Construction Industry/floor framing leveling

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Expert: - 4/28/2009


Question
QUESTION: We have a 2 story wood frame house with a 4 foot crawl space under the entire house. Four years ago we installed laminate "floating" wood floors on top of wood sub floors. Everything was fine until last year. Now when I am sitting on the sofa and my 25 lb dog runs by I can feel the sofa vibrate. Also, in our bedroom if you walk close to the dresser everything on top of it shakes. What would cause this?



Thanks



Caryn



ANSWER: Dear Caryn,

Laminate flooring is an excellent product but has it's failings as well.  Did your contractor install the laminate on a cushion material?  Did he also first install a layer of visqueen or plastic sheeting?

Crawl spaces tend to have high humidity or moisture and this can be absorbed by the laminate.

Also, if the plastic moisture barrier was not installed, the cushioning material may absorb moisture.  This could cause the material to swell or enlarge. When the weight of your dog or a person walks by, the flooring has more "bounce" and will be detected by the vibration created.

I hope this has been helpful.

Roger

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hell,

Yes, they did put down some kind of blue paper/cushion. We had some foundation issues and as a result of those repairs we have a few areas where the floors heave. One of the area that heaved is in the room next to the bedroom where the floor vibrates. Could this be related?

Thanks

Caryn

Answer
Hi Caryn,

Yes, the area that buckled could very well contribute to the problem in the other rooms.

The blue cushion material should have been installed over a moisture barrier material such as "visqueen".  I am in Florida and 90% of our houses are concrete slabs on grade and moisture is a constant problem.  I have installed laminate flooring extensively and never had a problem with buckling.  Another thought - the laminate should never be installed tight to the wall.  A 1/4" space should be maintained.  The laminate should go under the baseboard but the baseboard should not be nailed to the laminate.  Because of the way laminate is manufactured and the composition of the material used, the flooring should "float" and move with temperature changes and humidity differences.

I hope this has been helpful.

Roger

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Roger Zona

Expertise

I am experienced in all types of construction: residential, industrial and commercial; single family, multi-family, mid-rise and high rise buildings (16 story office building) as well as remodeling, additions and tenant improvements. I can field most any question that relates to general construction. I have consulted with infrastructure (utility) contractors also and have a good general knowledge of underground utility construction for subdivisions and commercial projects.

Experience

After college, I began my career in the construction industry. I chose to become an apprentice Architect and 4 yrs later I opened my own architectural design firm. Six years later I moved to Florida to buy & develop land and build. I became a State of Florida Certified General Contractor and operated my business for 45 years. I built all types of residential and commercial buildings including warehouses, shopping centers, high rise apartments and office buildings and developed sites for other contractors. I retired and became a consultant to the construction industry. I maintain my license and continuing education requirements, operate a small construction company and write a weekly newspaper column for the Palm Beach Post (a Cox publication) with the byline "Ask The Contractor". I am the "technical editor" for a publisher of books that relate to home maintenance.

Organizations
Previously - NAHA Currently - FLCA (Florida Licensed Contractors Assoc.)

Publications
Palm Beach Post newspaper - weekly Q & A column Happy Herald monthly real estate publication - monthly column

Education/Credentials
Michigan State University University of Detroit BS in Engineering

Past/Present Clients
I built a home in Palm Beach for a member of the Pulitzer Family. I was responsible for the completion of a twin hi-rise condominium project for G.E. Credit. I was a partner in the successful development of a P.U.D. (Planned Urban Development) subdivision. I represented the largest home builder from France (Bati Service, S.A.) in the development of a subdivision and the design and construction of the homes.

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