crunching floor? I recently installed a 3/8 engineered floor on new plywood, using the naildown installation. I put felt paper on the subfloor first. My problem is that it has a crunching sound when you walk on it, but it doesnt appear to move. After the floor was installed, the builder put an island on top of the floor. The island is 2 x 3 and has a marble top. I dont know how it was fastened. Since the entire floor crunches and not in one or two places, could the weight of the counter make the subfloor sag and make this floor sound like this. I noticed that at the end of the island the subfloor has developed a squeak. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Did you use a stapler or a brad nailer? Did you note any tongue splitting, and check the subfloor for flatness?

I stapled the floor down. And the subfloor was flat. It was new plywood. The original subfloor was removed and replaced with the new plywood. I dont know however if the new plywood was glued to the joist or what method was used. I did not notice any tongue splitting. The floor doesnt appear to be loose and doesnt move up and down anywhere, it just sounds like there is sand in the engineered wood??!!! Not the normal popping and cracking sound.

Did you sweep or vacuum the floor really well before you laid down your paper or hardwood?.

Yes, the floor was clean, and I used felt paper. This noise is in every square inch of this floor. No one place is isolated. Its the darndest thing Ive ever seen. ....heard! A hardwood floor rep told me that placing the island on the floor could cause a sagging subfloor, and put the entire floor in a bind???? Could this be possible? I was hoping that someone else maybe had this problem? Thanks for the help.

How long before you brought the flooring in to sit, acclimate and equalize to interior ambient conditions, was the HVAC unit installed and running, and has it been operational since you brought the wood in to sit?

The floor was in the house for 2 weeks before installation. The hvac system was installed and in operation the entire time. It was installed in the summer and the temp of the house was approx 80 degrees. I do not know what temp the customer keeps the house.

Let me guess, this is a new construction home, with a builder involved???


How long after it was installed, did the home owners take occupancy?

The house is probably 30 years old. The kitchen however was remodeled and the subfloor replaced. The subfloor installation is what Im sure of, I know the top layer was removed but not the total subfloor, just the top layer.... and it was replaced with new thick plywood. I think the noise is between the two subfloors. And yes..... there is a builder involved! I think I am just the scape goat but being an installer, I want to know what the problem is. At this point I am being shut out from all discussion. Did however inform homeowner to have support put under the island before the new floor is installed. There is a hugh subfloor squeak at one end that wasnt there before. I screw all squeaks down first.

Sounds like you need an independent inspection done.

Was the felt paper a "tar" paper? Could the wood be making a "sticky" sound as you walk acros it?

That could be the noise, it kinda sounds like that. It was 15 # felt paper, and I use it on everyjob. What else should I used? And why is this procedure suggested.

Aqua Bar "B" Is tar sandwhiched between paper.. I like it because you dont get tar on your shoes and it's thinner, wood slides across it better during instal. Smells less like tar in the home, etc.

Hope that helps IF that's the problem ....