Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 28, 2000 04:45pm | #1

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   Odds are that the creak is from a nail in the floor or sub floor thats rubbing loose.

   Is the sub floor visible from below?

   Gabe

2. 
   Howard_Lo | Apr 28, 2000 08:26pm | #2

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   Hi Gabe

   Thanks for the reply.

   Before putting down the bamboo, I deck screwed the original sub-floor
   which were 1x8 planks and checked it. After that, I put down a
   3/4" CDX underlayment with Liquid Nail floor adhesive and screwed down
   with 2" screws to the joist and 1-5/8" screws everywhere else on
   16" centers in the field and 8" centers on the edges. Checked quite
   carefully and no creaks anywhere. I'm pretty positive that it is not
   the sub-floor or underlayment.

   I have two more rooms and a hallway to do. I figure I'll just use
   kraft paper in my next room to see if that changes the situation.

   I'll keep everybody posted.

   Thanks

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 28, 2000 09:03pm | #3

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   The creak could also be materials rubbing together as well.

   Next time you may want to consider a layer of 2mil cork instead of the pergo stuff.

   Gabe

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 28, 2000 09:41pm | #4

   *Howard,is your flooring glued together like a Pergo floor? If so I think those noises are caused by joints that didn't get quite enough glue or too much squeezed out while clamping together. Have a floor doing the same in a couple spots and it is laid over a slab. The floor flexes just a bit and makes a noise that is NOT a squeak. Joe Hennessey

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 30, 2000 04:43am | #5

   *I suppose the foam could aggravate a bad joint... well-laid pergo makes a more or less monolithic plate, your bamboo may not do the same and thus may be inappropriate over foam ... I'm trying Homasote next as an impact absorber ... under ... god knows what and she's not sure.

4. 
   Howard_Lo | May 01, 2000 11:09am | #6

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   Its not glued like Pergo. Faced-nailed on the borders and toe-nailed
   everywhere else. However, I believe that you are correct. The noise
   comes from just enough subtle rubbing of the floor material in the
   joints and the Pergo Soundblock has enough resilience to encourage
   movement.

   The bad news is that I have three rooms with this badly advised design
   and I hope that in time (the Soundblock will eventually flatten out) and the finishing (polyurethane running down the joints to "hopefully" tie the material together) may help alleviate this problem.

   The good news is that I laid my living room this weekend with just kraft paper and my new floor is performing fine!

   As andrew_d suggested and with my full agreement, DON'T USE ANY HIGH DENSITY FOAM such as Pergo Soundblock under a hardwood floor.

   And how does that bamboo floor with the Soundblock perform ? Besides
   the creak, I notice a subtle reduction difference in high frequency noise as I walk over it. It is definitely noticable, but not noticable enough to go through the added expense and definitely not worth the tradeoff of the offending creak.

   Thank you all for responding and I'll update you as my project progresses.

   Thanks again

   --hl

5. 
   Howard_Lo | May 01, 2000 11:11am | #7

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   Hi

   In an attempt to reduce impact noise on my bamboo floor, I decided to use
   a foam core as suggested by several books and some floor mechanics. The
   Pergo Soundblock was a conveniently available product and thus was the
   product of choise.

   After completing three of five rooms, I noticed a few area that "creaked"
   as I walk over it. Quite minor however.

   My questions is. Do you think the use of the Pergo Soundblock was sound
   advice ? Is it possible that the wee bit of spring from the Soundblock
   may be the cause of the minor creak as the floor gives ever so slightly ?

   Thanks for your opinion.