Sprung floor : Yes ? No ? Maybe ?

Advantage n°1 : A wooden floor at a low price 

The price of a floating parquet floor will be much less expensive than a solid parquet floor made in a glued or nailed installation. Its cost will depend on the quality of the planks and the type of wood chosen. For a glued parquet floor, one will count between 20 euros and 50 euros per m2 but the price can reach a hundred euros per m2 for a top-of-the-range version. Laminated parquet will be slightly less expensive than engineered parquet.

In contrast to laminated parquet made of synthetic materials, the upper part of the floating floor is made of noble wood similar to solid parquet. The other two layers are usually made of HDF (high-density fibreboard). In almost 90% of cases, the upper part (called the top layer) is made of oak.

Advantage n°2: Ease of installation  

The floating floor is very easy to install by clipping it onto a flexible underlay, whereas the vast majority of solid wood floors are nailed or glued. The main advantage of floating parquet is its quick installation. It is also a very affordable type of parquet (especially laminate flooring), unlike solid parquet, which is much more expensive.

This flooring is also easy to maintain on a daily basis because the planks are already pre-treated: there is no need to wax or varnish it regularly. It is also more stable than a solid wood floor, thanks to the combination of 3 different layers and is resistant to temperature changes. 

Disadvantage n°1: Parquet with low acoustic performance .

These are explained by the air space present in the floor, creating a resonance effect. To remedy this, it is therefore necessary to install a sound-insulating underlay in addition to the classic vapour barrier.

Disadvantage n°2: It does not resist humidity very well. 

It is recommended to install a floating parquet floor in a bedroom or living room rather than a kitchen and in general it is best to avoid the flooring altogether if the dwelling shows signs of dampness. The sanding of a floating floor will depend on the thickness of the wood, the thinner the wood, the more limited the sanding will be. If you fear scratches and stains, prefer oiled floating parquet rather than varnished.

In other words, effective and cheap, the success of floating parquet is not due to chance either! Before you take the plunge and let yourself be tempted by the more-than-attractive price, don't hesitate to call on an architect or interior decorator who will be able to advise you on your renovation!