Chipboard floor moving/squeeking at wall

Alias_Omega

A few years back, just as (latterly weeks) we were buyer the house the previous owner had a new bathroom fitted.

They removed the old chipboard floor just in the bathroom, layed a complete new floor and fitted the bathroom.

All is great until about 12months ago when the floor started to move downwards just short of the skirting board. It has started to squeak too.. Nice..

We suspect that the old chipboard was cut as close to the wall as possible (stud wall) and that they fitted it butted right up. However I suspect they might have not put anything on the joint to support the join ~ hence the movement.

Additionally, it has started to do the same in the bedroom too on the bathroom wall. So maybe they have not done it all the way around the walls, causing the bedroom floor to brake free too..

I feel like I should either try to make a warranty claim (its a large Uk building firm) or get a joiner in to lift the bathroom floors where they can, and attach supports to the joins etc..


What do you think....might have to start looking for joiners in Lincolnshire..

cyclonebri1

Alias_Omega wrote: »

A few years back, just as (latterly weeks) we were buyer the house the previous owner had a new bathroom fitted.

They removed the old chipboard floor just in the bathroom, layed a complete new floor and fitted the bathroom.

All is great until about 12months ago when the floor started to move downwards just short of the skirting board. It has started to squeak too.. Nice..

We suspect that the old chipboard was cut as close to the wall as possible (stud wall) and that they fitted it butted right up. However I suspect they might have not put anything on the joint to support the join ~ hence the movement.

Additionally, it has started to do the same in the bedroom too on the bathroom wall. So maybe they have not done it all the way around the walls, causing the bedroom floor to brake free too..

I feel like I should either try to make a warranty claim (its a large Uk building firm) or get a joiner in to lift the bathroom floors where they can, and attach supports to the joins etc..


What do you think....might have to start looking for joiners in Lincolnshire..

From what you say you are suggesting that the new chipboard floor does not span to the wall side joist, ie, it over hangs by 12" or so????
Yes they should have tagged a joist section to the side of the other to give support,

Can you claim? I think you know the answer to that one.
#What to do?

If you have fitted the bathroom out, the last thing you want is all the floor ripped out, and the same in any other room.

But the issues is with the unsupported section only, ie, the foot wide piece that doesn't have support.

Cut it back to over the last joist, fit noggins to the joist next the wall and screw down a new bit???

Alias_Omega

That's probably what needs to be done. The floor is sticky vinyl pieces which will no doubt have to come up.

If I had a circular saw, I could attempt to have a go, but my floor cutting days are well over. Its not as simple as cutting a small hole. Most of the floor will need to come up, or its lots of small panels..

cyclonebri1

You could of course run some oil or grease in the gap you now have, it may help a little, linseed oil would be the right stuff but cooking oil would do.

It just seems like a lot of work to cure a squeak.

What I would do, and I'm assuming from your comments that like me, you are "getting on abit";);), is to get someone else to help you pin point exactly where the squeak is coming from,( I know what my ears are like, they are non directional nowadays).

It's quite possible the noise is from just 1 point, and a bit of work with a chisel or saw blade may give enough clearance. Any damage could then be covered with a scotia or quadrant fillet like they tend to use when laminate flooring.

Ok, it's not the ideal solution, but the other option is a major refit of the bathroom by the sound of it.;);)

Alias_Omega

All sorted now.

They had failed to put screws along the edge of the wall. It had some in the corners, but not in the middle. I just put a few more in along the wall/doorway and hey presto..

Squeeking reduced....definitely could have been a warranty claim.

Hintza

Interestingly when we had the new build built it is chipboard throughout the upstairs except the bathrooms which were specced as floor boards (pine).

cyclonebri1

Hintza wrote: »

Interestingly when we had the new build built it is chipboard throughout the upstairs except the bathrooms which were specced as floor boards (pine).

That only happens when they care, unfortunately a lot don't.

How anyone can expect chipboard, and normally not even water resistant chipboard, to have a healthy lifespan in a bathroom escapes me.;)

keystone

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

How anyone can expect chipboard, and normally not even water resistant chipboard, to have a healthy lifespan in a bathroom escapes me.;)

They don't (you find this especially in a new build) because by the time it fails they'll be long gone and any residual responsibility has evaporated anyway.

Cheers