Laminate floor problem - advice welcomed

Is it imperative that a PVC moisture sheet be used when laying a laminate floor on concrete or a tiled floor? What will happen if a PVC moisture sheet is not used?

Six months ago, my wife and I arranged for a floor fitting company to lay a Witex laminate floor in the dining room and living room. After 3 months, boards which were laid in the centre of the room started to tighten and now they creak when walked on. They are also noticeably unlevel and are starting to push upwards. For 5 months we have tried to contact the floor fitting company to correct the work but to no avail as they have gone bankrupt and disappeared. I recently removed the skirting boards - hoping to rectify the problem by widening the expansion gaps - but there is already approx 10mm gap around the exterior of the room, so this cannot be the problem. Is our problem a direct result of not having the PVC moisture sheet, or, could it be some other problem? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!

 

Hi,Sounds to me like the floor is drawing moisture.A vapor barrier is a must over any subfloor.Most mfgs.specify a vapor barrier for warranty coverage.One place floor may be tight is under door casings if they were unercut.I dont know what more I can say.Weitex is one of the better brands of laminate......sorry & good luck.

 

You might contact the retailer that sold you your flooring and explain your difficulty. The retailer has a vested interest in your floor and should offer some solution or assistance. That is if unless you made your purchase from the "fitter"