What Exactly Are Floating Hardwood Floors?
77Floating hardwood floors are something that is becoming more and more popular both because of ease of installation and also because of how well they hold up over time. In addition to these benefits, they are also available in just about every type of surface that regular flooring is available in.
The flooring itself is generally constructed very similar to other types of engineered flooring. You will have several thin layers of floor that are constructed via a tongue and groove method. The top layer will be the finished layer that is constructed of the surface of your choosing.
Styles of Floating Hardwood
Each style of floating floor will have a different look. The look that you are trying to dictate will decide exactly which style that you choose. If you want a look of a wide plank, you can go with the 1 strip design. If you are trying to create the appearance of boards that are laid side by side, the 2 strip design would be the correct choice. You will definitely want to see a sample of each style before purchasing one as they are all distinctly different.
Climate Challenges with Floating Hardwoods
One of the biggest challenges with hardwood flooring is how it is going to react to its environment. When a floor goes through a dry climate and then has moisture re-introduced, it will retract and expand. If this happens too much, it can result in separation and eventually damage that will have to be fixed.
Advantages of Floating Hardwoods
On a standard wood floor, the boards are going to be attached to a sub floor that has to be put down in order to secure the hardwood floors. With this type of flooring, the boards are actually attached to themselves and when the flooring expands and retracts, it is moving as a cohesive unit instead of fighting against the sub floor. All of this makes it much more stable than a standard floor.
Another benefit of this flooring is that it does not require the same type of prep work to lie down as the other floors. We have already mentioned that a sub floor will usually have to be put down, but with floating hardwood floors, you can pretty much install them overtop of anything. Whereas most hardwood floors are going to require fasteners, you can choose to glue down certain types of floating hardwood floors.
Saving Money With Floating Hardwood Floors
If you are trying to save some money, you may want to look at rotary cut floors. This process actually shaves the wood off of the source to be used for flooring. While it is much cheaper, the look is sacrificed for price. Something much more attractive is the flooring that is produced by a sliced cut. This is done with a saw blade and the grain is much truer and realistic. You pay a little more, but the appearance is truer to that of regular hardwood floors.
When you are trying to decide on what type of floor to choose, consider that the average life span of a floating hardwood floor is well over 40 years. It is also much more adaptable to humid clients and can be installed much quicker than the tradition flooring.
Additional Reading
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