A floating floor is one that is not nailed or glued down, making it a very flexible and convenient option. Engineered floating floors have many benefits, such as not being overly sensitive to temperature changes or radiant heat (i.e. from underfloor heating) and being quick and relatively easy to install.

When installing floating floors, there are a couple of different methods you can use. It all depends on the manufacturer, as some floor products require the boards to be glued together, whilst others such as the floors in the Quick-Step and Kahrs ranges for example, use lock tongue-and-groove fittings to allow you to simply ‘click’ the boards together and into place.

Whatever method you’re using, follow these floating floor installation tips:

• Seal the sub-floor to prevent moisture penetration. Sealing the sub-floor with a liquid damp proof membrane if the floor is to be fully bonded to the sub-floor or fitting a water-resistant underlay or a sheet membrane such as sisal craft or 1000 gauge polythene, if its to be floated, these are recommended in any wood flooring installation, as it prevents moisture from rising and damaging the floor from below.

• Work from left to right. This method is recommended by floor fitting experts as the best way to carry out a wood flooring installation project, but bear in mind if you have difficult cutting on the right-hand side, it would be better to run out from there, then revert back to the left after you have gone past the awkward area of cutting in.

• Leave space around the perimeter to allow for the potential expansion, contraction and other movement of the floor. This movement is hardly noticeable, but you will notice it if you haven’t left enough space around the edge of the room!