When making decisions on a new flooring project, many people struggle with the choice between tongue and groove and click system flooring. Ascertaining which system will work best for your needs depends to a large extent on the characteristics of your specific project.
Tongue and groove wood flooring
Tongue and groove wood flooring is made up of planks, each of which feature a tongue and a groove. The grooves on tongue and groove wood flooring planks are cut into one long side and one short side and the tongues stick out on the other two sides. In its installation, tongue and groove wood flooring can either be secret nailed, glued down to a suitable sub floor or laid in a floating installation. When fitting a tongue and groove wood floor, the idea is to fit each tongue into each groove. Once installed, a tongue and groove wood flooring system results in a smooth and long lasting finish.
Click, or lock wood flooring
Click, or lock wood flooring as it’s sometimes known, is a relatively new to the market wood flooring option. Essentially a way of covering existing flooring (but not uneven wood floors or carpet), it gets its name from the fact that the boards used in its construction process “click” (or lock) together, removing the need for fixing using nails, staples or glue. In fact, click (or lock) flooring is often portrayed as one of the simplest, most straightforward ways of installing a wooden floor, particularly on a DIY basis. Installed using a floating method, click (or lock) flooring is very similar to traditional tongue and groove wood flooring but has the additional feature of an interlocking profile around its edge which enables the boards to be clicked, snapped or locked together. The most common and most popular click or lock flooring systems are either made from laminate or engineered wood. Laminate floors are not made of wood. They are made from wood boards that are covered with a printed, paper finish. They are made to look like the real thing, but aren’t. It is still relatively rare to find solid wood click (or lock) flooring.
The main attraction of click (or lock) flooring is its ease of installation, making it particularly attractive to the DIY market. Tongue and groove wood flooring, on the other hand, when installed by a professional, will result in really impressively low wastage (as low as 5% in some instances), which means that you benefit from minimum waste and maximum coverage per m2 bought as well as a really great end result.
How the two compare
| Fitting Method | Description | Installation | Materials Commonly Used | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tongue and Groove | Planks feature a tongue and a groove. Grooves are cut into one long side and one short side, and the tongues stick out on the other two sides. | Can be secret nailed, glued down to a suitable subfloor, or laid in a floating installation. | Typically used for solid wood and engineered wood. | Results in a smooth, long-lasting finish. When installed by a professional, can result in very low wastage. |
| Click (or Lock) | Boards have an interlocking profile around their edge which allows them to be clicked, snapped, or locked together. | Installed using a floating method. | Most commonly made from laminate or engineered wood. Rare to find solid wood click flooring. | Known for its ease of installation, making it attractive for DIY projects. Covers existing flooring (but not uneven wood floors or carpet). |
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FAQ
1. What is tongue and groove wood flooring?
Tongue and groove wood flooring consists of planks that feature a tongue on one side and a groove on the other. The installation involves fitting each tongue into each groove, which results in a smooth and long-lasting finish.
2. How can tongue and groove wood flooring be installed?
Tongue and groove wood flooring can be secret nailed, glued down to a suitable subfloor, or laid in a floating installation.
3. What is click or lock wood flooring?
Click or lock wood flooring, which is relatively new to the market, involves boards that interlock together, eliminating the need for fixing using nails, staples, or glue. This flooring is typically installed using a floating method and is popular due to its ease of installation.
4. What materials are most common in click or lock flooring systems?
The most common and popular click or lock flooring systems are either made from laminate or engineered wood. Laminate floors are made from wood boards that are covered with a printed, paper finish to look like real wood.
5. What are the advantages of tongue and groove wood flooring and click or lock flooring?
The main attraction of click or lock flooring is its ease of installation, making it attractive for DIY projects. On the other hand, professional installation of tongue and groove wood flooring often results in impressively low wastage, which means minimum waste, maximum coverage per m2 bought, and a great end result.