Comparison guides
Bonded or floating floor build-up under bathroom tile
What separates them
A bonded build-up on a solid concrete floor is straightforward and gives the most rigid base for large-format tile.
A floating or decoupled build-up on a timber floor absorbs minor movement in the joists, reducing the risk of cracked grout lines over time.
Floating systems typically add more height to the floor than a bonded system, which needs checking against door clearances and thresholds.
Questions to ask any fitter
A bonded build-up on a solid concrete floor is straightforward and gives the most rigid base for large-format tile.
Questions we get asked
Do all timber floors need a floating build-up?
Not always, a sufficiently rigid, well-supported timber floor can sometimes take a bonded system with the right backer board, but it needs assessing rather than assuming.
Does floating flooring feel different underfoot?
Slightly, with a touch more give, though a well-installed system shouldn't feel noticeably soft.
Second opinion on bonded or floating floor build-up
If you already have a quote or a design and something does not sit right, it is worth another set of eyes before work starts.