The floating installation of a 3-layer parquet

How you can lay your wooden flooring by a floating installation

Our 3-layer floorboards Profi by adler and Villa by adler are also suited for floating installation. Please note, however, that we always recommend full spread gluing if laid over underfloor hot water heating.

Floating installation means there is no solid connection between parquet and the floor underneath. Parquet floorboard tongues are glued into the grooves throughout, using waterproof adhesive. The adhesive is applied into the top groove and onto the tongue with a bottle with nozzle, along both the longitudinal and front end sides.

Preparation before starting the installation

Please pay attention to some important issues before you start with the laying of your wooden flooring. These points can be seen in our booklet „installation instruction“ which you can download.

Check the substrate for unevenness. Unevenness > 3 mm per meter must be levelled using a suitable levelling compound. Footfall sound insulation will be required under floating installation parquet floors, possibly also a vapour barrier. Roll out and secure suitable footfall sound insulation as specified by the manufacturer.

For a harmonious appearance, the product from at least three packages should be mixed. Make sure that the overall appearance of the wood will be uniform and harmonious.

Starting the floating installation – the first rows

Start laying in the left corner of the longest wall of the room. Start with the groove side facing the wall. Prepare the first three rows for laying. Lay on a dry substrate to allow for adjustments towards the adjacent wall.

Start by laying the first three parquet rows, glue them down spaced adequately from the wall. Space at least 10 mm from all upright building elements (walls, pillars, heater pipes, etc.). Ignoring this will stress the construction and potentially bulge the flooring.

Next steps of the floating installation

Continue to accurately join the next row of elements by gently pushing the tongue and groove together after applying adhesive to the top side of the tongue of the element already in place and to the top lip of the groove in the next element. A wooden block and pull bar may be useful here.

Please note that, depending on the pattern, the offset should be at least twice the width of the floorboard.

Please immediately remove excess glue with a moist cotton cloth. The offcut at the end of a row may be used to start off the next row.

Also check the elements for material flaws as you lay them. Installed elements with visible material flaws will not be considered under warranty!

Give your parquet space

Space at least 10 mm from all upright building elements (walls, pillars, heater pipes, etc.). Ignoring this will stress the construction and potentially bulge the flooring.

Maximal room length for floating installation in one piece

For floating installation, do not lay lengths longer than 12m and / or in widths wider than 6m in one piece. If these dimensions must be exceeded, it is imperative to include an expansion gap or alternatively to opt for full spread gluing. Also ensure that floating installations will include expansion gaps in doorways between rooms. The expansion gaps may be closed with transition profiles (please observe the manufacturer’s installation instructions here). Ignoring this will stress the construction and potentially bulge the flooring.