Should my new floor be floating or glued down?

I choose the installation method around the flooring product and the room, rather than treating one method as better for every home. With a floating floor, the joined boards form a surface that is not bonded across its underside to the substrate. A glue-down system uses a specified adhesive to bond the flooring to a prepared base.

The product instructions come first. Some engineered timber products offer both options, while other floors are designed for a particular system. A click joint does not automatically mean any adhesive can be added, and a product intended to float should not be fixed down simply to stop a noise or movement problem.

I also look at the substrate, moisture conditions, finished height and room layout. Floating systems need the specified underlay or attached backing arrangements and freedom for the floor to move as designed. Glue-down systems need a suitable prepared surface and compatible adhesive. Neither method makes an uneven or damp base acceptable without the necessary preparation.

Underfoot feel and sound are worth discussing, but a method name alone does not establish acoustic compliance. In an apartment, I would check the building's requirements and the evidence for the complete floor build-up. If there is underfloor heating, the flooring, adhesive or underlay and heating instructions also need to agree before a method is selected.

For your quote, I would explain which system is proposed and include the relevant preparation and finishing details. Show me the exact product, adjoining floors and any restrictions on access or floor height. That allows us to compare workable options for your home, including how a future repair might be approached, instead of comparing installation labels alone.