How To Install A Floating Solid Wood Floor

The quickest way to get new wood underfoot is to install a floating floor.

How to install a floating solid wood floor.

Leaving a small barrier around the side of the room will give the flooring enough of a buffer to do its thing without cracking. Floating involves attaching or clicking the panels which blocks out moisture. Instead the planks are either glued or snapped together. Hardwood floors are durable beautiful and a great diy project.

The width of the gap is determined by the length of the run and the type of wood. Because of the movement of solid wood flooring which happens through the expansion and contraction of the wood it s important that a solid floor is fixed to the subfloor in some shape or form. Nail down installation of solid wood is chosen by many homeowners because of its permanence. This installation method is preferred when the subfloor is cement tile or a floor with radiant heat.

If you decide to install your floating floor on concrete anyway. The planks go down fast over virtually any material concrete plywood sheet vinyl even ceramic tile. The floating wood floor will expand and contract as a unit with temperature fluctuations. Solid wood needs a bigger gap than engineered wood because it expands and contracts more.

Essentially a floating wood floor is fitted over an underlay so the floor and the subfloor are not in contact. Floating is the most common installation method for engineered wood although gluing is also an option. Unlike traditional solid wood strips a floating floor isn t nailed down. Typically the gap is about a 1 2 inch.

This installation method is preferred when the subfloor is cement tile or a floor with radiant heat. Learn how to install solid hardwood flooring with a few simple tools.