Glue down the parquet or install it floating?

Hello, 12 years ago I had oak parquet installed by a master company, glued with polyurethane adhesive. At the same time, my brother-in-law had his parquet installed floating by the same specialist company. After years, it shows that my brother-in-law’s parquet is cupping, you can see the edges, it doesn’t look nice! His comment was that he should have glued it! My parquet looks like it did on the first day after installation. Every few years the oiling is repeated, otherwise everything is fine.

Thank you very much for your info nordanney! Do you then have both in comparison? So, parquet laid floating in the upper floor?

Is there anyone here with real wood parquet?

Yes, I have the comparison between floating and glued - that’s why in the new house it’s only glued. However, only because of the impact sound; glued sounds better. I have no idea about the energy efficiency.

I installed 3-layer click parquet as a floating floor. In some spots it creaks a little and the feel underfoot is poor – just like laminate. Somehow hollow. I have a direct comparison to glued prefinished parquet. The feel underfoot is a difference like day and night. As for long-term wear, I have no experience yet, but it is written everywhere that a floating installation puts more strain on the click joints because there is always some play. On the other hand, no glue is completely harmless to health. Those who want to glue should perhaps have first tried floating installation, because "what lies there, stays there." Also, it is very difficult to remove the floor again. There are also reports in forums of glued planks swelling after "adding water," lifting up and pulling away the screed. It just has pros and cons. Gluing is definitely nicer though.