There are four methods for installing a wood floor: nail down, staple down, glue down, and free-float. If cement is the base of your floor, then you can only use glue down and free-float. If you have plywood, then you can use any of the four choices. This article explains how to go about the installation of free-floating floors.

The four methods from easiest to hardest are:

Free-float: requires little to no experience, and will help you save money on the cost of installation. If you have no experience, this is the one recommended.

Glue down: recommended for people with some experience. This method is not that difficult if your sub-floor is flat or requires only a minimal amount of preparation.

Staple down: this method requires skill with power tools. You may be able to rent the stapler that is needed for this job.

Nail down: if you need to read this article to find out how to install a floor, this method is not for you. It requires experience and specific tools.

Free-Float Installations

Floating floors are installed as a panel system, rather than as individual strips of wood. Most panels come in 8