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Pros and cons of floating floors

The floating floor is one of the most chosen options in renovations or construction of houses and apartments. 

This type of floor does not require glue or cement in its application, using a click installation system for each piece. Thus, this type of floor is easy to apply, presenting several advantages. 

When choosing the type of floor for your home, it is important to compare the various options making sure you choose the one that best suits your needs. 

 

What is a floating floor? 

 

A floating floor is not a type of material, but rather an installation method for floors with unique characteristics. The main distinction is the fact that the planks or tiles connect, creating a mat-like surface over the floor, without the need to use glues, screws, or other materials to fix it to the sub-flooring.

 

 

Which are the main types of floating floors?

 

Laminate Flooring

 

This is one of the most widely used types of floating floor. Laminate flooring rarely sticks to the sub-flooring, and it is known for having great flexibility. 

Usually, the boards are connected with a "click lock" or "fold and lock" system, depending on the manufacturer. 

 
Vinyl plank flooring

 

Vinyl floors are known for the diversity of looks they can imitate and are a good choice for renovating any space. There are several types of vinyl flooring, with more or less thickness, but all usually have several layers that ensure greater resistance and sound insulation. 

 

Engineered wood flooring

 

This type of floating floor is the one that best imitates the traditional wooden parquet floor, with the advantage of being a floating floor, which means that its installation is, as we saw before, much easier and less expensive.

 

If you are looking for a natural wood look for the space you are renovating, this is an excellent option.

 

Floating cork floor

 

The floating cork floor combines the unique properties of this material and the technology of a floating floor. This new type of flooring developed by Wicanders has outstanding benefits in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation, water resistance, and quick installation. The Corktech technology developed by our team also makes this floor highly resistant to impact and more comfortable to walk on. 

 

This is definitely a winner in comparison to other floating floors, so whether you’re looking to renovate your home or just remodeling a room, we highly recommend this option.


 

Is it easy to install a floating floor?

 

It is one of the easiest floors to install, especially for DIY. Due to its simplicity, the cost of installation is very economical.

 

What are the pros and cons of floating floors? 

 

Pros: 

 

- Easy installation: this type of flooring is so easy to install that it can be done without professional help, being an excellent DIY option;

- Economical installation: this type of floor is usually more economical due to lower costs of installation when compared to other types of flooring;

- Wide variety of colors, textures, and types of floor: it can imitate materials such as bamboo or wood, or even tiles;

- Temperature: if you go for the cork floating floor option, then the floating floor has a better performance in terms of heat insulation, avoiding thermal shock when you put your feet in contact with the floor.

 

Cons: 

 

- Durability: floating flooring is not as durable a solution as glue-down flooring;

- Noisier inside the house: the way it is installed means that there is space between each layer, and because of this this this type of floor can cause more noise when you walk around inside the house. 


 

Floating floors have far more advantages than disadvantages, and are therefore considered a safe, economical, and suitable option for any kind of renovation or construction. 

 

At Wicanders you will find a wide variety of floating floors with the characteristics you are looking for in your new space. With the addition of cork to our floating solutions, your new floors will have the comfort, resistance, and durability you desire. Explore our products here and try the flooring simulator with photos of your own home or space and start planning your renovation.

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