A new flooring option is offered by “lock” or “click” flooring. Basically, covering remaining flooring can be implemented by click flooring. However, this type of flooring will not work in covering carpets or uneven flooring.

What is click flooring? The construction process of “locking” or “clicking” together boards without using glue, nails or staples is the reason for the name. In fact, click flooring is often pictured as the most straightforward and simplest way for DIYers to install a floor.

The ease and simplicity of installing click or floating floor coverings have made it a popular option for most homes and offices. It is also a money-saving floor option.

However, it must be remembered that click flooring is a method of installing and not a kind of hard flooring. The boards and planks are not attached to the subfloor but to each other. They can be snapped or glued together.

Types of click flooring

There are three types of click flooring, to include:

Engineered Flooring

Some engineered flooring can be installed as a floating style. This type of flooring can work like a jigsaw puzzle that only needs to be locked or clicked in place. However, most common engineered flooring are stapled or nailed to a plywood substrate.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is the most popular example of click or floating flooring. The substrate is never used to glue almost all kinds of laminate flooring. They are all floating installations. Contracting and expanding are the normal responses of laminate flooring to any change in the humidity levels of a room.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF)

There are two flooring methods provided by luxury vinyl flooring. They can either be glued to the substrate or clicked together, board by board. The small grooves or tongues designed into the boards make it possible to lock them together.

Reasons that make the floating flooring stay put

The technology of floor installation developed after DIY projects became popular. Homeowners see huge savings when home improvement is a DIY project. Yet, professional floor installers also benefited from the floating floor method in terms of time and effort.

While the idea of installing a hard floor without attaching it to the subfloor is improbable, it actually works due to three factors, to include:

Being glued or snapped together

The tiny grooves and tongue design of the boards provides a strong lock system that cannot be easily detached. Using glue to attach the floating planks to the subfloor also ensure positive joinery.

The Heavy weight

An individual laminate board may be lightweight but become heavier as they begin locking together. Installing laminated boards in a room can probably weight several hundred pounds. The combined heavy weight of the laminated boards will prove almost impossible to move.

Resistance

Cork or foam serves as an underlayment for every laminate board. A resistance happening between the underlayment and the flooring planks controls movement. However, lateral movement is not completely removed. This is intentional to allow the laminate board to contract and expand with the changes in humidity.

The bottom line

The obstacles in DIY flooring are removed by the floating or click flooring method. DIYers find the method simple, money-saving, easy, and convenient. Do you want to know more about the types of laminate floating or click flooring? We are only too happy to answer your queries and give you a free quote.