Thread: Crackling hardwood flooring - HELP!!!!!

Hi and welcome to the forum. Your problem is a common one, unfortunately there are quite a few different causes and in some cases it can be a combination. Lets look at it through a process of elimination.
Possible causes: Incorrect moisture content, incorrect fixing, clamped too tight, boards too wide, backsawn, surface finish glueing tongue and groove, sub floor moisture, floor to ground clearance,
incorrect tongue to groove machining, No relief profile on back of board. etc etc.
Because you have said the problem is evident when warm, it sounds like a moisture issue. First job is run a non invasive moisture meter over the floor and see what you get. Also check for any peeking of board to board edge joints. If you have any offcuts, check the fit of the tongue and groove joint. There should be clearance between end of tongue and base of groove. Ask your floor layer if he has had any other similar problems recently. If so it may be a fixing issue ie too wide board for secret nailing.
Hope this helps

Along with what Rusty has said, I'd have a wild guess in saying because the boards are wide and have been sealed on one side only which leaves the back of the boards with the ability to breath thus absorb moisture and then dry as a result of the atmospheric conditions.

Are the boards cupping across their width?

Where is this 1.5 insulation? Is it under the chipboard sheeting or is it under the floor boards and thus on top of the chipboard sheeting?

So are you saying get under the house and spray the other side with some sort of sealer to prevent the cupping. Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm trying to see if I can come up with a solution to something I know nothing about but I like puzzles....

used to have the same problem put baby powder all over floor and sweep into the gaps you mightnt see them but they are there ,and it works like a charm....bob

Originally Posted by rustynail

Hi and welcome to the forum. Your problem is a common one, unfortunately there are quite a few different causes and in some cases it can be a combination. Lets look at it through a process of elimination.
Possible causes: Incorrect moisture content, incorrect fixing, clamped too tight, boards too wide, backsawn, surface finish glueing tongue and groove, sub floor moisture, floor to ground clearance,
incorrect tongue to groove machining, No relief profile on back of board. etc etc.
Because you have said the problem is evident when warm, it sounds like a moisture issue. First job is run a non invasive moisture meter over the floor and see what you get. Also check for any peeking of board to board edge joints. If you have any offcuts, check the fit of the tongue and groove joint. There should be clearance between end of tongue and base of groove. Ask your floor layer if he has had any other similar problems recently. If so it may be a fixing issue ie too wide board for secret nailing.
Hope this helps

Hi Rustynail thanks for getting back to me! I can see that this is going to cause me further sleepless nights and a sore body fixing the issue. I suppose the first thing as you said is check moisture. If it is a moisture problem can it be rectified?

Originally Posted by rod1949

Along with what Rusty has said, I'd have a wild guess in saying because the boards are wide and have been sealed on one side only which leaves the back of the boards with the ability to breath thus absorb moisture and then dry as a result of the atmospheric conditions.

Are the boards cupping across their width?

Where is this 1.5 insulation? Is it under the chipboard sheeting or is it under the floor boards and thus on top of the chipboard sheeting?

Hi rod1949 thanks for replying. I had a representative from Boral come and have a look at the laying and he said that it was a good tight job and the boards weren't cupping. The 1.5 insulation on the chipboard is on the bottom facing the ground. It has a foam type of material fixed to the underside of the chipboard and then has a layer of a sisalation (foil) type material as well.

Originally Posted by robyn2839

used to have the same problem put baby powder all over floor and sweep into the gaps you mightnt see them but they are there ,and it works like a charm....bob

Hi robyn2389 thanks for replying. What type of boards did you lay when you had this problem. Hopefully this simple solution works for me and then 'she-who-MUST-be-obeyed' can find something else to nag about!!! Thank god she can't use computers!

Originally Posted by _fly_

So are you saying get under the house and spray the other side with some sort of sealer to prevent the cupping. Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm trying to see if I can come up with a solution to something I know nothing about but I like puzzles....

Hi Fly,
There are plenty of floors out there that are only single side coated and give no trouble.
The problem is often wet subfloor area or too close to ground. Improved vetilation or in severe cases, plastic sheeting on ground under floor will usually solve the problem.

Originally Posted by woodycsp

Hi rod1949 thanks for replying. I had a representative from Boral come and have a look at the laying and he said that it was a good tight job and the boards weren't cupping. The 1.5 insulation on the chipboard is on the bottom facing the ground. It has a foam type of material fixed to the underside of the chipboard and then has a layer of a sisalation (foil) type material as well.

Is that all the rep said? Did he have a moisture meter with him and how tight was tight?
Did he go under the floor and check for lift? Was he a sales rep or a tech rep?

Originally Posted by woodycsp

Hi robyn2389 thanks for replying. What type of boards did you lay when you had this problem. Hopefully this simple solution works for me and then 'she-who-MUST-be-obeyed' can find something else to nag about!!! Thank god she can't use computers!

i didnt lay the boards just drove me crazy till i was given this solution.bob takes a couple of days to work its way into the joins but will work ,well it did for me and eveyone else i reccommended it to..........bob

Originally Posted by robyn2839

i didnt lay the boards just drove me crazy till i was given this solution.bob takes a couple of days to work its way into the joins but will work ,well it did for me and eveyone else i reccommended it to..........bob

Good onya Bob. I will definately give it a go. Thanks!

Originally Posted by woodycsp

Hi Rustynail thanks for getting back to me! I can see that this is going to cause me further sleepless nights and a sore body fixing the issue. I suppose the first thing as you said is check moisture. If it is a moisture problem can it be rectified?

The short term answer is no. The long term answer is thatbthe boards will reach equalibrium over time. Dont panic, the problem may be able to be solved quite simply, once we have a better idea of probable cause. Go through the list and eliminate the definite noncauses, mark the probables and we are left with the possibles. Lets have your findings and see if we cant find an answer.
Talc powder works well on squeeks, often not so good on crackles as it is working as a friction lubricant.

I find it funny that the talc acts as a lubricant for these floors but when the belt on my deli slicer started slipping to solution was also talc to give it some grip.