You do not need glue for the click laminate flooring.
This laminate flooring is also known as the floating floor method, as you can easily snap the pieces together, securing them in place without needing to use glue.
This type of laminate flooring is designed with a precision tongue and groove system that allows you to easily click them together, making the installation easy and free of mess.
Keep reading to discover the advantages of click flooring, comparing glue flooring, and how to install floating laminate flooring for the best results properly.
The Floating Laminate Flooring: Advantages And Disadvantages
The click flooring method has become the go-to choice because it is easy to install. Compared to the glue method, the floating flooring can be installed considerably quicker without the glue mess.
Before installing the click flooring without glue, it is recommended to add an underlay for better insulation.
One slight disadvantage that may appear with the click flooring is that they may sound more hollow when walking on them.
A comparison to the glue laminate flooring.
If there are constant or higher moisture levels in the room where the laminate flooring is being installed, gluing them to the subflooring makes the laminate flooring more durable.
Moisture and higher humidity levels can cause the laminate flooring to rise over time. The glue usually prevents this from happening as it glues it in place.
If moisture isn’t an issue, many prefer the click flooring method to the glue method as the latter isn’t just more time-consuming and messy.
The no-glue laminate flooring allows the planks to expand easily and shrink as the moisture or temperature levels change.
The installation will take longer as you need to apply the glue to the whole surface, but it will also take time if you need to clean up accidental glue spills or excess glue.
Glue prevents water or moisture from getting under the laminate flooring if you are installing the planks close to water sources, such as the kitchen or bathroom, where there is a higher possibility of water spilling on the floor.
How To Install Laminate Flooring With A Click System
Because laminate flooring is made of wood, it needs some time to adjust to the temperature in the house, and the room in it will be installed.
We don’t recommend getting the laminate flooring out of the box and starting with the installation immediately. Once you get them, bring them into the area they will get installed; take the laminate flooring out of the box and let it adjust to the temperature for at least 24 hours.
Another thing you need to do before you can install the floating laminate flooring is to clean and dry the subflooring properly.
Installing an underlay won’t just help with insulation. It will also act as a barrier for moisture between your subflooring and laminate flooring, protecting and making your laminate flooring more durable over time.
The underlay will also provide stability if there are any defects in the subflooring.
To install the underlay, follow these steps:
- Clean the subflooring – remove any debris, dust, and stains, and let it fully dry and air out before you add the underlay
- Once the subflooring is ready, place the underlay on the subflooring
- Arrange them side by side, making sure they don’t overlap
- Use tape to secure them in place
- If necessary, use scissors or a craft knife to trim any excess parts
To install the laminate flooring with a click system, follow these steps:
- To install the click laminate flooring, start in one corner of the room (usually the left side, but the right side might work better for your room)
- Lay down one plank, then click the next into the first one utilizing the tongue and groove structural design
- Insert the tongue of one plank into the grooving of the other plank
If you didn’t leave the laminate flooring much time to adjust to the room temperature, leave some room (about 8 to 10 mm) around the walls, as the laminate flooring may need that space to be able to expand.
If you don’t leave this space for the planks to be able to expand, this could result in bumps in your flooring.
After the laminate flooring has been adjusted and expanded as much as needed, you can install the skirting across the edges. You can use either glue or nails to get this part done.
Conclusion
You do not need glue for laminate flooring if you install laminate flooring with the click method, also known as floating laminate flooring.
Using glue usually increases the durability of the laminate flooring.
Still, the click method is easier to install, the installation process is much quicker, and you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any mess or spills left behind by the glue.
