Hey everyone, I'm installing some floating flooring in my home, and while most of it feels great, there's a section where several boards visibly move up and down whenever I walk on them. I can see the movement and feel it too, which has left me worried. Here's a (https://streamable.com/m6cklj). Could this be due to something I did wrong during installation? What are some potential causes and fixes for this? If I leave it as is, will the continuous rubbing of the boards lead to any long-term damage? A bit of background: I had vinyl laminate flooring in there before that was pretty level. I used underlayment to smooth things, and my new flooring is 3/8" engineered wood from Bruce, which I've hammered in tightly. I made sure to vacuum thoroughly before laying it down. I'm feeling pretty lost right now and could use some advice!
3 Answers
Make sure that you’ve left enough space for expansion; if the boards are pushing against the wall, they could be bowing and causing movement. Check your baseboards or quarter rounds to ensure there’s enough gap. It’s crucial that floors are placed on a flat subfloor; otherwise, you might continue to experience these issues.
It sounds like your subfloor might not be even, which can create gaps that make it feel like the floor is moving. If this is the case, you'll probably need to pull up that section and level the subfloor. It’s possible this issue existed before since your previous flooring was thinner and more flexible. Untreated, this could lead to the boards separating, which isn't ideal! Always better to fix it now before it gets worse!
Thanks, HardwoodHero22! Sounds painful, but I guess I should just pull up the boards and check everything to sleep better at night!
Most likely, your subfloor may be uneven, causing the floor above to feel hollow. If the floor structure itself moves, like if the joists are warped, that could also lead to a bouncy feeling underfoot. You should check if it's just a minor gap you can fix, or something serious that might require a professional to have a look. Definitely better to address this before it becomes a safety concern!
Thanks for the insight! Do you think the underlayment I used could be causing any issues? I tried to keep it flat, but I’m noticing some bumps, and I'm worried it’s affecting the floor.
I did acclimate the boards for about 4 days, and I haven't added baseboards yet. I left about a half-inch space at the ends, so I'm hoping that helps.