Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to minimize gaps due to expansion and contraction of the wood.
Floating hardwood floor separating.
With a floating floor the rules of expansion due to air moisture still apply.
Gapping in engineered hardwood can be due to many factors including but not limited to the material s manufacturing changes in humidity and the type and quality of the installation.
One recent innovation in a floating hardwood floor is known as the lock and fold approach.
Almost every wood floor will show some separation between boards particularly in the winter months when homes are heated and the air is dry.
Laminate floors do not warp so this only applies to wood floors.
Unlike tongue and groove examples this type of floating hardwood floor relies on the use of a design that allows the ends of the boards to be laid in an over and under pattern that joins together to form a smooth surface.
Often floating engineered wood floors are installed over existing tile vinyl or another floor.
I have mainly discussed plank separation for solid wood and engineered floors that have been directly bonded to the sub floor.
Instead it is put together almost like a puzzle with planks snugly fitted together.
Floating floor plank separation.
How to fix separating hardwood floors.
Yes it can still have gaps.
Rope and foam cracks wider than 1 4 inch that result from warping in the wood and not separated sections of the floating floor can.