Click (or lock) flooring is a relatively new type of 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.
There are several types of click (or lock) flooring, but the most common and most popular are either made from laminate or engineered wood. Laminate click (or lock) 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.
Engineered hardwood click (or lock) flooring boards are based on a combination of wood and other materials. Engineered wood flooring is typically made up of three layers of hardwood plus a layer of plywood or MDF, all of which is finished off with a layer of hardwood. Because of the make up of the top layer of engineered hardwood flooring (no matter whether it’s click nor not), the look of both solid and engineered hardwood flooring will be exactly the same. In other words, engineered click (or lock) flooring will look just like the real thing, whereas laminates won’t and don’t.
Although a small number of click (or lock) flooring options are now made and offered on the market in solid wood, these are the exception rather than the rule.
There are several click (or lock) systems available on the market, the majority of which are made of either laminate or engineered boards. One of the biggest attractions of click (or lock) flooring is its apparent ease of installation. The clever marketing of this product, which shows it as incredibly simple and easy to install, has made it particularly attractive to the DIY market.
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FAQ
1. What is Click (or Lock) flooring?
Click (or Lock) flooring is a type of wood flooring option that involves boards which “click” or “lock” together. This eliminates the need for using nails, staples, or glue, making it a simple and straightforward option for installing a wooden floor, particularly for DIY projects.
2. How is Click (or Lock) flooring installed?
Click (or Lock) flooring is installed using a floating method. It’s similar to traditional tongue and groove wood flooring, but it has an additional interlocking profile around its edge which enables the boards to be clicked, snapped, or locked together.
3. What materials are commonly used in Click (or Lock) flooring?
Click (or Lock) flooring is most commonly made from either laminate or engineered wood. Laminate floors use wood boards covered with a printed paper finish, while engineered hardwood flooring is made of three layers of hardwood plus a layer of plywood or MDF, topped with a layer of hardwood.
4. How does Click (or Lock) flooring compare to solid wood flooring in terms of appearance?
Engineered Click (or Lock) flooring will look just like solid wood, due to the top layer of engineered hardwood flooring. However, laminate floors, although designed to look like real wood, don’t quite achieve the same aesthetic as solid wood.
5. What is the main attraction of Click (or Lock) flooring?
One of the biggest attractions of Click (or Lock) flooring is its ease of installation. The design allows for a simple and easy installation process, making it particularly attractive for the DIY market.