Looking for suggestions for best click and lock hardwood floor to be installed over concrete slab floor. Floor has to be quiet and solid feeling. Tried a bamboo floor, but wasn't satisfied with the creaks and squeaks.

Are you sure it was the product? Some smart fella said many moons ago...

"Your final floor will only be as good as the subfloor," or something like that.

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... r/prep.htm

This may be shocking for some hard core wood guys out there but I seem to hear less squeaks with engineered hardwood with the HDF core. The locking mechanism is milled out of the core material like a laminate floor. So no wood touches, less squeaking.

Another reason and I have tested this is when you install bowed planks in the floor. This itself can make the floor bouncy. There is a standard for bowed planks, even slightly bowed planks can cause movement. I have seen many a inspection report stating the floor is not level and cause for floor movement eg; squeaking. This can be false.

So IMHO it is best to use a HDF core or glue the T&G together. There are also engineered wood with HDF that are simply T&G and you can glue them up with straps, no squeaky.

This "hard core wood guy" says...Makes sense! Great observations...

i have to say I was more than sceptical about the hdf core products. Its proven itself over the last few years to be a well designed platform. Id say that manufactures did it first to lower cost but the added benefit of less squeaking is for sure a bonus!

Good observation SP. Any idea how it does with minor water damage?

Nope but thats a good question. I should have saved some and tested it. But on a glued T&G I would have to say topical damage should be reduced to a minimum just because the joints are sealed up.

I think in addition to the MDF t&g profile....The MDF core as a rule, seems to be a flatter product out of the box. I've come across some real flatness issues with cross grain construction, "click". Of coarse a big squeek/creak contributer..until if/when it lays down flat.

I think your absolutely correct Howard. I only had a few bowed planks in 1,000 sf.

Here is the core I am talking about. I like it. I did a Mirage awhile back with a similar core with a sawn face maple on it. Not sure if thats still around though but never heard a peep about it after the install.

http://shawfloors.com/About-Shaw/Shaw-A ... EnviroCore

If you were getting squeaks over concrete there may have been an installation problem.