Page 12 - ProInstaller March-April 2022

Correcting Squeaks, Popping, Crunching and Hollow Sounds in Hardwood, Continued

Hollow Sounds • For floating wood floors:
Identification • Hollow sounds and slight vertical movement are
Hollow sounds are audible noises that are produced within considered normal when properly installed.
the installed wood floor itself.
Cures
Causes When a void between the flooring and substrate is tied
Hollow sounds can have a variety of causes, as follows: directly to vertical deflection within the installed flooring
system, issues with flooring performance may become
• For nail-down wood floors: a factor and should be assessed on an individual basis.
• A flooring void (wormholes, shake, bark pockets, Possible cures could include adhesive injections or
engineered flooring core voids, etc.). individual board replacement.
• Slight imperfections or voids in the subfloor. The National Wood Flooring Association has detailed
information about wood flooring noises and corrections
• For glue-down wood floors: available through NWFA University, an online training
• A flooring void (wormholes, shake, bark pockets, platform that is convenient and affordable. More
engineered flooring core voids, etc.). information is available at nwfa.org/nwfa-university.aspx.
• Slight imperfections or voids in the subfloor.
• Concrete subfloor flatness not within required About the Author:
tolerance (1/8” in 6’, or 3/16” in 10’). Brett Miller is the Vice President of
• Small area voids in the adhesive or voids within Technical Standards, Training &
the properly applied adhesive. Certification at the National Wood
Flooring Association where he is
• Inadequate bond between the subfloor and the responsible for the NWFA’s technical
adhesive (poor preparation or incompatibility). training programs, as well as the NWFA’s
• Improper adhesive use. technical guidelines and standards.

12 PROINSTALLER MAGAZINE • MARCH/APRIL 2022