Semi solid walnut warping

leanbh

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hesker

Could be the joists are too far apart due to him not putting in enough of them.

In my opinion there should be no bounce. I can't think of any way to fix this without pulling the floor back up and this will be messy likely resulting in damage to some of the boards. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

I'd ask him how the floor was fixed to the battens. Maybe they just aren't fixed right. I imagine they should be nailed in using the proper floor nailer that allows secret nailing. This is what I had done for a solid floor on battens.

red sean

Semi solid is probably a floating floor, and theres not enough expansion gaps left all around.
See if you can get a straight edge and leave it on the floor to see if it sits dead flat or if there's a high point underneath.
If there is, the floor is expanding but hasn't enough room to do so because it's too tight to the sides.
If so, get him back again and show him!

leanbh

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Tigger

if he cuts back the edges (under skirting etc) it will settle

red sean

Tigger wrote: »

if he cuts back the edges (under skirting etc) it will settle

That should do it and also around the pipes to the radiator if there is one.

peter bermingham

Bet ya he didn't cut the door frame to let the floor under it settling down me hole. Also did he use plastic sheeting along with the underlay get him back to fix it a walnut floor is expensive flooring. I have put down a good few floors solid semi, solid never has any of them lift in my experience a floor that starts bouncing its caught somewhere. You payed him to lay a floor right that's what he should have done its up to him to fix it don't listen to any of his bull the floors not right and needs fixing

CBYR1983

If the boards are particularly long, but rather light (as can be the case with semi-solid) then if the floor is floated and the subfloor is not 100% level some lifting can occur.

But if it is bowing upwards in the centre then it may be in too tight.

Doesn't sound like it's been nailed. If it was nailed I think the boards would "cup" due to lack of expansion.

I have lived with a few badly fitted floors in my time!

hesker

Agree doesn't sound like it was nailed. When OP mentioned joists I assumed the builder put down battens and nailed.

I have seen a floated solid floor that was fitted too tight. The floor would lift about 6 inches which was completely ridiculous. It was like being at a fun fair. Took about 5 visits to trim back the edges but floor is now perfect. Don't know why 5 visits were needed - maybe guy was being cautious in trimming.

I would get builder back to cut edges as suggested. You paid good money I'm sure.

leanbh

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slimjimmc

Really does sound like there was an insufficient expansion gap somewhere along perimeters of each floor. The gap should be around anything the can restrict the floor such as wall, a fireplace, door jams, radiator pipes and other floors. Is there an expansion gap left between the living room floor and the hallway floor?

red sean

Get him back again. You've no choice.
Interested to hear his excuse this time!

Wyldwood

Leanbh I had the exact same problem with solid oak flooring and the supplier had to send a new fitter out who took off all the skirting and architrave without damaging it, he cut the ends of the door frames before trimming all around the perimeter, not forgetting in front of fireplace. Replaced all skirting and architrave carefully and used painter's mate on the gaps. The floor is perfect ever since.

Ask your supplier to send another fitter out as the first guy is obviously a chancer.

Carpenter

This brings back memories years ago I did a solid walnut in Bray and left a good 6mm margin and a few weeks later I was called back because the floor had buckled so I removed the skirting and it was tight to the wall I could not believe my eyes so I gave it another 6mm and replaced the skirting and off I went .
Another month passed and I got a call saying it happened again so I went back this time with a moisture reader and when I put the needles on the slab it went off the rector scale I told the owner he had a major prob with dampness .
He then brought in an engineer who condemned the floor and it had to be removed (Major job) about 6 months later I went back and fitted a new floor and to this day it is perfect thank god.