Should parquet flooring be laid as a floating floor or glued – which installation method is the right one?

Choosing a high-quality real wood floor is usually a long-term plan. In addition to the type of wood, grading, and surface finish, the installation method is crucial for the final feeling of your home: Should the parquet be installed as a floating floor or fully glued down?

This decision influences room acoustics, the feel underfoot, heat transfer for underfloor heating, and the effort required for removal later on. In this guide, you will learn when to glue your parquet and when to install it as a floating floor, which underlay and adhesive are suitable, and which method is the right one for your project.

A quick decision-making aid

• Floating installation if you are laying engineered parquet or country house planks with a click system, want to finish quickly, or intend to remove the floor later (e.g., in a rented apartment).
• Fully glued installation if you value a solid, quiet sound when walking, have underfloor heating, or are laying parquet strips, mosaic parquet, or solid parquet.
• Glue or screw for solid wood planks – depending on the subfloor and the product's installation instructions.
• Always check the subfloor first: Moisture, levelness, and load-bearing capacity determine which installation method is even an option.

Suitable products at Gunreben

• 3-layer country house plank click oak Select/Nature – Country house plank with click system, can be installed floating or glued (observe installation instructions).
• Oak parquet strip Select/Nature 22 mm unfinished – solid parquet strip for full-surface gluing.
• G² parquet adhesive SM Polymer – shear-elastic parquet adhesive for solid and engineered parquet.
• G² parquet cork underlay 2.0 mm – impact sound insulation for floating or screwed installation.

What does floating installation mean?

Floating installation means that the floor is laid loosely on the subfloor. The planks are connected only to each other via a click system or tongue-and-groove gluing. This method is mainly standard for engineered parquet and 3-layer country house planks or vinyl.

The right underlay for floating parquet

A suitable underlay for impact sound insulation is required between the subfloor and the flooring. On mineral subfloors such as screed, a vapor barrier must additionally be included depending on the construction. At Gunreben, you will find, for example:

• Cork underlay 2.0 mm – reduces impact sound and walking noise, pressure-resistant, roll 1.0 × 10 m.
• Foam fleece 2.0 mm – even load distribution and more walking comfort, roll 1.1 × 100 m for larger areas.

Further underlays and cork strips for wall connections can be found in the Underlays category. If you have underfloor heating, check whether the underlay is approved for it – it increases the thermal resistance of the entire structure.

Installing parquet as a floating floor: Pros & Cons

• Pros: Fast installation, no glue costs, immediately walkable, and easy to remove when moving out, for example, from a rented property.
• Cons: Floating parquet has a slightly "bouncy" feel when walking, can have higher impact and walking noise without a suitable underlay, and increases thermal resistance in rooms with underfloor heating. Perimeter gaps to the wall are necessary around the area; large areas and doorways require expansion joints depending on the installation instructions.

Fully glued installation: The professional standard

With gluing, the floor covering is bonded directly to the screed. This is the common installation method for parquet strips, mosaic parquet, and solid parquet and is also used for many engineered parquet floors.

Advantages of gluing

• Good acoustics: Since there is no cavity between the floor and the subfloor, walking noise is quiet and solid.
• Heat transfer with underfloor heating: Heat is conducted directly into the wood without an insulating underlay.
• Firm connection: Fully glued parquet is firmly connected to the subfloor. This can be an advantage when sanding and renovating later.
• Free installation patterns: Herringbone, ship's floor (brick pattern), or mosaic patterns can practically only be realized by gluing.

Adhesive and tools

For a good result, a suitable parquet adhesive and professional subfloor testing (CM measurement) are essential. The G² parquet adhesive SM Polymer is a single-component, shear-elastic adhesive according to EN 14293 for solid and multi-layer parquet; according to product information, it is classified according to GEV EMICODE EC1R PLUS. For special requirements, there is the 2-component PU adhesive. Depending on the subfloor, a primer is necessary, for example G² primer PU. The suitable notched trowel depends on the adhesive and parquet format – the specifications of the adhesive are decisive.

Solid wood planks: glue or screw?

Solid wood planks are either fully glued or screwed onto a sub-construction or a suitable wood-based subfloor. A purely floating installation is not intended for solid wood because the planks react more strongly to fluctuations in air humidity.

