Decided to tackle this removable dancing sleeper flooring project last Tuesday because my downstairs neighbor keeps banging on the ceiling when I practice tap at midnight. Figured floating floors would cushion the noise while being easy to rip out if I move.
Getting Stuff Ready
Took my rusty Honda to Home Depot and grabbed:
- That click-lock engineered wood stuff advertised on TikTok
- Weird squishy foam underpayment rolls that smelled like burnt plastic
- A box cutter that broke after three cuts
- Shitty plastic spacers that kept falling over
The Sweaty Setup
Cleared my whole living room and shoved all furniture into the kitchen – fridge ended up blocking the bathroom door. Rolled out that nasty foam underpayment like a carpet, trimming edges with kitchen scissors when the box cutter died. Saw online tutorials saying to leave gaps for expansion, but my walls are wavy as hell.
Started clicking boards together near the window, whacking them with a rubber mallet like the YouTube guy showed. Third board splintered when I hammered too hard. Had to run back to exchange it while foam underpayment curled up like old bacon.
The Dance Floor Test
Once I finished wrestling with the last plank (had to saw off 2 inches because I measured wrong), I threw on my jazz shoes and did a time step. Whole floor shifted sideways like a magic trick! Turns out I forgot those damn spacers near the closet wall. Pulled up the last row, jammed credit cards in as makeshift spacers since the plastic ones vanished.
What Actually Works
Now when I shuffle-ball-change at 1AM, the floor just kinda bounces like a cheap trampoline without making thumping noises. Neighbor stopped yelling but now stares at me funny in the elevator. Best part? Took me thirty minutes to unclick a section when I spilled red wine last night – that part definitely wasn’t bullshit.
