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Had some building work done 6 months ago, overall the quality was generally good with some minor disagreements about finishing touches/joinery issues.
As part of the work we had new flooring installed-4mm oak topped engineered t&g boards. I purchased the floor directly from the supplier, the contractor had nothing to do with the purchase. I know nothing about installation of said flooring, and being a reputable builder I suppose I just relied on them to do what is correct as per fitting instructions. I should add that they were not specialist flooring company, it was an all trades contractor where by the flooring installation was incorporated into the overall cost.
At the time they recommend using a nail in method in the tongues (into the chipboard t&g subfloor) using a 3-4mm insulation layer.
there’s always been a light cracking when standing/moving around but assumed it was just bedding in and the noise would lessen. 6 months later the noise is just as bad, if not worse.
The instructions for the floor say installation is via the glue method between planks. Nailing voids the 20 year warranty. Reddit etc has others with the same issue, all seem to be nailed rather than correctly glued.
Any contact with the contractor has been met with “I’ll get back to you” type response. No admission of doing the wrong thing, and suggesting I needed to tell them I wanted it glued, not nailed.
So, am I screwed? Completely my fault for not telling them how to correctly install it? Or should they be rectifying their mistake. I don’t even know how difficult it’s going to be to lift. WWSD?
Edit, sorry, wrong forum
If they've not installed it as per the instructions. Which I assume are in or all over the box, it's on them. Keep chasing them.
I'm multi trade, kitchens, bathrooms etc. If there's a product I've not used, I'll take the time to read the instructions and make sure it's used the correct way. Even if it's a product I've used loads, but a different make (lvt etc) I'll read up on it.
I might be over the top with it, and i know other traders on the same site have had a chuckle at my expense, but I'd sooner install it properly, and not have installation issues.
Did you pay in full before the installation?
My builders also installed wooden flooring incorrectly leading to a visible issue. Luckily I had withheld the final payment. I showed them the issue, they said they would fix it, they didn't, I didn't pay, they threatened to take me to court, I said go right ahead and I never heard from them again, the value withheld covered the issue with a small bit left over for my time and stress.
It appears after talking to people in the trade that you should never let builders do anything other than walls. Roofs and floors need people with actual skills.
Completely my fault for not telling them how to correctly install it?
No it's their fault as there will have been Instructions in/on the packs. I didn't think that secret nailing for T&G flooring was still a thing but the tongues designed to accept a nail in the case of secret nailing are specific, at least they should be with a rebate to give the tongue extra strength. The absence of a rebated tongue should have provided any evidence if needed that the tongue was not designed to be nailed.
Always best to get a professional and talk through the installation before work starts.
if they went ahead with their own technique without squaring it with you first OP then this is a ‘them’ problem that they should fix. Good luck.
It appears after talking to people in the trade that you should never let builders do anything other than walls. Roofs and floors need people with actual skills.
Because a shoddy wall is just what a good roofer needs.
6 months on, after initial snagging and final payment, I think this is now your problem. Unless they're a particularly benevolent contractor.
Did they do the right thing? No absolutely, if you don't know how to do something, employ someone who does. Don't learn on the job (or not, in this case) at someone else's expense. BUT I don't think you're going to get anywhere appealing to their sense of fair play. This was last year's job to them.
Would pulling it all up, de-nailing it and relaying with glue solve the issue?
@deadlydarcy on here is a professional floor installer - might be worth an ask
Would pulling it all up, de-nailing it and relaying with glue solve the issue?
If it's been secret nailed, I can't imagine that it hasn't been, then that isn't going to be possible, lifting it all up is going to cause the tongues to split and break off.
Unless they have used tiny nails. In which case yes, if the nails are easily lifting off with the flooring that would be the easiest solution.
The question is whether the flooring is creaking because the floorboards are moving up and down on the nails (the most common reason) or because the nails are too small and not holding the floorboards down.
If the contractor is keeping quiet hoping it goes away then a "letter before action" often gets them talking again.