble a little on the other side of the room. So, make sure your contractor takes the time to even out or fix your subfloor before installing the floating floor.
Fix your subfloors before installing floating floors
Movement is one thing, but your contractor should take steps to minimize the sound of floating floors. Because there is a gap between your floor and subfloor, sound travels easily, and if you aren’t careful, you could end up with floors that constantly give off an echo, or a hollow sound as you walk across a room. An underlay can counteract the noise, but floating floors will never have the solid “thunk” of a solid wood floor installation.
Our custom line of T&G White Oak flooring is perfect for a floating floor installation method.
Photo: Clyfford Still Museum in Denver
Floors by: T&G Flooring, Colorado
Custom white oak engineered flooring in Denver and Evergreen, CO
Last, a floating floor requires you to go with engineered flooring. Don’t let that fool you into thinking you are getting lesser products. By no means. Engineered flooring can be just as durable, beautiful, and classic as solid hardwood floors, and they come in many colors. The only thing you need to be aware of is that, unlike solid wood floors, engineered wood can only take a few sanding and refinishing turns in its lifetime, so you need to take good care of them.
Stop by our showroom and talk to an expert about our line of engineered flooring.
Free hardwood flooring design consultation in Colorado
We specialize in all types of installation methods, including floating installations. And, our custom line of T&G Prefinished White Oak Engineered flooring comes in a variety of widths and colors. You can work with our skilled craftsmen to customize the color you want.
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