Click Lock Floating vs Tongue and Groove Flooring - How to Choose

Wooden floors come in different shapes and forms and require different installation methods or provide different opportunities to have the floor fitted under specific circumstances. Although almost all real wood floors appeal to look the same, when installed, some of them will come with a specific design of the floorboards that determines the exact installation method that should be utilised for flawless results. You may be wondering whether or not this specific installation design means the floor is of higher or lower quality when compared to the other similar options. Well, it could be so, but it is also not the whole truth.

The thing is, some wood floor installation projects do not go as in the flooring books and guides. There are specific requirements of the project and some unique circumstances that may leave you with no choice but the only option to have the floor fitted a specific way or don’t have a wooden floor installed at all. Therefore, the whole point behind the specific installation design is not about quality but mainly about providing you with the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful floor even if there are some issues with the subfloor, the specific environment of the room, or something else. Today we would like to discuss more different types of wood flooring and more specifically two of the most popular and common ones – click lock floating and tongue and groove wooden floors.

So how to choose between both and make sure you are making the right choice? Whether to opt for the more recent and modern option, the click lock floating wooden floor, or go on the beaten path and select the classic tongue and groove wood flooring? There is no doubt that both options have their advantages and disadvantages. However, the advantages and disadvantages are not necessarily determined by the quality of the floorboards but are more so a question of whether one of the options is more suitable for your project than the other.

In general, the common belief is that the more modern click lock floating wood floor system is more suitable for DIY-ers considering how easy it is to install a floor thanks to the fitting system. In addition, this type of wood flooring allows for a floating installation, which means the floorboards can be laid over even subfloors that cannot be absolutely dry or levelled for some reason. On the other hand, the more classic tongue and groove wood flooring option requires the use of adhesive. It may not be the easiest thing to do on this planet and probably not the best idea for a DIY project, however, it has stood the test of time and the tongue and groove fitting system is proven to be a very durable and long-lasting one.

Click Lock Floating Wood Flooring – Pros and Cons

The click lock floating installation design is very similar to the classic tongue and groove floorboards. However, in the case of the click lock system, the tongue of the floorboard locks into the groove of the next floorboard without the need of using adhesive or glue. There are different types of click lock designs, however, the main idea and concept of the installation method remain the same. Also, different click lock systems come with a different fit. Some of them will have a tighter fit than others. However, be aware that a certain level of flexibility should be allowed in order to make sure the floor won’t get damaged, buckle, or warp as a result of natural movement caused by moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations.

Pros

The click lock floating wood flooring is very popular nowadays, mainly due to the fact it is easy to find everywhere. In addition, click lock wood floorboards come in a really impressive variety of colours, wood species, textures, board sizes, finishes, and more. So it is practically impossible to not find exactly what you are looking for, even if you are the pickiest customer. In addition, click lock wood floorboards are available in different thickness options, which means you will be able to have your floor sanded at least once in its lifecycle, often more than just once. No matter what type of click lock wood flooring you select, it is guaranteed the installation will be very easy and smooth running.

It is a great option for a DIY project too. The best part is that a click lock wood flooring allows the opportunity of a floating installation on top of a subfloor that cannot be completely dry or levelled for some reason. Often enough, such issues with the subfloor prevent homeowners from having the wooden floor of their dreams, because the moisture or unevenness of the subfloor hides the risk of damaging the floor in the longer term, therefore the fitting of such a floor is not recommended. However, with a click lock floating system, there is no risk anymore. With a click lock wood flooring, you don’t have to use glue, nails, or screws to fix the floor down to the subfloor.

The interlocking system is strong enough to fix the floorboards together and ensure a lasting, hard-wearing, and durable floor. All you need is attention to detail when snapping the floorboards together with a steady hand. As a result, you can enjoy a sturdy, solid, lasting floor. Finally, it is significantly easier to have a click lock floating wood floor repaired. Having a few damaged floorboards replaced with this type of flooring is easy and does not hide the risk for the rest of the boards. You can remove the damaged floorboards without worrying that you will destroy and snap the “tongue” part of the floorboards. Snapping and unsnapping the floorboards is not complex at all and won’t damage the rest of the floor.

Cons

When it comes to a click lock wood flooring, you will find it a bit limiting in terms of installation options. This type of flooring is designed with the main purpose of floating installation, therefore, it requires more transition moulding and investment in a higher soundproofing underlayment. Keep in mind that not all click lock wood floors are manufactured the same. Some of them may come in very poor quality, which means you won’t be able to enjoy them for long. Therefore, we always recommend our clients invest in click lock wood floors with a patented system from reputable and world-renowned brands.