Laminate Floor Spongy.

vickyb242

Hi,

I have just finished laying my Laminate flooring, I went with the B&Q Aqualock in the end. The problem is that the flooring is really spongy and I can see the boards dipping as you tread on them, it looks terrible.

I have laid 3mm of hardboard over my floorboards, then i have 2 layers (2 layers for extra insulation) of 6mm underlay (similar to combi-lay) and then some electrical underfloor heating mats, then the laminate flooring.

At first I thought the heating mats might be the problem, but they are only 1mm thick and there is no gap between the boards and the mats, so I think it's the underlay, i think it's too spongy, not stiff enough! Either that or I was wondering if the laminate was too thin, it's 8mm thick?

Does anyone know of any underlay that is suitable for laminate flooring and underfloor heating that is stiffer? Or if any ones knows of what other reason might be causing this?

Any ideas would be great, as at this rate i'm ripping it up and laying carpet!

Thanks
V

McKneff

Just a female perspective but do you think that you have too much underlay
which is making it spongy. ie 2 layers instead of one. If the instructions just say a (one) layer i think thats where your problem lies.

think of it this way. If you put your laminate straight on to the floor it would stay flat, put 1 layer on its a bit softer, the more layers of it you put on the softer it would get.

missile

I agree with McKneff, more is less. Why did you not go for proper sound insulating underlay, rather than a bodge with two layers of foam?

I believe you heating mats should be under the insulation and not in direct contact with the laminate. I think this may cause the boards to distort.

vickyb242

Missile,

I did not try to "Bodge" anything, I bought the recommended underlay and was then told by the company that if the house did not have great insulation etc, it would be worth putting an extra layer of underlay down to insulate more. Admittedly I didn't think about it making an impact on the laminate at the time.

lisal0u

Hi vickyb242,

We have just done exactly the same thing but didnt used 2 lots of insulation. I dont think the insulation would cause the problem if its anything like ours, it wasnt particularly spongy! Did you check how level your floor was before you laid the flooring?

We knew we had an uneven floor but couldnt really do anything about it other then dig up and re-lay it (not an option) so we have a few areas where the floor is a bit springy.

missile - you definitely dont put the UF heating under the insulation - otherwise the heat wouldnt get through! Laminate and engineered wood are both suitable for using with UF heating.

Can you feel it when you walk on it or only see it when someone else walks on it - if that makes sense?

Lisa

vickyb242

Hi Lisal0u,

The floor was completely level when we laid the insulation down, which is why I think it has to be that.

I can feel it and see it, I'm going to have to either re-lay with better insulation boards or carpet. What insulation did you use, if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks
V

lisal0u

We used 6mm depron insulation. The company we bought the UF heating from supplied it.

How very annoying if it is the underlay thats causing the problem! Id go back to the company and explain what has happened, especially as they suggested using two layers!

I hope you manage to get it sorted without too much hassel!

Lisa

McKneff

It doesnt say anything in the op that the company suggested 2 layers it was only suggested if the house did not have good insulation and Vicky decided to put 2 layers down (12mm) to help with insulation.

Vicky before spending any more money, take a few up and just leave one layer and see how that feels. And I didnt read that you had bodged it.
I wish people would read posts properly before commenting.

ormus

there are main two reasons why a laminate floor is spongey, first the floor was never level to begin with, or too much thick/soft insulation.

underlay_guru

Hi,

There is nothing wrong with the thickness of your laminate floor. The insulation is absolutely, positively, definitely far far too thick, and not dense enough! This puts undue stress onto the joints of your laminate floor, and you will find that the joints will become damaged extremely quickly. 6mm is too thick anyway, but two layers makes it even worse. I'm really sorry, but what type of cowboy has recommended this to you????!!!?!:mad: It is completely substandard!:mad:



1: They should have installed a 'low-tog' laminate flooring underlay.
With underfloor heating, you need an underlay with a very low-tog rating, such as Duralay Heatflow inbetween the wood and the UFH installation This allows heat to pass through it very easily, and without this, you will not feel the full benefits of the UF heating you have spent so much money on. I would seriously be questioning why they have not offered this option to you.

2. Fibreboard is not a good enough insulation material.
They should have completely omitted the fibreboard and used just 1 layer of the insuation foam directly to the subfloor.


Although I can appreciate you did not bodge the job personally, it sounds as if the wrong materials have been used for the job, and your laminate floor (and possibly the UFH) may be completely wrecked and beyond repair within 6 months. If you require any more factual advice, let me know and I shall reply promptly.

Lisal0u and missile: the order of installation is: Insulation at the bottom, then the UFH pads, then a low-tog underlay, then the laminate.

AdrianW2

Lisa's Depron is marketed as being suitable for laminate floors and is available in a 6mm thickness.