Glue-Down vs Click LVT: Which Should You Choose?
Glue-down and click LVT can both offer wood or stone designs, but they are installed differently. Choose the format around the room, substrate and complete project cost, not just the appearance or the lowest price per square metre.
The main difference
Glue-down LVT is bonded to a suitably prepared base with a compatible adhesive system. Click LVT, including SPC products, uses locking joints to form a floating floor. Click products may have integrated backing or require a specified underlay; check the exact floor.
Subfloor preparation matters for both
Glue-down usually makes surface preparation particularly important because the thin covering follows the base. A rigid click board still needs a dry, stable substrate within the manufacturer's flatness limits. Neither option should be used to hide an unresolved moisture problem or an unstable floor.
Ask the installer to identify the necessary preparation before comparing quotes. Any approved overlay system must be checked as a complete manufacturer-specific installation method, not assumed compatible with every LVT.
Which costs less?
Compare the total: flooring, whole-pack quantities, cutting allowance, preparation, adhesive or approved underlay, labour and finishing. A cheaper floor covering may need more preparation; an easier fitting method does not make every room cheaper. See our LVT installation-cost checklist.
Room layout, floor height and finish
Check the full floor build-up at doors and adjoining rooms. For floating floors, plan the required movement gaps, transitions and treatment around fixed units. For detailed patterns, confirm that the selected format supports the proposed layout and ask the fitter to calculate the quantity.
Water-resistant flooring is not the same as a waterproof room. Bathrooms, wet rooms, underfloor heating and areas of strong sunlight require checks against the exact product's current instructions. Neither glue-down nor click is automatically suitable for every one of those conditions.
How to choose
- Compare free flooring samples in the room.
- Check the product code, wear layer, overall thickness and pack coverage.
- Have the existing base and room conditions assessed.
- Compare complete installation quotes for suitable options.
For a real product-family example, see our Camaro glue-down and Rigid Core comparison. Read our underlay compatibility guide before ordering extra cushioning.
