hi,
just bought a hardwood oak floor (tongue & groove) and the specialist at the shop told me he installed it as a floating floor and didn't use either glue or self-adhesives sheets. Apparently his floor has been laid for over 2 years and has never moved. So I'm tempted to do it too (as the glue or self-adhesive i.e. elastilon are expensive) but i'm not sure this is right since this is a proper hardwood floor and not an engineered floor. Has anyone got experience about floating hardwood floor (T&G) and should i do it? Thanks a lot

Ummmm, so what is this guy at the shop a specialist in?
If I read your post correctly, you have purchased a solid hardwood wood floor with tongue and groove. You have been told that you can float this, without even the use of adhesive? You further have been told that the adhesive is expensive? Tongue and groove glue works out to about 10 cents a foot so shouldnt be a cost prohibitive item. However, if your floor is indeed solid, its not a good candidate for a floating install.
Please add some more details because something is wrong somewhere with the information as provided.

what is this guy at the shop a specialist in? well he said he was.. but I'm not sure to be honnest.


you have purchased a solid hardwood wood floor with tongue and groove = correct
You have been told that you can float this, without even the use of adhesive? = correct
You further have been told that the adhesive is expensive? = yes he meant the Elastilon type on self-adehsive system, not the glue for the Tongue & grooves.

I also thought it was strange. I'm planning to lay the floor on a concrete floor. I will lay a damp proof sheet and then I need advice on what to do next:

Option A: float it -- as he recommended but have my own suspcions that it may be wrong
Option B: use a self-adhesive like Elastilon under the flooring and glue T&G
Option C: only glue the tongue & groove, no elastilon .. just lay as floating but Tongue & groves will be glued together
option D: glue T&G and the floor on the concrete... but this is a very expensive option and probably require a professional to do it.

So I'm thinking to go for option B or C... what do you think ? Thanks a lot

how bout option E. Return the floor that is not suited for your installation and get a eng. floor that has been designed to be floated over a concrete subfloor. Edge gluing a solid floor on concrete is asking for trouble imo. Solid hardwood floors need to be nailed down to a wooden subfloor that is above grade. NO manufacture will warrent that installation and you will be stuck with a loose floor that prob is going to buckle and do all kinds of bad stuff.
btw any flooring expert who sold you a solid 3/4" oak floor for that type install should reclass himself as someone needing to make a quick buck expert.

I think you have the wrong product.
The floor you have is designed to be nailed to a plywood subfloor.
So your actual options are:

1: Return the product and purchase an engineered floor designed to be floated.
2: Install a plywood subfloor to allow for proper installation.
3: There are some flooring contractors out there who claim to be able to glue a solid down to a concrete base. I cannot recommend this process but I am sure there are guys on this site who have successfully done it.