Hollow sound at installed LVP. What is my next step?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Hello folks

I am new to flooring and TBH I don’t know what to really expect from LVP/SPC planks. So I am asking you who has more experience in this area. Maybe you have your opinion on my situation.

A couple of weeks ago I hired a contractor to install SPC planks to my house. I’ve decided to go with GAIA TERRA flooring brand that has a nice color and texture. Here is the product itself https://www.gaiafloor.com/index.php?id=2044

I read about LVP/SPC and many guides say subfloor leveling is important. So before the project started I asked my contractor if he is going to do subfloor leveling. He said that he’ll take care of it.

My first floor had glued down floor (engineered hardwood if I am not mistaken) and the contractor said that removing it will take *a lot* of work. So to save their time they just install the floor on top of the existing one. The SPC floor was quickly installed. Though I have not seen that leveling has been performed over this subfloor.

I started using the new SPC floor and found that several places have hollow sounds when stepping on them. It quickly became annoying. I checked the new floor with a level and there are several noticeable bumps. You can see it here

Is it something to expect from an SPC floor or is it just a result of poor job and needs to be fixed? How to fix the issue? Is it something I can do myself or it has to be fixed by the contractor?

I am going to contact the contractor and ask him about it but I wonder what to expect in this situation?

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Comments (3)

millworkman
2 years ago
Level is not required but flatness to within 1/8" typically over 10'. If this is not done you have no warranty. Is this floor allowed by the manufacturer to be installed over an engineered floor (or whatever the floor maybe)? The "repair: is to remove the entire floor, flatten the floor and reinstall. Of course this very well may break many areas of the locking system. I would contact the manufacturer and find out what their install instructions require for their warranty prior to any discussion with the installer.
Anatol Pomozov thanked millworkman
Anatol Pomozov
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Hello

Here are the installation instructions http://www.gaiafloor.com/res/soft/2019/9b007fef93c7469d.pdf

The flatness requirements are

Fill any low spots in the subfloor greater than 1/8" in 6 feet linear area with a leveling compound. Check this by using a 6' straight edge. Remove any high spots by sanding or grinding.

And the most interesting manufacturer requirement is

Wood flooring glued to concrete must be removed before installation.

The contractor never mentioned it. In fact he actively pushed towards installing LVP over the glued down hardwood floor as it saves time and money.
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I'm going to say that you have ONE HECK of a decent flooring installer working for you!!!! No. I'm not kidding. I would say 95% - 99% of the time a flooring 'dude' (or some guy who swings a hammer who told you s/he could install flooring) just throws it down and runs for the hills. You have an honest person working for you. The quote he gave included a LITTLE bit of levelling. Your concrete is NOT good enough to have 'spot' patching done. I've always suggested to my customers to budget $2 - $5/sf for CONCRETE slabs. Your quote for concrete work = $2/sf. That's RIGHT ON TARGET. Good to know that you have TWO honest performers here. Yes, concrete is a B!TCH to deal with. Yes vinyl needs FLAT...but then again so does laminate, hardwood, tile, etc. The ONLY things that do NOT need flat = sheet vinyl, sheet linoleum and carpet. Yep. The things that role out and that can wrap around a telephone pole. So...you have THOUSANDS of dollars worth of flooring (I'm guessing around $4500 - $6000). That is MORE expensive to waste than it is to install. Right now you have a wonky concrete subfloor. That is normal and to be expected in a basement. You will only pay for this leveling ONCE. After that you will have a great surface to work with for the next 60 years. The concrete slab guys will get you a much better surface. The INSTALLER will then do the 'few' patches he has quoted for you. The two put together will create the 'acceptable surface' you need to put down ANYTHING OTHER THAN carpet.
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SJ McCarthy
2 years ago
Sigh....so you are saying the GC did NOT read the installation instructions. Sadly (very sadly) this is normal for GCs. A flooring professional (who only does floors) *might have caught this. But often time they do not...because a lot of 'regular guys' do not read installation instructions AND they firmly believe a vinyl floor is the same as a laminate floor (which they are NOT).

I will point out the 1/8" (3mm) over 6ft (2m) is too short for a decent 'leveling' but that's not for me to judge. The standard is 1/8" (3mm) over 10ft (3m). Whatever...

Now to the nasty solution. The floors you have are no longer warrantied because the install clearly violates the manufacturer's instructions. You will need to rip out both floors (be careful with the vinyl...you must be VERY careful or you will lose 50% of the planks due to breakage of the edges) and start over.

Removing the wood = $3-$5/sf (depending on where you live)

Subfloor leveling = $2-$5/sf (depending on where you live)

Vinyl install = $3/sf (labour only)

Extra purchase of vinyl = 25% more due to breakage of click-edges during removal.

I'm sorry but this is a complete redo. You MIGHT get the installer to come back...but something tells me that you will not hear back from them...so just be mentally prepared to do this one without any shared costs.

And to be clear, it is almost impossible to 'flatten' an engineered floor...which is why you noticed the humps in the first place. The 'guy's' "taking care of it" = do nothing and hope no one notices.
Anatol Pomozov thanked SJ McCarthy

Hollow sound at installed LVP. What is my next step?

Comments (3)

millworkman

Anatol Pomozov
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Hollow sound at installed LVP. What is my next step?

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millworkman

Anatol PomozovOriginal Author

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Anatol Pomozov
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