The coziness of a house is perhaps unimaginable without the warmth provided by wood floors. A very quick way to have new wood flooring is by installing a ¡°floating floor. In contrast to the usual solid-wood strips, floating floors are not nailed down. As a substitute, the wood planks can either be snapped together or glued. These planks sink in fast on almost any material, including plywood, concrete, ceramic tile, and sheet vinyl.

There are lots of available materials for floating flooring. However, if you prefer real wood, then the best option is ¡°engineered flooring. This type of flooring is very stable and looks similar to solid wood, which is made up of wood veneer glued to several layers of plywood or pine. Even though the thin veneer of engineered flooring cannot be sanded as often as solid wood, its thick ¡°factory-applied coating is much durable compared to those applied on solid wood in homes. Moreover, it'll be ready in just a day.

Overview
Since an engineered flooring will sink over the thin ¡°foam sheet, you'll have to leave a 5/16-inch gap in between the baseboard or the surrounding wall and the flooring to give enough space for it to expand. The foam sheet provides sound-dampening and cushioning, while the planks stick together to make a type of flooring the ¡°floats or moves freely as one unit.

In most situations, one can install this type of flooring without the need to remove any existing baseboard, but you'll need to conceal the ¡°expansion gap with the use of shoe molding. Another option is to remove the baseboard, place the flooring, and reinstall its baseboard on top. Regardless of the method used, nail its molding to the wall and not to the flooring to allow the floor to move.

Step 1 ¨CTrimming door casings
Trim the door's bottom casing by using a ¡°flush-cut dovetail saw; do this with all the doorways in order for the flooring to smoothly slide underneath. Measure the cut's height by placing a piece of flooring and underlayment. Carefully make the cut by holding the saw flat against the plank.

Step 2 ¨CInstalling foam underlayment
Vacuum the whole room, and then unroll your foam underlayment. Next, cover the whole room using a single layer, and trim the underlayment to fit using a utility knife, then butt the seams jointly. Seal these seams using duct tape.

Step 3-Installing
Place the first plank with the grooved edge in a corner next to the space block. Additionally, place the spacers alongside the starting wall. While setting the flooring, make sure to keep its tongues faced out and cut its ends against the wall. To fill the pieces during the first course, a spacer must be placed against a wall, then measure from this point to the last plank placed.

Mark the measurement on the new plank, beginning from the grooved end so it matches the last plank's tongue. Cut plank to the length. Apply the glue to the new piece's groove, and install. At the edge of the plank and spacer, slip the pry bar to lever it together. Push it down in place, and remove any excess glue using damp cloth. Install the rest of the flooring.

Step 4 ¨CInstalling the ¡°finish trim
Measure the walls for the shoe moldings. Complete every wall with one piece if possible. If needed, join the pieces using a scarf joint. Inside corners can simply be mitered or coped joint. Set these moldings tightly in place and against the floor. Fasten them to the baseboard and not the flooring with 4d finish nails.

A floating flooring is a great and quick way to have a cozy wood flooring. Enhance and beautify your home with the touch of wood, and make it more unique by installing a floating flooring.

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