No way to answer your question without inspecting the floor. Most floating floors will feel "different" when walked on. Some people, including myself, find the experience unacceptable. However, what is normal movement for a floating floor is that which occurs after it is installed over a flat surface. Was your flooring installed over a flat surface? A flat surface would be one which falls within the manufacturer's specifications for a flat surface.

My neighbor has the same thing. I am pretty sure it's from the dips and bumps in the slab that are not flat. Flattening requires properly pouring self-leveling underlayment, or troweling a filler, and possibly grinding down high spots. I've heard many installer say, Nah, you don't need to do all that, just use a good-quality, thick foam underlayment to even everything out...Well, it doesn't. Maybe it keeps it from banging loudly when you walk across, but you still feel the bounce.

No where in your description is any mention of leveling the existing floor before install. That is a critical step and cannot be skipped or you end up with what you have. If you have too much flex, the "click lock" mechanism of the floating floor can break. It's being put under stress with every bit of traffic that bounces it.

Thanks for the replies. We never experienced the feel of a floating floor installed on an actual flat surface with the padding, so we aren't sure how much different our floor is.

It does sound like concrete typically would have low and high spots that could end up giving a feel of "variable give" depending on location on the floor, although maybe no different than a plywood sub floor. We thought a good underlayment / padding would provide additional insulation and give it an overall softer feel over concrete, but didn't expect a feeling of distinct movement.

The installer did do some leveling. After the floor had already been partially down we discovered significant movement in what was to be a high traffic area. He then pulled up a number of the 5" planks and used a self leveling compound in that area.

In a situation like this, what would be the best way to determine if the install was done correctly? Are there flooring experts out there that can give an objective opinion? I believe both the installer and the flooring business that he works for would stand behind it, but I'd like to know if there is an issue before raising it.

If this type of floor is glued directly down do they feel more solid. The manufacturer says it can be glued down. I'm surprised that these planks flex that easily over short distances as they are about 5" wide by 1/2 inch. Any suggestions? Sorry to put you through all the detail. Thanks again.

Flex=not a flat surface=improper prep. Floating floors should not have any flex in them at all.

Bouncy, is a red flag for a floater.

There is some give but not a trampoline effect.

Subfloor flatness of 1/8" in 6 feet radius, is the universal degree at which to install over.

I'll be the first to admit, that is not always achievable to perfection, with some concrete slabs, without $1000's of floor prep.

Thanks all. My real complaint is mostly about not being informed by the seller and experts to the potential of an outcome from what is a non level concrete floor, and to the cost of guaranteeing that it will be level and to feel it is solid but not bouncy.

Even when they estimated or installed it, no one really took a 4 foot or 6 foot level to the floor.

Hello,

I'm have a similar situation, but installed the floor myself. Did lots of research and then the concrete leveling and grinding down, but what I thought would be acceptable low spots have turned out not to be.

Forgot to check for bouncyness as I went. Am hoping it is something that won't damage the boards, and it's disappointing to. Would be interested to see what happens with your floor surfer.

Cheers
B

I think it really depends on the flooring type too. I had a 1/2" tongue and groove flooring that I pulled out and replaced with 1/4 "click" flooring. This introduced a certain amount of bounce. Its very subtle and only noticeable when you walk on the seams of the flooring.

From Feb. 2012.