What Is A Floating Concrete Floor

Though it appears solid concrete is a permeable substance that can absorb and release moisture.

What is a floating concrete floor.

There can be issues with different types of floating floor products when laid over concrete. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Learn how to use a grinder. Floating slab as the name tells it resembles a plate that is simply laid over water with no kind of connection between them.

Many floating floors don t respond well to moisture so they may require a moisture barrier to be laid first. Selecting a flooring to place over concrete slabs begins with addressing some of the most common challenges concrete floors present. Many basement flooring materials like paint epoxy tile and rubber flooring for example can go down directly over the basement s original poured concrete floor as long as the concrete is in good condition. Also be absolutely sure that the concrete doesn t get damp because of exterior water problems.

A sprung floor is a special type of floating floor designed to enhance sports or dance. But this direct installation will result in a floor that s cold underfoot. A floating floor is a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the subfloor. Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet.

Concrete as a subfloor is a better option if you plan to have something really heavy sitting on that floor. The term floating floor refers to the installation method but is often used synonymously with laminate flooring it is applied now to other coverings such as floating tile systems and vinyl flooring in a domestic context. Floating slabs are concrete slabs that are laying over the ground without any kind of anchoring as if it simply sits on it and floats. Concrete floors can be susceptible to settling and cracking over time and this is a more frequent problem when an existing structural slab has adapted to a finished residential flooring surface such as when a basement or loft condo has been converted to living space.

Another key advantage of choosing a floating floor over a non floating type is how it reacts to changes in humidity. The combination of the underlayment and flooring raises the height of the floor 1 1 2 in so be sure the extra height doesn t create problems around cabinets in doorways or at transitions to other types of flooring. Floating floors can be laid on concrete but the technique is important. In most cases though a floating floor shouldn t have a problem sustaining normal amounts of weight.

Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level.