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JPscriven · Jun 2, 2007, 11:33 AM

I've looked and can't find this question. I had laminate floors professionally installed; while I understand the "hollow" sound when walking in shoes, mine is making a popping or cracking sound in places. When I called the contractor they said it was due to settling and should disappear in a few months. It's been 7 months and it hasn't changed. Any idea what's the cause, or how I can fix?

ballengerb1 · Jun 3, 2007, 10:58 AM

Did you watch them do the install, was a foam pad laid? Did they shim where the floor was uneven? Did they keep back from all perimeter walls by 1/4"? Don't try to fix it yourself just yet. Call them back and make them send out a trouble shooter. It may have been installed improperly. You have way too much flexing going on and I suspect a bad installer.

JPscriven · Jun 3, 2007, 11:14 AM

Thanks for responding so quickly; yes, I watched them install and did my homework (I thought). 1/4" from the walls, moisture barrier, and they had to level a 5X4' square in the kitchen with a compound the day before they layed it... If I read this correctly, you think there's movement that shouldn't be there.. I don't "feel" the floor dipping or swaying, it just "clicks" when you walk on it, even if an area rug is in place. It's almost like the boards are defective, but I could certainly be wrong... I'll get in touch with the installer again and see where that goes... THANK YOU!!

josephzou · Jun 18, 2007, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by JPscriven

I've looked and can't find this question. I had laminate floors professionally installed; while I understand the "hollow" sound when walking in shoes, mine is making a popping or cracking sound in places. When I called the contractor they said it was due to settling and should disappear in a few months. It's been 7 months and it hasn't changed. Any idea what's the cause, or how I can fix?

First of all, which brand and seriers is your laminate flooring?

Some laminate flooring has this type of cracking sound when you walk on it when the floor is freshly laid. It normally dispapears within a month or so. When the noise persists for over a few month you'll need to have it professionally checked. The noise can be reduced or disappear all together by re-laying the floor. However you'll need to apply glue between the planks.
Good Luck,
Joseph
Tip Top Floors

Rasluk · Jun 18, 2007, 11:37 PM

You said moisture barrier is the floor laid over cement no matter where the floor was laid they should have used some type of underlayment. There are different types of underlayment for different floors (cement, wood and vinyl) If subfloor was not perfectly flat for floating floor planks to properly lock together, then you will get popping and cracking noises. Also was the floor thoroughly vacuumed before installation small pieces of dirt and trash can cause noise.