What Is A Floating Concrete Floor

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.

What is a floating concrete floor.

Many floating floors don t respond well to moisture so they may require a moisture barrier to be laid first. Concrete as a subfloor is a better option if you plan to have something really heavy sitting on that floor. The first element to consider is moisture. Floating slab as the name tells it resembles a plate that is simply laid over water with no kind of connection between them.

Concrete is a porous substance so moisture can pass through it. Floating floors can be pieced together like a puzzle leading to a more cost effective and environmentally friendly approach by eliminating smelly and messy type adhesives and shortening the time spent on installation. A floating floor is a floor that does not need to be nailed or glued to the subfloor. 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.

There can be issues with different types of floating floor products when laid over concrete. 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. Selecting a flooring to place over concrete slabs begins with addressing some of the most common challenges concrete floors present. Though it appears solid concrete is a permeable substance that can absorb and release moisture.

Floating floors can be laid on concrete but the technique is important. 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. 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.

Another key advantage of choosing a floating floor over a non floating type is how it reacts to changes in humidity. Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet. 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. Learn how to use a grinder.

In most cases though a floating floor shouldn t have a problem sustaining normal amounts of weight.