What Are The Main Types Of Floor Installation?
Laying down a floor can be quite difficult, so buying a floor without having a clue what its installation method is is probably a mistake you don’t want to make. Fortunately, there is a solution! You just need to get to know the main floor installation methods, so you know what your floor needs.
Floating
As the name suggests, floating floors “float” on the surface, without needing additional joining methods. When we say float, it means that the floor is simply laid down and will stay in place because of its weight. Different kinds of floors can be floated, the most common ones being laminate and engineered flooring. The absence of additional joining systems makes the floor feel smoother under the feet and therefore the feeling is much nicer. Floating floors have a disadvantage though, which is that they are not totally water-resistant, so they could get damaged by spillages. To avoid this, you need to remove the spillage right away.
Tongue and Groove
This method is commonly associated with solid wood floors and engineered wood. This is one of the most traditional methods and is named after the joints on the side of each board which are designed to interlock. How do they interlock? One of the sides of the plank has a protruding edge while the other side has a rebated one. When both sides are fitted you end up with a perfect and smooth floor. After fitting them together, you can apply glue to the subfloor or hammer nails through the joins to the subfloor to ensure the floor stays in place.
Click
Installing click flooring is similar to installing tongue and groove flooring due to the fact that it can be floated or laid with glue on the subfloor. A favourite among DIY lovers, this floor is very easy to install since it just “clicks” together. It is much more common as a floating floor as the boards have a locking system that makes them stay in place with ease. The floors that you can find with this system are wood floors, laminate and more recently vinyl floors.
But Up
This method is exclusively for vinyl tiles, and each tile is simply glued down to the floor. It is quite easy provided it is done carefully, as you need to pay attention to the dimensions to align the tiles correctly. It is the adhesive that keeps vinyl tiles together and in their place, as well as making them durable. This method not only makes the floor hardwearing and therefore suitable for every environment, but it also simplifies the installation or removal of the tiles.
So there you have the most common installation methods you can find in floor market. Knowing them should be enough to help you choosing and installing your floor correctly. However, if you are in doubt, always consult a specialist.
