What to do about my vinyl flooring? (Loose luan underlayment)
#1
06-13-05, 06:17 AM
What to do about my vinyl flooring? (Loose luan underlayment)
I have recently moved into a new house. The 1/4" lauan is pulling up under my vinyl flooring. My builder says the flooring company wants to install new 1/4" lauan and vinyl over the exsisting flooring. Is that a bad idea to install new flooring over the old with the subfloor coming up? I want them to remove the vinyl and lauan and start over. What is the proper way to repair this problem? Is it unreasonable to expect them to remove the old flooring?
#2
06-13-05, 08:19 AM
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chances are that the cabinets are set on top of the first layer of luan too. let them put in a second layer. less possibility of damage to surrounding fixtures.
#4
06-13-05, 10:00 AM
When it comes time to replace the floor, the new underlayment can be pryed up since it won't be going under the cabinets. That being said, if this is a new house under warranty, have them remove the floor and start over. If the underlayment goes under the cabinets, 5 minutes with a toe kick saw will solve that problem. If the underlayment is pushing up, it will also push up against the new underlayment. My guess is there was still a high moisture content in the house when the floor was installed. As the subflloring dried out, it shrink, loosenin the staples or delaminating the luan which btw, is garbage. 1/4" birch is a much better underlayment to use. What the builder wants to do will get him past teh warranty period afterwhich your seams will probably start to come apart.
#5
06-18-05, 11:06 AM
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Have the faulty installation removed and new installed. If pneumatic nailer or stapler was used to install the luan, the pressure may have been too high and the nails or staples went through the boards. Or, as indicated boards could have shrunk and pulled loose. Installing new luan over loose luan will likely not resolve the problem.
#6
06-18-05, 07:02 PM
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An under layment sandwich is a sure way to have problems later. Like the seams in the underlayment telegraphing.
