PLEASE HELP
House built in 2022.
Posi-joists(unsure of exact brand) with Egger Protect(unsure if 18mm or 22mm). Ductwork from MEV system and pipework for upstairs rads and electrics running between the posi-joists.
Besides for the ensuite bathroom upstairs and the main bathroom upstairs, the rest of the 4 bedrooms and the landing are carpet with a 12mm dense underlay under it as I wanted to minimise noise and sound transfer within a posi-joist floor.(the irony)
I contacted the builder who brought the carpenter, who installed flooring, back to see what the issue was and carpets lifted. Carpenter says he followed the egger spec which was glue with some screws(see spec attached). We focused on the bedroom with most noise/creaks. He added more screws but didn't reduce noise/creaking. He then cut holes in the flooring in various areas with saw and said was going to frame the piece back in and also use glue.
One issue was a wall tie was sitting on top on the joist as he said he was not allowed notch the joist to make wall tie flush with the posijoist. However the main culprit seemed to be the strongback. At the time of construction the carpenter tells me that nails were used to fixate the strongback to the posi-joists as no exact spec is given. He decided to further secure the strongback to the posi-joists using screws.
Furthermore the ducting for the MEV extract system was going through the strongback(semi-circle notched out of the strongback). This was a clearly obvious problem as when the strongback had any bit of movement the pipework and the wood from strongback were clearly making noise. Carpenter said " that should not have been done by the trade that installed piping (ie let the wood touch the pipe directly). See attached picture I got from before the ceilings went up on the ground floor showing the pipework. He placed a polystrene type sheet between the ductwork and the strongback.
In addition to this under the "krystal low profile shower tray" there is creaking which I cannot identify if its from creaking under the floorboards or the shower tray movement. I have kept an eye on the grout in the bathroom and I see no cracking so I am of the opinion that the creaking is under the floorbaords ie probably the strongback. Also when you get out of the shower for about 20 mins after, there is noise from what I believe is the waste pipes from the shower and its interaction with the hot water. This noise happens when you stand on certain areas on the ensuite floor tiles. Once the 20 minute-ish mark is up the noise disappears. I have been informed cement board was installed under both the ensuite floor tiles and the main bathroom floor tiles.
When he comes out the next day i will get him to clarify:
-whether egger protect is 18mm or 22mm
-brand of posi-joists
I know there is alot there but the carpenter is coming back out and before he starts I want to know the following:
-Should all ductwork/pipework have been covered insulation so that wood never directly touched ductwork or pipework?
-Is reframing the egger protect floor (after cutting it with saw) the correct approach or should a different method be used(particular tool/saw)? Is ther a change that these frames will become unstable over time?
-Is replacing the whole floor an option ( I believe not)
-Should that wall tie have been sitting on top of joist(sounds like a recipe for disaster for creaking)?
Does the flooring for the first floor go up and then the ceiling of the ground floor go up afterwards?
I really hope this forum can help me as I want to ensure the next time he comes out is the last time and he repairs/rectifies it using the right products and tools. As you can imagine the carpenter and builder just want me to go away but that certainly will not be happening
FY_EGGER_Advanced_Fitting_Guide_Web_EN_HEX_2021.pdf