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A problem with wood - any joiners here?
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Non-sexual question - sorry 
A year ago I moved into a new build house and when anyone walks on the front or back bedrooms, there is a loud cracking sound across the floor. We are not talking here about a little squeak; we are talking loud cracking. The builder says this is normal and just how it is, but I've never experienced anything like this in a house before. Other people tell me that it is normal because the house is 'settling', but then again other people say that it shouldn't be like this. So my question is, who is right? And is there anything I can do about this? When I'm downstairs and anyone walks about upstairs it's so noisy and distracting. |
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What kind of flooring do you have up there ?
Are your neighbours experiencing the same thing in their rooms given that they are all new builds?
Who was your builder ?
Which company completed all checks ?
Who else have you asked ? |
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By (user no longer on site) 48 weeks ago
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Following from Granny's questions, have they explained what is 'normal' about it? I know it isn't a normal expectation to have loud cracking when stepping on a newly built floor.
If you aren't satisfied with it, I believe the construction company has to rectify it to a state that is a reasonable expectation of a new-build home within a speicifed period in the contract.
M |
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I live in a 2 year old new build. It’s microcracking, the flooring is moving against the joists. I had it in 2 upstairs bedrooms. The builders put it right but it was a big job involving carpets up and holes on the floors. Basically sounds like really creaky floorboards. I’d try the house builder again, if no luck approach the NHBC. |
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"It's not normal,it's a time consuming fiddly job as mentioned,carpets up etc,that's why no one wants to do it.sounds like you are being bullshitted with the 'oh it's normal line'"
I agree. I think you are being fobbed off. |
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It's when cheap builder's use annular ring nail's instead of screw's, heat expansion contraction, movement and people walking the boards lift the cracking is probably the flooring going back into place,it's possible no expansion joints where left around the perimeter allowing for movement.
It's a pain in the arse to remedy it involves clearing the room, lifting the carpet and denailing the boards and screwing, great care must be taken because of pipes and electrics below the floor ,the many times I have had to cut out a section of floor to see what's underneath because the very last thing you want is to go through a pipe.
It could also be deflection and the floor moving away from the stud partition if it's not correctly fixed to the floor. |
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Just remember that house building companies make money by chucking up as many houses
as possible in the shortest space of time, as cheaply as possible then sell them quickly.
They hate adverse publicity which tells potential customers about their facade of "quality".
Give them the opportunity to investigate and a date of when you’ll go to the local press or social media if they don’t give you a satisfactory answer
I’m guessing it is probably movement etc but I wouldn’t buy a new car and accept loud cracks when I got in or drove it let alone a house costing 100’s of thousands
Register it in writing so in the future they can’t say nothing to do with us mate |
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By (user no longer on site) 48 weeks ago
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You’d need to hear it and be there to know what it is. It could be as simple and a broken nail snapping each time. It could be worse.
Fingers crossed someone can sort that for you.  |
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"Non-sexual question - sorry
A year ago I moved into a new build house and when anyone walks on the front or back bedrooms, there is a loud cracking sound across the floor. We are not talking here about a little squeak; we are talking loud cracking. The builder says this is normal and just how it is, but I've never experienced anything like this in a house before. Other people tell me that it is normal because the house is 'settling', but then again other people say that it shouldn't be like this. So my question is, who is right? And is there anything I can do about this? When I'm downstairs and anyone walks about upstairs it's so noisy and distracting. "
on new houses there is setterling where stuff move and creak
floating raft house they shouldnt be much movement but a wall built on foundations can move rather well due to setterling.
you dont say if its a bungalow or a 2 storey a 2 storey would show on both floors.
as goes for your floor build it has joists and your boards are glued and run across the beams in a brickwork patern so the floor becomes one unit as explained you need expansions at the walls due to movement and temps.
the floor is usually made out of chipboard tounge and groove and the glue can crack rather loudly when giving.
if your not sure things to watch out for walls seperating you tell by your walls too floor ( skirting board to floor gets a gap or sideways movement).
a level test on the floor
cracks on the outside of walls and inside of walls |
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"It's when cheap builder's use annular ring nail's instead of screw's, heat expansion contraction, movement and people walking the boards lift the cracking is probably the flooring going back into place,it's possible no expansion joints where left around the perimeter allowing for movement.
It's a pain in the arse to remedy it involves clearing the room, lifting the carpet and denailing the boards and screwing, great care must be taken because of pipes and electrics below the floor ,the many times I have had to cut out a section of floor to see what's underneath because the very last thing you want is to go through a pipe.
It could also be deflection and the floor moving away from the stud partition if it's not correctly fixed to the floor."
I'm a carpenter with 40 year's experience.
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