Milestone Flooring Melbourne

Floating Floorboards

top 3 reasons for installing Floating Floorboards in your home

In a nutshell, Floating Floorboards are considered a type of hard flooring that features an easy-to-install, long-lasting installation system. As a result of its design, Floating Floorboards can be erected without the use of nails or glue and are held in place by gravity and friction.

Kinds of floating floorboards

Floating Floorboards come in a wide variety of shapes and materials, making them quite versatile. Floating Floorboards come in three varieties. 

Engineered wood

Using layers of sustainable plantation-grown hardwood and finished with beautiful real hardwood veneers, engineered timber is the best option for solid hardwood in terms of quality and design flexibility.

Laminate

For a busy household, laminate floors are an excellent choice.

Vinyl

Vinyl floors are slightly softer than other options, are more comfortable, silent underfoot, and completely water-resistant.

Floating vs. Non-floating flooring

floating floorboards
Living Room covered with Floating Floorboards

Installing a floating floor is one of the most evident advantages over a non-floating floor. As a result, Floating Floorboards are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly because they can be put together like a puzzle, avoiding unpleasant and messy adhesives and minimizing the time required for installation.

The ability of a floating floor to adapt to changes in humidity is another important advantage over a non-floating floor. The surface of Floating Floorboards can theoretically be moved if not for the constraint of walls after installation. This is a good thing since it allows the flooring to expand and contract with changes in the humidity levels in the room.

On the other hand, Floating Floorboards are more susceptible to wear and tear than their fixed counterparts. Because Floating Floorboards are made of materials that cannot be sanded, they often have a shorter life expectancy. When it comes to commercial locations with a lot of foot activity, nail-down or glue-down installations are likely to be more useful in the long run than other options.

Additionally, Floating Floorboards might be noisier and hollow-sounding than standard nail down or glue down procedures. Poor-quality flooring materials or shoddy installation with no underlayment are the most common causes of this problem. However, installing a 14-inch-thick cork underlayment beneath any manufacturer-required vapor barrier might help dampen any undesirable noises. If you would like to install this flooring, feel free to contact us

Pros and Cons of floating floorboards

floating floorboards
Easy installation

Pros

They can help you save money

Renovation projects on a budget can rejoice since installing floating flooring is typically less expensive than nailing or gluing them down. This is because they require less installation knowledge, may be installed over pre-existing surfaces, and can generally be laid down more quickly than traditional flooring.

Floating floorboards are a breeze to install because they can be installed in a matter of hours.

Installing them does not necessitate the services of a professional, but if you lack the necessary skills, we strongly advise that you do so.

They can be replaced considerably more easily than other floorings 

Because they aren’t attached to the subfloor, Floating Floorboards are far more easily fixed or replaced. Floating flooring is significantly easier to remove if you decide to replace your complete floor, as there is no glue or nails to remove.

Cons

Floating floorboards may require more frequent floor replacements than other flooring options.

The subfloor, a small layer of air, and ultimately the floating floor are the three levels of floating flooring. This thin layer of space means that your home’s regular activities have a greater influence on the floor because of this. Are Floating Floorboards bad because of this? It’s possible, but it’s also rather simple to repair.

Floating floorboards may amplify the sound

When you need your steps to be quiet, that space between your Floating Floorboards and subfloors can be an issue. The sound of footsteps is reduced in rooms where the floor and subfloor layers are cemented or nailed down.

On the other hand, floating flooring can intensify your movement because of the pressure of your footsteps on the air cushion. So if you’re planning on installing floating flooring in a peaceful area like a baby’s nursery, this isn’t the best option.

References:

[1] https://wideplankflooring.com/blog/flooring-101-floating-floors-everyone-want-one

[2] https://floorvenue.com.au/guide-to-floating-flooring/

[3] https://www.carpetcall.com.au/blog/what-are-floating-floorboards-types-installation-pros-and-cons

[4] https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-floating-floor-1821740#toc-is-a-floating-floor-right-for-you