[jseiler]

I live in Columbus Ohio. We had some laminate floors installed in most of our first floor. We have noticed the floor crunches and cracks when you walk on it. Mostly when the humidity goes up. We were told that this is normal. We had the gap all around the floors check to make sure there was a proper gap, there is. We also had room separators put in between each room to make the areas smaller for expansion. We have two rooms that are sort of large, one is 12 by 14 feet and the other is 25 by 14 feet. The rest of the areas are very small maybe 8 by 7 feet. Do we have to always run the AC to keep down the noise? Is the environment causing the problem? I thought the floating floor was supposed to move when it expanded there by alleviating noise? What can we do to get rid of the noise without the AC. We like the windows open.

[ma0641]

Air conditioning reduces humidity. Humidity swells laminate. Swelled laminate makes noise since the joints are compressed together.

[Celer]

You said you have perimitaer gaps? How much of a gap, sounds to me you didn't give enough... gap size needs to be 1/4", 3/8" won't cut it.
And seams need to be staggered 12" from another.

[ballengerb1]

The cheaper the laminate the noiser it will be. Did you install a foam roll on the sub floor before the install? What brand did you buy?