Joiner input please - chipboard floor cracking/squeaky

cyclonebri1

temperature will always affect things, it can either add to or reduce the movement issues, try what I said earlier, it has zero cost and then you will know if you have deflection, you are of course free to ignore what I've added.

Furts

Hi pawlala
The ironic point is you have engineered/I joists for your floor. When introduced to the building industry it was claimed these were so stable one could wave goodbye to movement in floors caused by temperature and humidity! No more shrinkage/movement/warping etc. it was claimed.

Be aware the more complex, or expensive, your repairs become the more the builder may resist or fob you off.

But I sense you will be looking for a satisfactory solution.

nerka

Sounds like no one has bother to glue that chipboard in the first place. This is what normally happens when only screws are used.

cyclonebri1

Furts wrote: »

Hi pawlala
The ironic point is you have engineered/I joists for your floor. When introduced to the building industry it was claimed these were so stable one could wave goodbye to movement in floors caused by temperature and humidity! No more shrinkage/movement/warping etc. it was claimed.

Be aware the more complex, or expensive, your repairs become the more the builder may resist or fob you off.

But I sense you will be looking for a satisfactory solution.

But the problem is that the things have to be specified and built right.

There should be some sort of safety net to ensure that over length thin beams aren't used but I wonder??

Maybe light load beams are produced for use where there is a supporting wall mid way along the beam, to aid build time?

Questions, questions, questions, and still only 1 answer :D, I'd still like to see a measurement of the deflection, it's that that will determine if the lot has to come out.:eek:, sorry.

Furts

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

But the problem is that the things have to be specified and built right.

There should be some sort of safety net to ensure that over length thin beams aren't used but I wonder??

Maybe light load beams are produced for use where there is a supporting wall mid way along the beam, to aid build time?

Questions, questions, questions, and still only 1 answer :D, I'd still like to see a measurement of the deflection, it's that that will determine if the lot has to come out.:eek:, sorry.

There are accepted NHBC guidelines for flatness of ceilings, level of floors, slope on floor etc. I could quote these but they are meaningless (IMHO) and intended to judge a finished product - not something that is flexing.

cyclonebri1

Furts wrote: »

There are accepted NHBC guidelines for flatness of ceilings, level of floors, slope on floor etc. I could quote these but they are meaningless (IMHO) and intended to judge a finished product - not something that is flexing.

Yes, that's my point furts, the OP needs to know if the floor is flexing "significantly", (therefore structural issues), or just slightly, but with heavy acoustic effect.

Over to the OP

pawlala

thankyou all for the latest responses. I saw yours cyclonebri and made use of my laser guided measure to measure the flex in a centre area of the room up towards the ceiling from underneath in the kitchen. sadly I don't have any burley men (site management have not got back to me yet) but I have 1.5 persons in the house and other paraphenalia such as books piled high, lever arch files, sewing machine, sofa end, huge CD/DVD racks and a mountain of wet washing to pull together into a 0.5m2 ish area:

without weight: 2.291m
then measured again with everything/everyone in place:
with weight: 2.290m

from floor of kitchen below.

1mm?

pawlala

bump

just a quick update. One of the ceilings below a floor that was making the noises has been strengthened with metal "rebar" (or so the builder contracts manager called it) that goes along with the underside of the I joists; and then reboarded, replastered and repainted. The ceiling is about an inch lower because of the added supports.

Does anyone recognise this method?

Anyway, the cracking noises have gone completely and the floor feels a little more sturdy to walk on. Builders are going to do some other rooms in a few weeks once they know the ceiling has settled and is still quiet (fingers crossed).

Furts

Ummm...Without having seen the issue I cannot make a definitive comment but the terminology suggests this is a bodge.

Rebar is a term used in civil engineering for the steel bars that are inside reinforced concrete.

You should not have to accept a ceiling one inch lower than what was there before. You are welcome to do so, this is your choice.

If you think of the principles of insurance and compensation, the work or the payment is to put you back in the position you would have been had the incident not occurred. By receiving a lower ceiling this ethos does not apply.

If you have engineered, or I joists, or metal web joists, these are factory designed and manufactured structural members and any alterations and repairs must be agreed in writing with the manufacturers. (Or in conjunction with a structural engineer). You have an obligation, to yourself, to receive a copy of these details and all repair proposals. If you are not happy you can reject them.

Furts

pawlala wrote: »

bump

Builders are going to do some other rooms in a few weeks once they know the ceiling has settled and is still quiet (fingers crossed).

I will bump this one for you pawlala.

The comment about the builders going away "until the ceiling has settled" sounds like BS. The ceiling should not be "settling".

This is suggesting the builders are not working to an approved detail.

By going away the builders may be using you as a guinea pig. "Lets do a trial and see what happens".

I apologise if you deem this cynical!