We were given leftover floor tile, but it's a little different. How do we install it?

Question

I have never seen tile like this, but it is very pretty. My son's friend moved into a house that was previously remodeled. A lot of brand new floor tile was left in garage. The friend gave this tile to my son to give to my husband and I since they found out we were building an addition to our house. Lucky for us! The floor tile looks like four tiles in a long row. It is one tile across. It is faux ceramic tile, sort of feels like hard plastic to the touch. The four snap to the next four and so on. It is called a "floating floor." Does this mean no glue? Do we put some sort of thin foam pad under it or what? There is only one way the tiles will snap together, we just want to do it right. None of our friends have seen this flooring before. We were given enough to do about three rooms. Anyone have any suggestions or "know how?" Sorry, I don't know the proper name for this kind of flooring. But thanks for any help!

Answer 1

It sounds like a product from "edge flooring" which uses an underlayment and a special "grout" from a pressurized can.
Here is a description:PANELIZED TILE FLOOR
EDGE FLOORING $3.50-$7 (SQ. FT.)
A free-floating tile floor was impossible until this product. It uses ceramic or stone tiles attached to snap-together panels. You roll out its underlayment sheet, snap the panels in place, then seal the joints with grout from a pressurized can. The manufacturer also supplies a special tile-cutting circular saw blade. The underlayment costs $15 per 30-sq.-ft. roll, and the grout is $10 per can (enough for 20 to 40 sq. ft.). The saw blade is about $30. The flooring is sold exclusively at Lowe's Home Improvement Centers. For information, visit your local store or contact Edge Flooring, 200 Howell Dr., Dalton, GA 30721; 866-914-3343. www.edgeflooring.com

And here is Edge's website: http://www.edgeflooring.com/doityourself.htm

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Sounds like Laminate floating floor.
You will need a foam like underlayment available at flooring stores or at Home DePot.
You might take a piece to them and get some pointers. There are guidelines for doorways and openings requiring trims.
No glue.
Expensive flooring.