Floating Floor, What it is!

Floating Floor Introduction

In 1994 Pergo laminate introduced plank style floating floor to North America, having marketed it in Europe ten years earlier. Far from a new product, invented in Sweden in 1977.  The introduction of floating floors brought new concerns. Some of these laminate floors were failing. flooring experts were commissioned to investigate why.

Pergo commissioned The Weinheimer Group (TWG) to perform inspections and onsite testing in Oregon. Today, The Weinheimer Group, offers onsite testing and floor covering inspections throughout Oregon and Washington.  Their services are available to the flooring industry, home and property owners.

What it is a Floating Floor?

A floating floor MUST NOT attach to the subfloor. It must be FREE to FLOAT. Besides laminate there are other hard surface flooring products that are installed as an unattached installation. Most common are engineered wood, bamboo, cork, luxury vinyl planks and tiles. 

Floating Installation Failures

The most common installation failures are:

• Not following flooring manufacturers installation standards.
• Failure to properly acclimate.
• Not pretesting the product and subfloor moisture content.
• Improper expansion space around all walls and vertical surfaces.
• Failure to install the proper transition molding.
• Installing cabinet islands and counters on top of the floating floor.
• Installing baseboard and quarter round nails through the floating floor.
• Base tightly installed against the flooring.
• Nailing or gluing trim molding to the flooring.
• Not undercutting door casings and properly fitting the flooring at casings.
• Failure to provide flat and level surfaces to install over.

Site Related Failures

The most common floating site related failures include:

• Subfloor structural concerns.
• Failure to maintain proper room temperature and humidity conditions.
• Over wetting during cleaning and maintenance.

Floating Manufacturing Related Failures

The most common manufacturing failures are:

• Finish concerns
• Printing issues
• Milling issues

Floating floors are a great product for residential and commercial installations.  Not suitable for all, they can be installed in most.

Educate yourself before spending your hard-earned money on floor covering. Read articles at sites like LaminateFloorProblems.com. Speak with a reliable floor covering retailer and make sure which product is best for you.

Through  LaminateFloorProblems.com, TWG offers free unbiased, floating floor information. It is the TWG goal to help others have a better understanding of what floating floor is and how to make it best perform.