I need help! We had about 500 square feet of extra thick laminate installed in the entruway to our master bedroom, the hallway, two walk-in closets and the bathroom vanity area. The laminate was placed upon an underlay called "Floormuffler". Immediately after the installation, we experienced a "crackling" noise almost everywhere we walked. The installer says the cause is the condition of the laminate and the supplier maintains the laminate was not installed properly. What is causing the "crackling" noise?

Where does it crackel at, is it around door jambs or corners or just in the open floor?

Thanks For Your Interest, Glavine - The "crackling" Occurs All Over, Just About Every Place One Walks!

Thanks

Is this s snap together type laminate floor or is it glued, betting snap together.

Thank You Ballingerb1 For Your Interest - The Laminate Clips Together It Is Not Glued.

Jvpjrp

I've not heard of floor muffler, but I tend to think that it may be the cause, somehow, tell me what brand floor you have and ill reseach this and get back to you.

Floormuffler Is One Of The Beteer Underlays. The Subfloor Is Concrete Which Was Carpetted Prior To The Laminate Installation. The Installer Insists The Laminate Which Was Purchased Through Home Depot Is Defective. He Claims It "crackles' And/or "squeaks" Due To Poor Laminate Construction, For Example: Clip-on Corners And Joints Are Not Waxed Sufficiently. An Inspector The Laminate Tolerances Have Been Met, However,movement Of The Planksare Causing The "squeaking" Over An Un-level Sub-strate.

It really does sound like there is movement going on and I suspect the muffler is not thick enough to fill the uneveness of the floor. If the floor isn't level and the installer does correct it then it sounds like a poor installation to me. Unfortunately I have the same situation and I did my own install so I know excatly who to blame.

Thanks Ballingerba - Wish You Success With Your Problem

Does the floor move also (go up and down?) Ours did that soon after installation and its because the boards expand once they are installed. We have been told that after they are installed you have to trim the end boards to make up for the expansion, or else they will make noise and move up and down

No, the floor does not move, Inspector's have examined the installation and say it is well done, except for the unlevel substate (floor) , the humidity and the underlayment. On the other hand, Installation contractors have examined the flooring and maintain the installation is proper and the problem is defective laminate! We are in the middle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JVPJRP

Floormuffler Is One Of The Beteer Underlays. The Subfloor Is Concrete Which Was Carpetted Prior To The Laminate Installation. The Installer Insists The Laminate Which Was Purchased Thru Home Depot Is Defective. He Claims It "crackles' And/or "squeaks" Due To Poor Laminate Construction, For Example: Clip-on Corners And Joints Are Not Waxed Sufficiently. An Inspector The Laminate Tolerances Have Been Met, However,movement Of The Planksare Causing The "squeaking" Over An Un-level Sub-strate.

---

Your underlay is not the problem it's the installation and the product by the sounds of it. (no pun intended) Did the installer climatize the flooring 24 to 48 hours before the installation?

I myself bought Home Depot laminate flooring, Had a heck of a time clicking them together till I hit the tongue and groves with some 60 grit sandpaper one or two swipes did the trick. With that being done it loosen the connection between the two pieces just enough for easy installation. I've installed a few thousand sq feet of this stuff in the past two years both the high end and low end stuff. You pay for what you get. The high end flooring which was cork had a rubber underlay, the low end laminate had a foam underlay.

By the sounds of it (sorry... again) the two parties are playing the "pass the buck" game on you... I'd raise some hell on both ends If I were you..

Let me know how it works out for you.

Thanks TORONTO - We will let you know!!

JVPJRP

In all the cases I have inspected the crackling is caused by tight fitting or negating the expansion joint. Humidity changes causing the boards to expand and pressure builds up on the joints. When you walk on the floor it pops and crackles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diksmack

In all the cases I have inspected the crackling is caused by tight fitting or negating the expansion joint. Humidity changes causing the boards to expand and pressure builds up on the joints. When you walk on the floor it pops and crackles.

---

Thanks for your post and welcome to AMHD! Please look at the date of the initial post and note it is 5 years old. Probably solved by now.