Can You Put One Floating Floor on Top of Another?

Substrate

• A substrate is the surface underneath a floor. Floating floors can be installed over nearly any type of substrate, as long as it is clean, level and hard; don't install floating floors over carpet, however. Concrete, vinyl, wood and tile are all acceptable substrates for floating floors. Even old floating floors are acceptable, as long as they are still in good condition and haven't buckled due to moisture damage.

Precautions

• In some cases, homeowners should remove the old flooring before installing a floating floor. According to one manufacturer of floating laminate flooring, wood floors installed directly over a concrete slab should be removed before installing a floating floor. Wood floors, solid plank or engineered, laid over concrete have the tendency to expand and contract with changes in moisture, which may cause separating or buckling in the floating floor above them. Laminate floating floors installed over concrete may also expand and contract and should be removed before installing a new floating floor.

Preparing the Substrate

• The substrate should be thoroughly cleaned before the new floor is laid. Homeowners should consult the floating floot manufacturer's installation instructions; they may have directions specific to the floor type regarding acceptable substrates and substrate preparation. Depending on the flooring and the substrate, the homeowner may need to lay down 6 mil plastic as a water barrier and foam underlayment for cushioning and sound-dampening. In general, only the foam is required if installing over existing flooring.

Installation Tips

• Condition your flooring for installation by leaving it in the room where it will be installed for at least 48 hours. Leave a 5/8-inch gap between the flooring and each wall so the floor can float. Measure the length of the room and subtract 5/8-inch. Then, divide that number by the width of your planks or tiles to find out how many rows, or courses, need to be installed.