We're getting new linoleum put down at my parents' house. We have some contractors that installed the subfloor, because they are also doing other work in the basement. The flooring company came to install the lino, and the contractors asked the flooring guys if the subfloor was okay, and the flooring guys said it was fine.

They installed half of the lino but the next day when they came to finish the job, we found that the subfloor and lino were "rippling" in several places. When you walk around on it, the subfloor and lino in a few spots will move up and down. The subfloor that hasn't been covered yet is not moving around like that.

Naturally, the flooring guys blamed the builders for using substandard materials and not enough screws. The builders said that the subfloor was fine (it had been down for 5 or 6 days and we didn't notice any movement in it), and wanted to know why these guys said it was fine if it wasn't.

I had a family friend look at it and he said that there weren't enough screws, and wanted to know if they used flooring screws or drywall screws. When I asked the builders what screws they used, they said that they used "wood screws" and he said there's no such thing as drywall screws and flooring screws.

So, now I don't know what to do, because I'm going to end up in a fight with the builders and the flooring company, and they're probably going to want more money for more materials and labour. I'm no expert in this area, so I don't know any of this stuff about different types of screws. My main question for the flooring guys is why they put the lino down if they didn't think it was okay?

Any advice that anyone could provide as to how I can proceed would be very useful. Thanks!

What was material used for sub floor?

Is sub floor installed on concrete or floor beams?

What is distance of screws apart?

Do u have a moisture problem in basement?

Give us whatever info u can and we can help u.

Chuck

Not sure what type of wood was used for the subfloor, but it was installed over the old lino that was there before, which is over floor beams.

The screws are about 10 to 12 inches apart. There is no moisure problem in the basement that I'm aware of.

The building contractors said that the flooring guys were hammering the screws (?? ).

Most likely your subfloor guys are the blame. However, unless you can tell us what was used and thickness I am at a loss to further explain.

Bob has nailed it. Unless u can tell us what kind of wood was used it will not be possible to determine what the cause of problem is.

What is below the floor beams? Amount of distance to the ground.

Is there insulation and vapor barrier?

Chuck

I just had this problem with my daughters floor the problem was found to be that the tore I bought the floor glue from gave me a water based material I had put 2 inch screws in every 3 inches so it may be in the adhesive