What to put under Real Timber Flooring?

[WoodYouLike]

Glueing straight over a thin screed layer over chipboard? I wouldn't.

What's your reasoning for a change of heart?

The glue is between the underlay and the timber. The underlay sits unbonded on the surface. Can you tell me what is the difference between the underlay sitting on chipboard versus sitting on the screed that's bonded to the chipboard please?

I didn't have a change of heart, I would neither glue straight on to a chipboard subfloor nor straight onto a thin screed layer on the chipboard.

Using Elastilon is quite a different matter: you don't glue the boards straight to the chipboard or the thin screed layer, the adhesive on the underlayment bonds the floorboards together.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Woodyoulike
Elastilon is not glued to the sub floor, it forms a bond with the flooring, now when the wood flooring wants to expand (summer) the elastilon is under tension (it wants to pull the wood back). Its not attached to the sub floor the wood wants to expand the elastilon wants to pull it back, surely this has to pull the floor out of shape (lifted in the middle)?
This is just interesting to me and would like to hear you thoughts.

I know how Elastilon works.

The scenario you're describing also goes for any floating floor where the T&G are glued correctly together. The weight of the floor normally keeps things down, only in situations where the (air) humidity changes quite drastically you can expect problems - but then again, you would get problems no matter which method you'd opted for to install the wooden floor.

 

[DIYWell]

Well I tried using Elastilon and it was looking bouncy after 5 rows. I spoke to the flooring manuacturer and the Elastilon rep who both said Elastilon could be used.

Problem is that the underlay isn't fixed to the sub floor so you could the flooring move when you stood on it. I ended up riping it off. Perhaps Elastilon suits long planks and/or short widths better.

That's £80 wasted. Live and learn.

 

[WoodYouLike]

The bouncing could have been caused by a not level underfloor?

 

[DIYWell]

The bouncing could have been caused by a not level underfloor?

Not in this instance - sub floor was sound, level and flat

 

[WoodYouLike]

The I guess you're right and it is down to the short lengths of the boards - were they "level"?

 

[DIYWell]

The I guess you're right and it is down to the short lengths of the boards - were they "level"?

With the quotes around level, I'm not sure what you're asking

 

[HMCFlooring]

Floating floors are always bouncy, that's why i'm not the biggest fan. Fitted 2 in the last 5 years.

 

[HMCFlooring]

I know how Elastilon works.

The scenario you're describing also goes for any floating floor where the T&G are glued correctly together. The weight of the floor normally keeps things down, only in situations where the (air) humidity changes quite drastically you can expect problems - but then again, you would get problems no matter which method you'd opted for to install the wooden floor.

It's different for a standard floating floor as there is nothing glued to the bottom of the boards trying to pull them together.
With a glue down floor or nail down the boards are attached to the floor although they will be pulled together by the glue or nails.

All floors expand but floors fitted with elastilon are more prone to hump in the middle in summer (as far as i can reason).

 

[WoodYouLike]

Floating floors are always bouncy, that's why i'm not the biggest fan. Fitted 2 in the last 5 years.

Beg to differ 85% of our floors are installed floating - correctly - 95% of the times no bounce at all.

 

[HMCFlooring]

Watch someone walk over a floating floor and you will see the movement.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Depends mainly on the state and quality of the underfloor - and even adhesive can't work as a filler - and the quality of the wooden floor itself