• Gluing: on screed, often with underfloor heating – using elastic parquet adhesive.
• Screwing: on battens or wood-based panels, for example with the solid wood plank special screw 3.5 × 45 mm. According to product information, the cork underlay or the foam fleece are suitable as an underlay.

Glue parquet to tiles or install as a floating floor? Why we advise against it

Renovation forums often claim that parquet can easily be glued directly onto an old tiled floor or installed as a floating floor. From our professional perspective, however, this procedure carries significant risks for the wooden floor, which is why we in the specialist trade explicitly advise against it.

• The problem with floating installation: Solid parquet naturally works heavily with humidity fluctuations. A floating installation is technically inadmissible here. Even with multi-layer parquet, floating installation on tiles often leads to unpleasant creaking noises and poor room acoustics.
• Lack of adhesion when gluing: Tiles usually have a high-density, mostly glazed surface. Simple sanding is not enough. Without time-consuming and expensive diamond grinding, special adhesion primers, and full-surface leveling filler, the parquet adhesive will not form a permanent bond.
• Unpredictable moisture: Tiles act like a vapor barrier. Any residual moisture present or rising from the subfloor cannot escape and migrates directly into the wood. This inevitably leads to swelling, cupping, and, in the worst case, total damage to the parquet.

In practice, it is therefore advisable to first create a flawless, level surface with a suitable leveling compound if there are uneven areas before you lay solid parquet.

Parquet with underfloor heating: floating or glued?

If you use underfloor heating, full-surface gluing is the clear recommendation. Glued wood transfers heat to the room faster than a floating parquet with an underlay, and the heat is distributed more evenly. Whether a floor is suitable for underfloor heating can be found in the technical details of the respective product. You can read more about this in our guide Parquet and underfloor heating.

Check the subfloor: This applies to both installation types

• Moisture: The screed must be ready for installation. The residual moisture is checked with the CM measurement; with underfloor heating, a heating-up protocol is required beforehand.
• Levelness: Unevenness leads to hollow spots and creaking with floating installation, and to an uneven adhesive bed with gluing. Fill larger uneven areas beforehand.
• Load-bearing capacity and cleanliness: Remove loose layers, dust, and release agents so that adhesive and primer can adhere.
• Room climate: Allow parquet to acclimatize in the room before installation and observe the installation instructions regarding temperature and humidity.

Checklist: What is the right choice for you?

Frequently asked questions

Can click-parquet also be glued?

Many engineered parquet and country house planks with a click system can be installed both floating and fully glued. The installation instructions for the respective product are decisive. With underfloor heating, gluing is generally worth it.

Is floating parquet louder?

Floating parquet can produce a slightly brighter, louder walking sound in the room than glued parquet. A good impact sound underlay like cork softens this significantly, but it usually doesn't quite reach the sound of a glued floor.

Which underlay do I need for floating installation?

Impact sound insulation like cork or foam fleece; on screed, additionally a vapor barrier depending on the construction. With underfloor heating, pay attention to an underlay suitable for this.

Can glued parquet be removed again?

Yes, but with significantly more effort: The parquet must be detached and the adhesive residues sanded off the screed. Those who expect to remove the floor again are better advised with a floating installation.

Can I glue parquet myself?

With manual experience, this is possible. Decisive factors are the subfloor test, the right primer, the appropriate trowel notch, and the processing time of the adhesive. For underfloor heating and large areas, we recommend a specialist company.

Conclusion: Glue or install parquet as a floating floor?

Installing parquet as a floating floor is the fast, cost-effective solution for DIYers and those who want to remain flexible. However, those who value a solid walking sound, good heat transfer with underfloor heating, and classic installation patterns should have their parquet fully glued. For solid wood planks, gluing or screwing are options.

Discover our selection of country house planks, parquet strips, and engineered parquet now, or find the right accessories such as adhesives, underlays, and skirting boards.

Would you like to hold the wood type, grading, and surface in your hands before deciding? Via Request samples, you will receive a sample of your desired floor. The sample is free of charge; you only pay the shipping costs. You are also welcome to view our floors in our showroom. Craft businesses and commercial customers can reach us via the commercial contact.

More knowledge from the Gunreben Magazine:

• Proper care: How to keep your glued parquet beautiful
• Parquet and underfloor heating: What to consider?
• Parquet types at a glance: Strip, mosaic, industrial, and solid parquet
• Glue or click vinyl flooring? The installation types in comparison