Floating v Glue Down Installation

THE INSTALLATION METHODS

There are two methods used to install wood flooring; you can ‘float’ the planks so they sit on top of an acoustic underlay, without any glue being used, or alternatively you can glue the wood flooring down to the existing sub-floor.

It is possible to either float or glue-down wood flooring to the following: existing wood flooring, particleboard, plywood, concrete, old ceramic tiles and old vinyl flooring. Laminate flooring must only be installed using the floating method.

Glue Down Installation

Main Advantages:
– Best for acoustic performance, especially for reducing ‘footfall sound’ in the actual room you are walking in.
– Deals with minor sub-floor unevenness better than a floating floor.
– Visually more appealing as smaller size trims can be used between the wood and other floor coverings, such as a tile angle.
– No trims are required against window or slider joinery.
– Best method for underfloor heating as it ensures better transfer of heat to the floor surface.
– ‘Solid’ feel underfoot.

Disadvantages
– Costs more than a floating installation due to higher labour costs and adhesive cost.
– More time-consuming compared to a floating installation.

Floating Installation

Main Advantages:
– Suitable for DIY installation.
– Quickest and most cost effective installation.
– Good at reducing sound transfer to rooms underneath.

Disadvantages:
– Many poor quality underlay’s do not address the typical ‘drummy’ sound of floating floors.
– Larger trims are required to finish between your wood floor and other floor coverings. These trims are designed to hold the floor down & allow expansion (trims are about 17mm wide).
– Aluminium trims are also required up against floor level window joinery & slider joinery; to hold the floor down in those areas.
– Poor quality wood flooring can squeak when installed floating – especially if the click-lock mechanism is not licensed. It should always be a genuine Uniclic or Valinge click-system.
– The sub-floor must be very level for a floating type of installation.

CONCLUSION

If you can afford it then we recommend that you glue your timber flooring down for a premium result. If you decide to float your timber flooring then the quality of the underlay is paramount; we recommend European made underlay such as Selit Aquastop with a high impact sound reduction rating and good compressive strength.

Quiet Floors

CREATING FLOORING FOR LIVING

We’ve searched far and wide to source innovative, class-leading acoustic solutions for our customers. Solutions include advanced adhesive that provides superior acoustic performance over concrete and premium underlay from Germany.

Acoustic Adhesive

New generation MS hybrid polymer adhesives offer a superior acoustic performance.

Best results are achieved when using Parabond Parquet 480 as a combined moisture barrier & adhesive; the thicker layer of adhesive used to ensure moisture protection dries to a rubber-like consistency, providing excellent acoustic performance.

Parabond is made in Belgium and is imported exclusively by Vienna Woods.

Acoustic Underlay

For peak values in acoustic & load.

Thanks to the innovative TwinFoam™ technology, SELITPRO® 2.2 mm combines peak values in acoustic and loading capacity. This is reflected in an optimum walking noise and impact sound reduction as well as a reliable protection of the floor under load and in use, as well as falling objects.

The SELITPRO® 2.2 mm AquaStop is equipped with an AquaStop surface and optimally protects the floor against moisture with a sd-value ≥ 200 m.

We also stock 3mm Aquastop underlay.

SELITPRO® underlay is made in Germany and imported exclusively by Vienna Woods.

Mapecem CR

This 4mm thick cork/rubber underlay provides excellent acoustic performance and is an ideal solution when a high performing underlay is required.

We typically glue the underlay to the substrate and then glue the wood flooring directly to the underlay.

Perfect for apartments where a glued down wood floor is desired.

What Goes First – The Kitchen or the Flooring

Kitchen Or Flooring First?

This is a very common question that we’re asked time and again. It is actually possible to install the flooring both before or after the kitchen, depending on the intended installation method; floating or glued down.

Floating Installation

If you’re floating your timber or laminate flooring then you should always install the kitchen first and install the flooring around the kitchen units. This allows free movement of the floor boards as they expand and contract with humidity fluctuations. If the kitchen was sitting on top of the floating floor its weight may restrict the movement of the floorboards and potentially cause floor boards to start lifting. The end panels of the cabinets can be undercut so the flooring can slide underneath, for a clean finish. Flooring is installed just under the kick panels and all the way under any appliances (that are not built-in). The kick panels should be left off until after flooring is installed and then put in place last.

Glued Down Installation

For glued down wooden flooring you can either install around the kitchen cabinets or you can install the flooring first. We highly recommend installing the flooring first; this ensures a premium finish at the bottom of cabinet ‘end panels’ as your installer won’t have to cut into them on-site. It also ensures boards are installed all the way to the walls, so if you do happen to modify your kitchen in future for whatever reason, you won’t have to install any more flooring at a later date.

We have experience with both methods, so please feel free to contact us for obligation-free advice.

Oak Castle Grey