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    Types of Floating Floors

    Learn about the different types of floating flooring as well as their advantages and disadvantages

    Hybrid Flooring

    As the name suggests, Hybrid is manufactured from a mix of materials tightly compressed into multiple layers to form next generation timber-look planks.

    Shop Hybrid

    Laminate Flooring

    Laminate flooring was developed as a budget friendly alternative to timber flooring. Offering the same hardwood look and feel laminate is a perfect hardwearing timber alternative.

    Shop Laminate

    Engineered Timber Flooring

    Engineered timber flooring can be floated on top of acoustic underlay as a quick and affordable application.

    Shop Engineered Timber

      How are they floated?

      Here we outline the different types of floating installations.

      Hybrid Vs. Laminate

      Hybrid vs. Laminate - Which one comes out on top?

      Both Hybrid and Laminate flooring share many similarities, but it is important to understand how they differ also in order to find out what is right for you.

      Scratch Resistance

      Both Laminate and Hybrid flooring have incredible scratch resistant properties.

      Water Resistance

      Laminate is water resistant, but not waterproof, unlike hybrid flooring which is 100% waterproof. Hybrid can be installed, without worry, in any area of the home.

      Price

      Laminate is cheaper than hybrid flooring. Visit our price guide here.

      Cleaning & Maintenance

      Both hybrid flooring and laminate are easy to maintain & clean. Hybrid however can we wet mopped without worry, wet mopping is not recommended for laminate. Visit our hybrid cleaning guide here.

      Floor Profile

      Hybrid & Laminate flooring both have a micro-bevel profile.

      Installation

      Both hybrid & laminate flooring are designed for easy DIY, floating installation. However Laminate floorboards require up to one week's acclimatisation in areas that are particularly humid, cold, wet, hot or dry. Visit our Hybrid installation page here.

      Floating Vs. Glue Down

      Now we understand the different types of floating floors, lets discover the advantage (and disadvantages) of floating over glue down installation.

      Learn more

      FAQ

      Still have questions? Visit our full Floating Floors FAQ page here, or contact us at 1800 718 427.

      Can my floors be floated on top of ceramic tiles?

      Yes! Hybrid, laminate and timber flooring can be floated directly over ceramic tiles. It’s crucial that the tiles are clean, smooth and level, however, there should be no greater than 3mm deviation over 3m of floor. A levelling agent may be required to ready the surface for install.

      Can floated floors be pulled up and replaced if necessary?

      Yes, one of the big advantages of floating floors is that boards can be pulled up and replaced or even re-used elsewhere if required. Read our step-by-step guide on removing floated floorboards here.

      Do floating floors move?

      Yes. A floating floor is known as a raft, which will expand and contract with the rooms temperature and humidity. This why its important to ensure appropriate expansion gaps are present around each room’s perimeter. An expansion of 8-10mm is recommended for floated floors.  

      T&C’s: Flooring Online’s Blackout Sale is available for purchases from 7 November 2024 at 00:00 to 5 December 2024 23:59 (AEDT). A 15% discount will be applied a checkout automatically on select floors as labelled online. The discount will be available during the promotion period only and must be applied to a single checkout. Promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount codes and is not applicable to past purchases. Promotion excludes clearance floors, carpet tiles, trims and accessories and cannot be applied to trade orders. Available at www.flooringonline.com or in-store.