How to Lay a Floating Floor

Laminate flooring is popular among homeowners because it doesn’t require any glue or nails to secure it to floorboards. Instead, the planks simply lock together to create a surface that appears to float about the subfloor. Learn how to install your own floating floor as part of a do-it-yourself project in the guide below, and watch the video above for more tips from This Old House general contractor Tom Silva.

Understanding Floating Floors

Floating floors are versatile, and homeowners can easily install them over various subfloor such as concrete, plywood, and even existing flooring. 

Types of Floating Floors

There are several types of floating floors available on the market, including the following:

• Cork flooring
• Engineered hardwood
• Laminate flooring
• Luxury vinyl planks

Preparing for Installation of Your Floating Floor

Before you start laying your floating floor, you should acclimate the flooring, prepare the subfloor, and gather your tools and materials.

Acclimation

Allow your flooring materials to acclimate to the room’s temperature and humidity for at least 48 hours before you begin installation. This prevents the flooring from expanding and contracting after installation. Place the unopened boxes of flooring in the installation room, lay them flat, and keep the room at a consistent temperature.

Subfloor Preparation

Make sure the subfloor is clean, dry, and level, and address any imperfections before you lay the foam underlayment. Use a broom or vacuum to clean, and use a level to check for uneven spots. You can fix small imperfections with a patching compound, but you may have to sand or repair more significant issues. 

Tools and Materials

Gather all necessary tools and materials below before you begin your project: 

• Dead blow hammer
• Foam underlayment
• Gloves
• Hammer tacker
• Jigsaw or circular saw
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Pull bar
• Safety goggles
• Spacers
• Tapping block
• Utility knife

Step-by-Step Floating Floor Installation Process

Follow the instructions below to install your floating floor:

1. Laying the Foam Underlayment

Begin by covering the subfloor with foam underlayment. Gently push the foam into the corner of the room, and be careful not to force or crimp it. Secure the underlayment with a hammer tacker, and make sure it’s flat and smooth so that it can provide a stable base for the flooring.

2. Installing the First Row

Start with the tongue side of the planks that face the wall. Use spacers to keep a consistent expansion gap of about 1/4 inch around the room’s perimeter. This gap allows the flooring to expand and contract, and prevents it from buckling or warping over time.

3. Continuing with Subsequent Rows

Continue to install subsequent rows, and stagger the end joints to maintain a consistent look. Follow the steps below to connect planks:

1. Hold the new plank at a slight angle.
2. Insert the tongue into the groove of the previous row.
3. Lower the plank, and maintain enough pressure to keep a tight fit. 
4. Use a tapping block and dead blow hammer to secure the connection without damaging the plank’s edges.

 4. Working Around Obstacles

Obstacles such as door frames require additional planning. Use a jamb saw to undercut the casing so that the flooring fits neatly around door casings. Measure and mark the plank to fit the space, and make precise cuts with a jigsaw. Slide the plank you’ve cut under the casing for a clean, professional look.

5. Installing the Final Row

To complete the final row, measure the gap between the row you most recently installed and the wall. Cut the planks to fit, account for the expansion gap, and use a pull bar to tap the final row into place securely. Make sure pieces fit tightly, and that there aren’t any gaps.

6. Adding Finishing Touches

Once you’ve installed all the planks, remove the spacers. Install baseboards or quarter-round molding to cover the expansion gap around the perimeter of the room. Add transition strips where the new flooring meets other floor coverings to achieve a seamless transition between different types of flooring.

Tips for a Professional-Looking Floating Floor Installation

Maintain consistent expansion gaps, use a tapping block to protect plank edges, and regularly check that rows remain straight to achieve professional results. Mix planks from different boxes to keep the color consistent, and clean as you go to prevent debris from accumulating and interfering with plank connections.

Below are a few other professional tips:

• Double-check measurements before you cut to minimize waste.
• Keep the workspace organized to avoid misplacing tools.
• Lay out the planks before you install them, especially if you’re mixing colors or textures.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Laying a Floating Floor

Be aware of the potential pitfalls below while you finish your installation: 

• Cutting all planks in a row to the same length creates a noticeable and repetitive pattern, which detracts from the floor’s look.
• Failing to acclimate the flooring before you begin installation can result in expansion or contraction issues.
• Forcing planks together too tightly can damage the locking mechanisms.
• Neglecting to stagger end joints can weaken the floor structure.
• Not using spacers to maintain expansion gaps can cause the floor to buckle.