What Are Floating Floorboards? A Beginner’s Guide for Homeowners

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Thinking About Floating Floorboards? Here's What You Should Know

If you’re a Sydney homeowner exploring flooring options, you’ve likely come across the term floating floorboards. But what exactly are they, and are they the right choice for your home?

At AJ Flooring, we’ve been helping homeowners across the Hills District and beyond understand flooring solutions for over 40 years. Floating floors are one of the most asked-about topics, especially among renovators and those upgrading units or homes with concrete slabs.

In this beginner-friendly guide, we break down exactly what floating floorboards are, how they’re installed, and when (and when not) to use them. Let’s dive in.

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Why Choose Us for Hybrid Timber Flooring In Sydney?

What Are Floating Floorboards?

Floating floorboards are timber or timber-look planks that are not nailed or glued directly to the subfloor. Instead, they “float” above it, typically installed over an underlay with a click-and-lock system or tongue-and-groove joinery.

Despite the name, they’re perfectly secure when properly installed, they just aren’t fixed to the structure below like traditional timber flooring.

Types of Floating Floorboards

There are several types of flooring that can be installed as floating systems:

Engineered Timber Flooring – Real timber top layer over a stable plywood or HDF core
Laminate Flooring – High-density fibreboard with a printed timber-look surface
Hybrid Flooring – Combines the best of laminate and vinyl; 100% waterproof
Vinyl Planks – Flexible or rigid core planks, easy to clean and waterproof

Sydney’s Trusted Hybrid Timber Flooring Experts

How Floating Floorboards Work

Floating floorboards use precision joinery to connect each plank edge-to-edge, forming a stable surface that sits on top of an underlay or existing floor.

Key features include:

No nails or glue needed for install
Installed over most subfloors, including tiles and concrete
Expansion gaps around the edges allow for natural movement
Acoustic underlays can reduce noise and improve comfort

Pros and Cons of Floating Floorboards

✅ Benefits

Faster Installation
No adhesives, no sanding, no drying time. Many floors can be installed in just 1–2 days.
Cost-Effective
Generally more affordable than solid timber flooring, both in materials and labour.
Versatile Over Existing Surfaces
Perfect for apartments or renovations where removing tiles or slabs isn’t practical.
DIY-Friendly (But Best Left to Pros)
Some systems are marketed for DIY, but for best results, we always recommend professional installation (especially with engineered timber).

❌ Considerations

Not Ideal for Wet Areas
Unless using hybrid or waterproof vinyl, floating floors may warp with moisture.
Hollow Sound or Flex
Lower-quality installations can feel or sound less solid than glued timber floors.
Requires Expansion Gaps
Needs space around edges to allow for movement, which may require skirting adjustment.

👷 “We often see homeowners frustrated with lifting or gaps when cheap floating floors are installed without proper prep or underlay.” AJ Flooring Team

Our Process

Is Floating Flooring Right for Your Sydney Home?

It depends on your subfloor, budget, and how you use your space.

Ideal For:

Apartments or townhouses with concrete slab bases
Renovations where height or time constraints exist
Budget-conscious homeowners wanting timber-look floors fast
Families or pets, when using hard-wearing hybrid systems

Less Ideal For:

Homes with uneven subfloors or moisture issues
Heritage homes where solid timber is preferred
High-end custom builds seeking premium finishes and longevity

AJ Flooring’s Floating Floorboard Services

At AJ Flooring, we supply and install engineered timber and hybrid floating floorboards throughout Sydney, especially in:

West Pennant Hills
North Rocks
Beecroft
Cherrybrook
Hornsby
Wahroonga
Northern Beaches & North Shore

We guide you through:

Choosing the right product for your lifestyle
Ensuring subfloor suitability
Installing with correct underlay and expansion gaps
Matching trims, scotia, and stair nosings

👉 Explore Engineered Timber Flooring Services
👉 Contact Us for a Free Measure & Quote

Floating vs. Fixed Timber Floors – A Quick Comparison

Feature	Floating Floorboards	Fixed Timber Floors
Installation	Quicker, cleaner	More time-intensive
Subfloor prep	Less required	More extensive
Durability	Moderate to high	High (when maintained)
Cost	Lower upfront	Higher but long-lasting
Refinishable	Engineered – yes (limited)	Solid timber – yes (multiple times)

Expert Supervision & Unmatched Experience on Every Flooring Project

🏆 Meet David Smith – A True Timber Flooring Authority

David holds some of the highest qualifications in the industry, ensuring that your timber flooring project meets the strictest quality standards:

✔ Technical Timber Flooring Qualification – National Skills Training Organisation (RTO: 45438).
✔ Certified Supervisor – Licensed by Service NSW.
✔ ATFA Accredited Training – Completed over a dozen advanced courses, including:

Accessing Timber Floors – Ensuring the right flooring for the right space.
Advanced Floor Inspector – Identifying and resolving flooring issues with expert precision.
✔ Cert III & IV in Timber Technology – Mastery of timber characteristics, treatments, and installation techniques.

With David’s decades of expertise and advanced technical knowledge, you can trust that every flooring project is handled with the utmost skill, attention to detail, and professionalism.

Our Work – Stunning Timber Flooring Transformations

Avoid Costly Flooring Mistakes:

Learn how to spot red flags, ask the right questions, and ensure flawless results.

The Smart & Sustainable Choice: Why Wood is Better for Your Home and the Environment

Sustainable Timber Flooring with Bona Certified Finishes

At AJ Flooring, we believe that beautiful timber flooring should go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. That’s why we use Bona Certified finishes, a globally trusted solution for eco-friendly, durable, and safe floor treatments. With over 100 years of innovation, Bona leads the way in sustainable flooring solutions, ensuring that every finish we apply is designed to protect your floors, your home, and the planet.

Bona is dedicated to minimising environmental impact across the entire lifecycle of its products. Their sustainability commitment includes:

✔ Water-Based Finishes & Low VOC Formulas – Reducing air pollution and eliminating harmful chemicals found in traditional solvent-based finishes.
✔ Renewable & Biodegradable Ingredients – Designed to be safe for both indoor air quality and the environment.
✔ Non-Toxic, Low-Odour & Family-Friendly – Ideal for homes with children, pets, and allergy sufferers.

By choosing Bona Certified finishes, you are investing in a flooring solution that supports responsible resource use, cleaner indoor air, and a healthier planet.

Thinking About Floating Floorboards? Let’s Talk Timber

Floating floorboards can be a smart, stylish choice, if done right. At AJ Flooring, we’ve helped thousands of Sydney homeowners choose and install flooring that fits their lifestyle, budget, and space.

We don’t sell for the sake of selling, we advise, install, and support every step of the way.

📞 Call us on 0408 659 109 or
📅 Book a In-Home Quote Today

Let’s make your flooring decision a confident one.

Common Floating Floorboard Questions

Can you install floating floors over tiles?

Yes! As long as the tiles are sound, clean, and level, floating systems can be installed directly on top.

Do floating floorboards move or creak?

When installed correctly with proper underlay and expansion gaps, they should feel solid. Cheaper installations or poor subfloors may lead to creaks or bounce.

Are floating floors waterproof?

Hybrid and some vinyl floating systems are 100% waterproof. Engineered and laminate floors are water-resistant, but not waterproof.

Can I sand floating floorboards?

Only engineered timber floors with a thick top layer can be sanded, and only once or twice. Laminate and hybrid flooring cannot be sanded.