If you’re considering a new floor for your home, you may have come across the term “floating floor.” But what is a floating floor, and is it right for your home? In this guide, explore the pros and cons of a floating floor so you can decide whether it suits your next kitchen, bathroom remodeling, or floor installation project for your Birmingham, AL home.
What Is a Floating Floor?
A floating floor is a type of flooring that is not attached to the subfloor beneath it. Instead, it “floats” or rests on top of a thin layer of foam or other material. This acts as an acoustic barrier and provides some cushioning.
Floating floors are usually made of laminate, engineered wood or vinyl.
Advantages of a Floating Floor
There are several advantages to choosing a floating floor for your home:
- Floating floors are easier to install than traditional hardwood floors, although you’ll still want to consult a kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling professional before you design and build your floating floor.
- You can easily take up and move planks of floating floors to another room if needed.
- Floating floors can be installed over almost any type of existing flooring, including concrete, vinyl, tile and even some types of carpet.
- Floating floors are very durable and easy to maintain. They’re also resistant to scratches and stains, making them a good choice for high-traffic areas or homes with pets.
- It is easy to disassemble and replace damaged boards for floating floors, whereas replacing damaged boards in nail-down or glue-down flooring is far more difficult.
Disadvantages of a Floating Floor
There are a few disadvantages to floating floors that you should consider:
- Floating floors can be more expensive than traditional hardwood floors.
- You need a perfectly prepared subfloor to be able to install a floating floor.
- Floating floors can be noisy if they’re not installed properly.
- Since they’re not attached to the subfloor, floating floors can sometimes feel less solid underfoot than traditional hardwood floors.
Is a Floating Floor Right for You?
Now that you know the pros and cons of floating floors, you can decide if they’re right for your home.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-install, durable, and low-maintenance flooring option, a floating floor may be a good choice. However, issues like noise and subfloor preparation require the attention and analysis of a flooring professional.
Reliable Design-Build-Remodel is a full service general construction firm and remodeling contractor operating in the Birmingham metro and Jefferson and Shelby County areas and surrounding communities, including Birmingham, Helena, Chelsea, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Homewood, Montevallo, Alabaster, Vestavia Hills, and Pelham, with over 30 years of servicing our valued clients. Offering full service suite of general remodeling, design and build services. Our specialties include bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, exterior renovations, interior renovations, painting, and more!
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