Trying to decide between floating vinyl plank flooring and glue-down vinyl?

If you’re looking for a versatile, long-lasting flooring option, you can’t go wrong with vinyl.

Vinyl flooring is a stylish, durable, and cost-effective option that can transform your home without destroying your renovation budget. When shopping for flooring, you’ll find there are many different products available, all with varying materials, installation processes, and price points.

Picking the best type of flooring for your project can feel overwhelming when you don’t understand the differences between all of the options available. Here, we explore floating versus glue-down vinyl plank flooring, how they compare in durability, and the varying costs.
Let’s dive in!

What Is Floating Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Floating vinyl plank flooring is a click-together system using grooved edges that latch together. The entire floor locks together above the subfloor. Requiring minimal materials for installation, floating vinyl plank flooring is the perfect DIY solution. Floating vinyl is a great option for both home use and commercial spaces.

What Is Glue-down Vinyl Flooring?

Glue-down vinyl flooring (also called loose-lay vinyl flooring) relies on an adhesive that connects the planks to the subfloor. Rather than adhering the planks together, the installation method involves gluing or taping them down. While the installation process may take a bit more work upfront, glue-down vinyl flooring offers a permanent and long-lasting finish.

What Are the Differences in Durability?

Floating and glue-down vinyl plank flooring offer varying levels of durability. Glue-down vinyl adheres to the subfloor, offering stronger performance in high-traffic areas. Because of the improved traction, glue-down may offer the best durability in commercial spaces with constant foot traffic or rooms with heavy furniture.

Floating vinyl flooring also offers excellent durability, depending on the scenario. Modern solutions feature advanced moisture resistance, which may be perfect for a bathroom, laundry room, or bedroom. We recommend considering the room’s use and furniture when picking the most durable vinyl floor.

Both options offer excellent noise-dampening features, modern design options, and maintenance requirements. You can typically use a variety of standard vacuums, brooms, mops, and cleaning products on sheet vinyl as you would on other hard floors. Still, we do recommend referring to your chosen product’s maintenance instructions for more specific care information.

Comparing the Costs

Vinyl plank flooring, in general, is one of the most cost-effective solutions on the market, though the type you choose can affect your total purchase price. When comparing the costs of floating versus glue-down systems, you must consider the price of materials and whether or not you will be installing it yourself.

Floating vinyl flooring typically costs more per square foot, but you can easily install it yourself, so you’ll save on the installation costs. Glue-down systems cost a bit less for materials, though you may prefer to hire a professional for installation.

The average cost range for each flooring option are:

Glue-down: Around $1-2 per square foot
Floating: Around $3-5 per square foot

Get the Vinyl Plank Flooring You Need at the Best Price

At the 99 Cent Floor Store, we pride ourselves on offering the area’s most affordable and highest-quality flooring systems to match the style of your home or commercial space.

Shop our selection of vinyl plank flooring options online, or visit our store at 21019 Spring Towne Dr., Spring, TX, 77388.

If you have any questions about our flooring materials, give us a call at 281-907-6444. Our flooring experts will be happy to guide you through the selection process to ensure you get exactly what you’re looking for.