Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation: Click-Lock vs. Glue-Down
Luxury vinyl plank can be installed two main ways: click-lock (floating floor) or glue-down. Most of Graycore's plank collections — Noor, Ozz, Peaks, Ultra Adisa, Heemo — use Unilin or Valínge click systems, which is the method most contractors and DIY installers reach for first. Here's how the two compare.
Click-lock (floating floor)
Planks interlock edge-to-edge and "float" over the subfloor without adhesive, usually over a thin underlayment (many of our planks come with IXPE underlayment pre-attached). Because nothing is glued down, the floor can expand and contract slightly with temperature and humidity changes.
- Faster installation — no drying/curing time, no adhesive mess.
- Easier to repair — individual planks can often be replaced without tearing up the whole floor.
- Forgiving subfloor requirements — works well over most flat, clean subfloors, including many existing hard surfaces.
- Best for: residential remodels, rooms without heavy rolling loads, DIY-friendly projects.
Glue-down
Planks are adhered directly to the subfloor with a flooring adhesive. This creates a more rigid, stable surface with less flex.
- Maximum stability — preferred for large commercial spaces or areas with heavy rolling traffic (carts, equipment).
- Lower profile — no floating-floor gap, useful where floor height is tightly constrained (transitions to existing flooring).
- Less forgiving to install — requires a properly prepped, primed subfloor and experienced installation to avoid adhesive issues.
- Best for: commercial installations, large open areas, and rooms with rolling equipment loads.
Subfloor prep, either way
Regardless of method, the subfloor needs to be clean, dry, and flat — manufacturer specs typically call out a maximum variance (often 3/16" over 10 feet, though always confirm against the specific product's installation guide). Skipping subfloor prep is the single most common cause of installation problems.
Browse our full plank flooring catalog to see which collections fit your project, and request a quote for wholesale pricing — our team can also point you to the specific installation guide for whichever product you choose.
