| A floating hardwood floor is made in layers with a | | | | floor expands and contracts, which it most definitely |
| plywood or engineered wood core that has a | | | | will, the size of the gaps between those planks or |
| hardwood veneer. Individual planks are glued to each | | | | strips tends to get larger and then tighter. This can |
| other or have lips to snap them together. The floor is | | | | be a major issue in areas where the climate changes |
| laid on a layer of foam padding and does not require | | | | dramatically from season to season. With the |
| nails, staples, or glue to hold the floor down. | | | | free-float installation, the boards are glued together, |
| This installation method has grown tremendously in | | | | not down, so when the floor expands and contracts, |
| popularity over the last few years. It has become | | | | it does so as one big floor as opposed to individual |
| known as one of the most stable and forgiving | | | | units. Additionally, since these boards are glued |
| installation methods available. The reason this | | | | together, there are no gaps whatsoever between |
| installation method is so stable, is because it is not | | | | the boards. Yet another stability advantage is the |
| attached to the sub-floor whatsoever. | | | | fact that these boards are not attached to the |
| The free-float installation method is most common | | | | sub-floor. You will not experience any of the popping |
| with products known as engineered longstrip wood | | | | or creaking you might with one of the other |
| floors. This product type is somewhat of a panel | | | | methods. The foam underlayment also helps absorb |
| system. Most products in this category come in | | | | some of the minor imperfections in the sub-floor, so |
| boards approximately 8" by 96", and may vary in size | | | | the exact evenness of the sub-floor is not as crucial |
| depending on the manufacturer. Here's what makes | | | | with this type of installation. We would like to point |
| this product, and the way it's installed so unique. | | | | out that while the free-float method does require |
| These products are installed by first laying down an | | | | slightly less effort in the way of sub-floor |
| underlayment, usually foam or a plastic and foam | | | | preparation, each manufacturer has their own |
| combination, and then the wood flooring is laid on top | | | | guidelines as to the sub-floor requirement that you |
| of that underlayment, a bead of water based glue is | | | | must follow in order for the warranty to be valid. |
| applied to the tongue and groove per the | | | | D.I.Y. NOTE: The free-float installation method gets |
| manufacturers' instructions, the boards are tapped | | | | high marks as a very do-it-yourself friendly install |
| together using a tapping block, and the excess glue is | | | | type. Someone with little or no experience can easily |
| wiped off with a damp cloth. That's it! | | | | tackle an installation using this method. If you are |
| Why is this type of installation more stable? Simple. | | | | looking to save on the installation cost and install a |
| With the other installation methods we've discussed, | | | | wood floor yourself, we would suggest this as a first |
| each plank or strip is installed individually. When the | | | | choice over other install methods. |