I have never done a floating subfloor. What are the ups and downs with this method? Does it have a more pronounced hollow sound, my clients are very curious, but at the same time hesitant. All input is much appreciated. Thanks, Ken

Not much difference at all because of all the weight. You would have to have one right next to a regular nail down to tell any decernable difference. Least thats my opinion,

Would it be the best method over nailing down subfloor? Basicly I'd like to hear what everyone recommends and thinks about the floating method. And yes I understand the last comment but was hoping for a little more than that, Please. Thanks

One way my old boss floated sub floors effectively was to lay out 6 mil plastic so that there were no gaps. Comes in a big roll but forgot the manufacturer.

Then two layers of half inch ply wood are put down. And you must stagger the second layer obviously. A few staples or cleats can be used to sock down the second layers here and there if needed but aren't crucial

After this , you can rack out your flooring and staple or cleat it down like normal. I should have mentioned that this type of floating sub floor requires the flooring to be nailed or stapled down and isn't designed to have something like a click together floor over it.

There are more common floating sub floors but this method is rock solid , as quiet as a screwed down sub floor and very effective.You just have to decide if this method is right for your application

My brother did a ton while he was living in FL. they always cut the plywood into a 2 x 8 panel before it was even brought into the house. Way easier to handle and less prone to lifting off the subfloor when that plywood shrinks and contracts at a different rate that that of your solid wood floor. You are essentially building a 1 1/2" thick eng. floor. If they have big concerns about the system why not look into a direct glue down with one of those solid sawn 3/4 or 5/8" eng unfinished floors.

It's a lotta work cutting up all that ply if it's a big job. I'll never go 3/4 again. It will always be 2 layers of 3/8. Plus you get lots of pieces of the 3/4 wanting to curl on ya and won't lay flat. I got half of the big room done and it is solid as a rock. You could never tell it's a floater.

How are you floating your plywood ? On sleepers and rubber grommets ?

Over MVP4 and 6 mil plastic. If I had sleepers I would just fasten down the ply.

Oh sleepers and rubber gromets...Isin;t that a dance floor thing?

Yes. When I've been involved in that system, it was for dance floors. I still have a lot of experience to gain in installation so it'll be important for me to master the things I don't know. And there's a lot to know.

So in your install, it sounds like you did what I was describing about laying out two layers of ply and then nailing your flooring to that , correct ?

So you are nailing or stapling into just 3/4"?

I ripped the ply lengthwise in 16" strips alyed perpindicular to the way the floor will be laying. And yes stapling. It's a tad touchy starting off but after a few rows it all stabilizes and does not move lol Yet another reason to use 2 layers of 3/8, no ripping necessary and it's a solid and sound subfloor unlike all those dang ripped pieces. The NWFA can take that floating 3/4 rule and stuff it.