December 16, 2025
A floating timber floor is joined board to board over an underlay, without being glued or nailed to the subfloor. Floating timber floors suit many Sydney homes and apartments because they can go down over a flat, sound subfloor without being glued to it. This guide explains how they work, which of our timber ranges can be floated, and when another method is the better fit.
In a floating floor, the boards lock or glue to each other along their edges, and the finished floor sits on an underlay. Nothing fixes it to the slab or subfloor below. Its own weight keeps it in place. Skirting or scotia covers the gap at the edges but is fixed to the wall, so the floor can still move. You may also hear it called a floating wooden floor or floating timber flooring.
Because the floor is one connected piece, it expands and contracts with the seasons as a whole.
Floating installation is used with engineered timber, where a real timber top layer sits on a stable core such as plywood. Solid timber boards are usually nailed or glued down instead. Our guide to engineered vs solid timber flooring explains the difference.
Not every timber range is made to float. These two have the joint types used for floating floors:
For our other timber flooring ranges, such as Royal 14/2mm Oak, European Oak Plank and Royal AquaCore Aussie Species, ask us which installation methods suit your home.
| Method | How it is fixed | Subfloors it suits | Feel and sound | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floating | Boards join to each other over an underlay | Flat concrete slabs and flat, sound timber or sheet subfloors | Depends on the underlay; a good one reduces hollow sound | No adhesive to the subfloor; tongue and groove boards are glued at the joins |
| Glued (direct stick) | Boards are trowel-glued to the subfloor | Flat, dry, sound slabs and sheet subfloors | Solid and quiet underfoot | Needs careful subfloor preparation; harder to lift later |
| Nailed | Boards are nailed to joists, battens or a sheet subfloor | Timber subfloors | Firm, traditional feel | Common for solid timber sanded and finished on site |
The right method depends on the product, the subfloor and, in apartments, the building’s rules. At a free measure and quote we look at your subfloor and tell you which methods will work.
Yes. Underlay is part of a floating system. It cushions the boards and reduces the hollow sound a floating floor can make underfoot. A moisture barrier always goes under a floating timber floor, either built into the underlay or laid separately.
Apartments need extra care. Hard floors carry footstep noise to the unit below, and many strata buildings set acoustic rules. Some schemes ask for an acoustic test report. Check your by-laws and get written approval before you order. Our guide to the best flooring for apartments has more tips.
A floating floor follows the surface underneath it, so the subfloor has to be right first:
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on acclimatising the boards before installation.
Timber takes up and gives off moisture as humidity changes, so the boards move slightly. With no room at the edges, a floating floor can push up or peak.
Hybrid floors also float, but they are a different product: a timber-look surface on a rigid core. Royal 8.5mm Hybrid, for example, has a rigid, waterproof core and click-lock floating installation. Floating timber gives you a real timber surface, while a hybrid suits wet-prone rooms better. Compare them in our guide to hybrid vs engineered timber flooring, or browse our hybrid flooring range.
When you book a free measure and quote, we measure each room, check the subfloor and talk through underlay, trims and any strata needs. Our installation team then lays the floor to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Royal Floors gives a 2 year installation warranty, and product warranties come from the manufacturer. See our warranty page and our flooring installation and repairs service.
See floating timber in person at our Penrith, Campbelltown and Hornsby timber flooring showrooms, or at Logan in Queensland.
A floating timber floor is made of engineered boards that join to each other over an underlay. It is not glued or nailed to the subfloor, so the whole floor can expand and contract as one piece.
They can be. The right acoustic underlay helps, but the result also depends on your building’s slab and ceiling. Many strata schemes have rules about hard floors and noise, and some ask for a test report, so check your by-laws and get approval before you order.
Solid timber is usually nailed or glued down. Floating installation is used with engineered timber. Ask us which methods suit the range you like.
No. Timber is not waterproof, so wipe up spills quickly. Royal AquaCore Oak has a water-resistant core, but its installation guide rules out bathrooms and laundries. For laundries, or bathrooms outside the shower where the range’s guide allows, a hybrid floor with a waterproof core may suit better.
Yes. Leave the gap the manufacturer specifies around the edges of the room and at fixed objects, then cover it with skirting or scotia.
Visit Royal Floors in Penrith, Campbelltown, Hornsby or Logan, book a free measure and quote, or call 1300 980 501. With over 20 years of experience, we can help you choose the right timber and installation method.
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