Flooring problems and solutions

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Q In this day and age has anyone come up with an easy way of removing old foam backed vinyl that has been stuck down to wooden floors.

A The simple answer is no. Brute force and sheer strength with strippers and sanders still seems to be the order of the day. It is a long tedious job so make sure your estimate in time leaves plenty of room.

Q We recently installed click system wood flooring and it creaks. We followed the manufacturers instructions and when he visited the site he was perplexed and said he had never heard this noise before. Have you had any complaints about creaking.

A Yes, I have heard wooden floors creak and it is usually due to excess movement between the joints. In your instance the click system does allow the wood to move and I believe it is moving too much. If the creaking is all over the floor area then this is the reason, if it is only part of the floor, check the grooves on this part to the quiet area.

Q Is there any sure way of laying floors over different substrates in the same area. We have to cover a part wood, part screed floor with vinyl and I have a gut feeling that the join will always show. Any tips.

A When I was in contracting, many years ago, we used to use 6mm ply and pin it every 4 inches, when we came to the screed area we used to let the ply ride at least two foot over the screed and we stuck it down with contact adhesive, we then used a latex screed on the remaining base. It usually worked!

Q A contract where we have to lay a high quality vinyl tile has come to an abrupt halt. We have condemned the builder’s screed, as it is friable. You can scrape it up! He now wants us to use a latex screed to cover up his poor work. What should our position be?

A Tell him that if you cover up a lousy floor with good latex it will soon give big problems. Tell him to scrape up the screed and try a new one. This time, buy some cement! Do not lay the floor until you are satisfied because, as sure as eggs are eggs, if anything goes wrong, it will be your fault, as you accepted his poor screed.

Q The chap who installed our laminate floor used too much adhesive in the joints and it has oozed up and has set dry on the surface of the planks. Is there an easy way of removing this excess?

A PVA adhesive usually sets quite brittle on a plastic surface so if you carefully prise it off it should come away easily. Do not try liquid cleaners as this could seep down the join and give you more problems.

Q We were asked to install a new manufacturer's wooden floor. We purchased the wood and special 6mm foam underlay and fixed it as per the instructions. We noticed the floor was very springy and told the manufacturer. He said it was meant to feel like that.
Several weeks went by and we were called back to be shown several splits on the tongues and grooves and obviously the boards move too much. The client wants the floor out; he specified it, and the manufacturer does not know what the problem is. Please help us.

A You have the answer. The floor has moved too much, causing tongues and grooves to split. I trust the substrate is pretty level? I also hear that most wood manufacturers like a 3-4mm underlay, 6mm is a bit thick! Tell your supplier his specification is wrong!

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