If you’re in the process of selecting new floors, you may be weighing the pros and cons of floating floor options. As a popular flooring choice among homeowners, floating floors provide a range of benefits that make them an attractive option for many spaces.
We’ll compare everything from affordable laminate to luxurious engineered hardwood so you can make an informed decision when upgrading the floors in your rooms.
What Are Floating Floors?
Floating floors derive their name from the fact that they are not nailed or glued to the subfloor below. Instead, they feature locking systems that click together over the subfloor, allowing the planks to essentially “float” over the surface underneath.
This floating design makes them a versatile flooring choice suitable for installation over floors and subfloors of nearly any type. Their flexibility and ease of installing without adhesives has made floating floors increasingly popular in recent decades.
Benefits of Floating Flooring
Floating floors offer several advantages that explain their growing prevalence in homes:
- Speed and simplicity of DIY installation
- Affordable prices for most types
- Ability to install over existing floor surfaces
- Easy replacement of damaged planks without redoing entire floor
While floating floors have traditionally been viewed as lower quality than nail-down floors, many modern advancements have allowed floating floors to rival traditional options in durability, waterproofing, and visual aesthetics.
Limitations of Floating Floors
Floating floors also come with a few disadvantages to note:
- More prone to problems if exposed to excessive moisture
- Not as stable under appliances as glued-down floors
- Hollow spaces under planks can allow sounds to reverberate more
However, new technologies have diminished some of these drawbacks, with waterproof floor varieties and advanced sound-dampening pads under planks.
Most Popular Floating Floor Options
Floating floors are now available in a wide array of materials and visual styles. But what are the top varieties dominating the floating floor arena?
Laminate Floating Floors
Laminate floors represent the most affordable and widely installed type of floating floor on the market. These floors fuse synthetic materials together to form a durable surface layer topped with photographic paper visuals.
Using advanced printing technology, laminate floors can accurately mimic woods, stones, and tiles at a fraction of the cost. While not as premium as real solid hardwood, laminate floors provide an attractive, realistic look paired with extreme scratch resistance.
Best Laminate Floating Floor Picks
Our top laminate floating floor recommendations include:
- Brand 1: Offers a spectrum of convincing wood looks at wallet-friendly price points
- Brand 2: Features proprietary scratch-defying technology and strong manufacturer warranties
- Brand 3: Combines natural-looking stone patterns with attached foam underlayment for convenience
Vinyl Floating Floors
Vinyl floating floors represent another synthetic option gaining major market share for several compelling reasons.
Made entirely of PVC resin, vinyl floors completely resist moisture. Their waterproof structure makes them an ideal solution anywhere struggling with humidity levels or dampness issues. Thanks to advanced printing and embossing tech, vinyl now closely replicates textures of luxury surfaces like hardwood and natural stone.
Our Favorite Vinyl Floating Floors
We recommend these top vinyl floating floor brands:
- Luxury Option: Boasts exotic wood species looks and hand-scraped textures backed by a 100 year warranty
- Value Pick: An extremely affordable line with convincing visuals of oak, maple, and bamboo options
- Easy DIY: User-friendly click-lock installation perfect for DIY renovators with no flooring experience
Engineered Hardwood Floating Floors
Engineered hardwood represents a step up in quality, value, and luxury. Engineered wood fuses real wood visuals over moisture-resistant plywood cores.
This hybrid construction provides the coveted appearance of solid hardwood paired with enhanced structural stability. Available in a diverse palette of domestic and exotic wood looks, styles range from rustic hand-scraped planks to sleek modern options.
Standout Engineered Floating Floor Brands
Our top engineered floating floor recommendations include:
- A brand offering extra wide-plank engineered wood floors reaching widths up to 7 inches for a dramatic, spacious look
- A line renowned for its proprietary click-lock system allowing fast DIY installation without glues or adhesive
- A company using formaldehyde-free glues and sustainable woods like bamboo in manufacturing
Other Noteworthy Floating Floor Materials
Besides the most common floating floor varieties outlined already, some newer floating floor technologies show promise for their performance and quality.
Solid Hardwood Floating Floors
Traditionally, solid hardwood planks could not be installed as floating floors. But recent manufacturing innovations now allow for floating solid hardwood floors. These products offer all the unmistakable beauty of real hardwood paired with the convenience of DIY friendly floating floors.
Wide Plank Floating Floors
While most floating floor planks fall between 4-6 inches wide, wide plank floating floors are entering the market. These floors feature planks ranging from 6-12 inches across.
The exceptionally wide planks create a modern, spacious look well-suited for open concept rooms. They can help small spaces appear larger while allowing flawless transitions between adjoining areas.
Click-Lock Floating Floors
Many floating floors use adhesive strips or locking mechanisms to click planks together. But some advanced products now leverage an easy click-lock installation.
These floors feature interlocking joints that snap precisely together without any nails, glue, or adhesive involved. Click-lock floating floors allow rapid installation ideal for DIYers without professional flooring experience.
Eco-Friendly Floating Floors
Sustainably-produced floating floors represent an emerging trend as manufacturers embrace green materials and production methods. Eco-friendly options include floors made from recycled plastic bottles or renewable bamboo. They may also use non-toxic glues and formaldehyde-free processes.
Opting for one of these environmental floating floor alternatives helps reduce your overall home’s carbon footprint.
What to Consider When Selecting Floating Floors
With the spectrum of available floating floors on the market, selecting the right variety for your home depends on several factors:
Budget
Laminate and vinyl floors provide the most budget-friendly options, with engineered wood and alternative materials costing progressively more. Determine what price point aligns with your overall budget.
Room Traffic and Usage
Consider the wear and tear the floors will need to withstand. Spaces with heavy foot traffic and activity demand durable choices like luxury vinyl. Delicate exotic woods work better in formal living rooms avoiding frequent use.
Style Preferences
Evaluate the color tones and visual textures appealing to your interior design tastes. Do you prefer natural, distressed hardwood looks or sleek contemporary stones and tiles?
Moisture and Waterproofing Needs
Bathrooms and basements prone to humidity require 100% waterproof flooring like vinyl. Meanwhile, spaces rarely subjected to moisture can manage with laminate or engineered wood.
DIY Skills
Novices can install click-lock vinyl options with no professional expertise. But specialty floors like wide plank engineered wood demand advanced skills. Assess your comfort with tackling different flooring installation methods.
With knowledge of the most popular floating floor varieties available, you can zero in on products aligning with your interior design vision, performance needs, and budget parameters.
Take time to research the top brands and lines offering value, visuals, warranties, and ease of installation suiting your home goals. By understanding the full landscape of product offerings, uncovering that ideal floor is an achievable mission!
