Hello All,
I installed an engineered oak floating floor around two months ago in my downstairs hallway, living room and dining room - approx 40sqm in total. Initially the installation seemed to be successful but over time the floor has become increasingly noisy - specifically with cracking noises when walking on certain parts. This does seem to vary slightly with environmental conditions.
The majority of materials (except the underlay) were supplied by Champion Timber so I called them today for advice - not surprisingly they suspect the underlay although I personally feel the subfloor may be more significant!
The flooring is Fertig Parkett Click System, marketed by Champion as Rustic Oak 3 Strip (Block) 185mm x 2.2m 13 mm thick and would appear to be of reasonable quality.
The underlay at the moment is Wickes Fibreboard Underlay 800 x 675 x 5mm.
The subfloor is chipboard and was secure although not perfectly level - did seem to be within the tolerances stated on the flooring (3mm over 1mm length). It should be noted that both with and without underlay not all of the board was in contact with all of the floor - ie there was some springiness - this seems to have decreased with time.
Expansion gaps are good all round including architraves - Scotia and thresholds removed today to verify this and monitor.
No apparent pinch points.
The floor has only been laid using the click system - glue (Wickes Floor Adhesive) has only been used ocasionally at doors etc where locking system had been removed to aid fitting.
The floor is completely free floating - ie only in contact with the underlay which in turn rests on the subfloor.
Champion have suggested that my next course of action in the process of elimination would be to use their recommended underlay - Akustik Protect which is a grey roll which I think is manufactured by Parador. This underlay is 2mm thick compared to the 5mm Fibreboard I have at the moment.
Previously the Hallway had thin laminate flooring which had a thin foam underlay. It sounded like laminate but did not click like the fibreboard/engineered oak combo does now. This would suggest a change of underlay might just work.
I plan to try the new underlay next week in the dining room only.
If anyone has any experience of these products or advice it would be very much appreciated.
Cheers, Chris
I installed an engineered oak floating floor around two months ago in my downstairs hallway, living room and dining room - approx 40sqm in total. Initially the installation seemed to be successful but over time the floor has become increasingly noisy - specifically with cracking noises when walking on certain parts. This does seem to vary slightly with environmental conditions.
The majority of materials (except the underlay) were supplied by Champion Timber so I called them today for advice - not surprisingly they suspect the underlay although I personally feel the subfloor may be more significant!
The flooring is Fertig Parkett Click System, marketed by Champion as Rustic Oak 3 Strip (Block) 185mm x 2.2m 13 mm thick and would appear to be of reasonable quality.
The underlay at the moment is Wickes Fibreboard Underlay 800 x 675 x 5mm.
The subfloor is chipboard and was secure although not perfectly level - did seem to be within the tolerances stated on the flooring (3mm over 1mm length). It should be noted that both with and without underlay not all of the board was in contact with all of the floor - ie there was some springiness - this seems to have decreased with time.
Expansion gaps are good all round including architraves - Scotia and thresholds removed today to verify this and monitor.
No apparent pinch points.
The floor has only been laid using the click system - glue (Wickes Floor Adhesive) has only been used ocasionally at doors etc where locking system had been removed to aid fitting.
The floor is completely free floating - ie only in contact with the underlay which in turn rests on the subfloor.
Champion have suggested that my next course of action in the process of elimination would be to use their recommended underlay - Akustik Protect which is a grey roll which I think is manufactured by Parador. This underlay is 2mm thick compared to the 5mm Fibreboard I have at the moment.
Previously the Hallway had thin laminate flooring which had a thin foam underlay. It sounded like laminate but did not click like the fibreboard/engineered oak combo does now. This would suggest a change of underlay might just work.
I plan to try the new underlay next week in the dining room only.
If anyone has any experience of these products or advice it would be very much appreciated.
Cheers, Chris