engineered wood floor - float or glue

Doozergirl

andrewf75 wrote: »

Yeah the glue is certainly pricey, but not much more than the underlay. Labour costs seemed reasonable at 500 for 43sqm but this price was agreed as part of the extension cost so maybe we're getting a good deal. The builder was quite keen to float it so I guess its a bit more tricky. Floor is level but the floor will go through to the existing house so not sure how level that is.

I just don't like the idea of the hollow feel that you supposedly get with floating floors.

Is your preference for floating as a builder or as a customer?

We renovated our own houses for 10 years before we ever touched a customers house so all my preferences are based on my own experience and wanting things done properly. We don't cut corners. Ever.

We have a floating floor here, across both floors, no joins or separations between rooms. It doesn't feel hollow at all. Your builder is going to be screwing at glueing it down at £11 per metre - are you sure they quoted to glue?! If it makes no difference in cost, then glue it. It's only awkward if you decide to change it at some point.

andrewf75

Doozergirl wrote: »

We have a floating floor here, across both floors, no joins or separations between rooms. It doesn't feel hollow at all. Your builder is going to be screwing at glueing it down at £11 per metre - are you sure they quoted to glue?! If it makes no difference in cost, then glue it. It's only awkward if you decide to change it at some point.

We bought the glue so his quote is just the labour.

As for what he quoted for, we did say originally that we wanted it glued but I definitely get the impression that he would rather float it.

Having done loads of googling I got the impression that the best way is glue, but I must admit I'm having doubts now. I respect your advice. As we actually have both the glue and the underlay both options are still open!

andrewf75

Doozergirl wrote: »

We have a floating floor here, across both floors, no joins or separations between rooms. It doesn't feel hollow at all. Your builder is going to be screwing at glueing it down at £11 per metre - are you sure they quoted to glue?! If it makes no difference in cost, then glue it. It's only awkward if you decide to change it at some point.

We bought the glue so his quote is just the labour.

As for what he quoted for, we did say originally that we wanted it glued but I definitely get the impression that he would rather float it.

Having done loads of googling I got the impression that the best way is glue, but I must admit I'm having doubts now. I respect your advice. As we actually have both the glue and the underlay both options are still open! If floating will give us as good a result then I'm not against the idea.

cyclonebri1

I think the real issue here is this, the boards need gluing together whether they are fixed or floating, the only difference in cost is underlay.
IE, glue the whole lot together and let it float over a soft underlay and under skirtings or

Glue it hard down to a wooden existing floor.

Again, I wouldn't trust an attempted bond to concrete.

mvteng

Maybe stating the obvious, but what do the engineered wood manufacturers instructions say.

I was interested because we have Kahrs engineered wood floor which is floating on top of an underlay. I just checked the Kahrs instructions & that is what they recommend. No mention of gluing down at all.

andrewf75

mvteng wrote: »

Maybe stating the obvious, but what do the engineered wood manufacturers instructions say.
.

They say can do either. They say something about glue down if a very large area or if heavy furniture is on top. It isn't a very large area, but there will be heavy furniture on top.

Really confused now, I thought I'd decided but am leaning back to floating...

Tempted to just ask builders advice and go with that...but he's going to say float because its an easier job for him!

andrewf75

OK an update. After discussion with builder, have decided to float the floor. He seems to think as its a click system its better to float it. Will send back the glue now instead of the underlay!

Thanks especially to Doozergirl, I know that you know your stuff so confident I've made the right decision.

cyclonebri1

andrewf75 wrote: »

OK an update. After discussion with builder, have decided to float the floor. He seems to think as its a click system its better to float it. Will send back the glue now instead of the underlay!

Thanks especially to Doozergirl, I know that you know your stuff so confident I've made the right decision.

Just read what I said in post#3,
You now say it's click fit, something you omitted all the way though, click fit doesn't need gluing, I and many others know that, the responses would have been very different with full info.

andrewf75

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Just read what I said in post#3,
You now say it's click fit, something you omitted all the way though, click fit doesn't need gluing, I and many others know that, the responses would have been very different with full info.

Yeah sorry I wasn't clear, but I didn't actually say it wasn't click-fit. You said that in post #2. I didn't omit the fact that it was click-fit, that isn't relevant to how you stick the floor down, only how you fit the boards together.

Anyway, the flooring fitting instructions say float or glue down so you can do both.

cyclonebri1

andrewf75 wrote: »

Yeah sorry I wasn't clear, but I didn't actually say it wasn't click-fit. You said that in post #2. I didn't omit the fact that it was click-fit, that isn't relevant to how you stick the floor down, only how you fit the boards together.

Anyway, the flooring fitting instructions say float or glue down so you can do both.

If it isn't click fit you stick it together, full stop.
That was the point I was trying to make.

Only then do you have the choice to stick down or float.

It may not help you now but at least it's here for others to consider.

Cheers.