How to Lay Wood Flooring: Floating or Glued, Which Choice and How to Do It

Laying a wooden floor transforms a room and adds real value to your home. Between floating wood flooring (simple, glue-free) and glued wood flooring (durable, robust), the choice depends on your room and your experience. Here is everything you need to know.

Floating wood flooring vs glued wood flooring

Floating wood flooring

The boards click together and rest on an insulating underlay, without being fixed to the floor. It is the ideal solution for beginners: fast installation, removable, and compatible with almost any substrate. Less durable than a glued floor and poorer sound insulation.

Glued wood flooring

The boards are glued directly onto the screed or the old floor. It is more demanding work (substrate preparation is essential), but the result is more stable, quieter and lasts longer. Recommended for living areas and for professionals.

Floor preparation, the crucial step

Whatever the type of installation, the floor must be clean, dry, flat and free of roughness:

• Clean and dust perfectly
• Check the flatness with a level: maximum tolerance 2 mm/m
• Treat major irregularities with a self-levelling compound
• Make sure the floor is dry (correct moisture content)
• Lay an insulating underlay for the floating floor

Acclimatising the wood flooring

The wood flooring must acclimatise to your room before installation: leave the closed packs in the room for 48 hours at room temperature (18 to 22°C). This prevents warping and joints that open up after installation.

Laying a floating wood floor step by step

1. Lay the underlay (film + insulation), edge to edge
2. Start the first row along the longest wall, leaving an 8 mm expansion gap against the wall
3. Click each board in by striking it with the tapping block and the mallet
4. Stagger the joints from one row to the next (brick pattern laying)
5. For the last row, cut the board with the saw keeping the expansion gap
6. Install the skirting boards to hide the expansion gaps

Laying a glued wood floor

Apply the adhesive with a notched trowel on the substrate, lay the first board (always with the expansion gap), then continue with the boards pressing firmly. Work in a staggered pattern and wipe up the excess adhesive as you go with a damp cloth before it dries.

Maintaining the wood flooring

• Sweep or vacuum regularly (sand is the enemy of the varnish)
• Clean with a slightly damp mop, never a soaking wet one
• Avoid overly aggressive products and standing water
• Protect furniture feet with felt pads
• Use a specific wood floor care product

With good preparation and these steps followed, your wood floor will be well laid, stable and last for decades. The floating floor is perfect for getting started; you can move on to a glued floor once you are more confident.