Hello - I have a contractor installing a new 3/8" engineered hardwood floor (armstrong). Our house was built in the 1960's and our subfloor is solid wood planks, but is uneven in spots so I asked him to lay 3/8" CDX plywood on top for flatness. Then he added a layer of 2mm floor muffler underlay and laid the flooring on top. The instructions say to glue the boards together at the tongue & groove, but my contractor did not - he says it is not necessary?

Now when we walk on the floor we have slight give/deflection in some of the planks where they join together (I am guessing no more than 1/8", but on a finished floor it is noticeable). I am wondering if I should have the contractor glue the boards together to fix this, or is it more likely a problem with the plywood underlay being uneven and I need to have him take the flooring up and do better leveling work?

Thanks!

Whats it say on the manufacturers installation instructions? Why don't consumers read the dang instructions and warranty lit. !!!

If it's click then no glue is needed..

It's glue-together, not locking.

I know we should glue the planks together per the instructions, my dilemma is whether I should go ahead and have him do this, (hoping it will fix the issue), or whether it's more likely an issue with the underlay not being completely level.

I don't want him to glue the planks together, still have the issue, and not be able to take the floor up to do additional leveling.

FYI, floor is 4.75" wide plank.

The deflection is from the subfloor not being flat. I don't know why the installer would say the glue isn't necessary if it is not a click floor except he wanted to save a little time. If there is no locking mechanism the floor will eventually fork its way apart. I would definitely get him back. The cost of leveling woul be on you as you would have had to pay for it in the first place but as far as installing the floor properly he should have done it to start with.