New wood makes popping sound

[claire99]

Hi, I have an issue and can't understand what to do. I recently paid a builder to install new floor in the whole house (old floor was old laminate, new floor is  hardwood oak).

After they finished the work I noticed that when walking in certain areas the floor makes a popping sound as if there is a bubble underneath. Noise is very loud.

I addressed this to the builder asking to fix it  but he blamed  the hardwood that creates this noises, not the installation but I am worried is actually the installation that wasnt done properly.

I dont know what thry did,I think they glued only the edges together and then they glued it to the edges to the rooms.

I would like to know is some of you could advise on how a proper istallation should be done to the underfloor..?

It feels the underfloor is not level in some areas

Thank you!

[joe90]

From what you say about glueing only the edges it sounds like a “floating floor” and personally I hate them (I have a bathroom floor that’s floating and you can hear it’s hollow. It may be something you have to move with other than get it all taken up. 

[Andehh]

Can you record the sound? Hardwood will naturally have a degree of movement (thereby potentially some sound?) by the nature of floating and expanding with temperatures & humidity changes, albeit it over time/the seasons.

 

Solid hardwood is very authentic, but engineered wood is generally done to reduce the woods expansion, contraction and generally regulate it all better.. With a thin veneer of actual wood on the top .

 

Could be a slight low point with the timber bowed slightly and as you stand on it, it's making contact with what's underneath.

 

Did they lay an underlay? A thin membrane type?

 

 

[Redbeard]

1 hour ago, Andehh said:

Did they lay an underlay? A thin membrane type?

 

Crazy thought but... ?Bubble-wrap?!!

[claire99]

Hi, no they didnt put anything underneath. So between the underfloor and the new floor there is nothing.

Was there supposed to be anything?

How can the sound and movement be fixed? The loud noise  and the feeling of stepping on a bubble is unacceptable.

There is a zone in the house where there used to be a fireplace. That area has been covered in cement and this is another area where the new floor makes a loud hollow sound anytime someone walks on it. 

 

 

[nod]

Unless it’s glued to the floor with a polymer glue you will get a bit of noice from the underlay 

Even tiles can do this when on anti crack Matt