we just had a floating floor put in by a friend of ours, he layed it over our existing laminate and also the carpet pad that is in the family room that our kitchen extends into. The floor over the family room is creaking and crackling when you walk on it, it does it a little in the kitchen as well but really alot in the Family room. Any way to fix this now?? I have been reading and have since found out it was NOT a good idea for him to put it over the carpet pad, just wondering what my options are now.. thanks!

Kris Pease, May 2007

I put down laminate floor a few years ago in my kitchen and family room, but before I did I removed the carpet and pad in the family room as well as the tack strips. I recommend that you first talk to an experienced installer and ask how to carefully take up the entire laminate floor. The vinyl floor covering doesn’t have to be removed but the carpet pad and tack strip does. Go over the floor and firmly nail any place where you may have a creaking floor, use a good nail that will not work its way back out of the wood. Then lay down an underlayment that is recommended for laminate floors. It is a thin vinyl like material and can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes or any flooring store. There are a couple of grades of underlayment, dont go cheap on it. While you are at the store ask an experienced sales person what type of nails they recommend. I believe I used a good galvanized nail, don’t remember the size. After you have all this done put your laminate back down.
PS
I don’t recommend having your friend do this for you; he didn’t do you any favors the first time.

Mr. Hammer, November 2007

An old trick was to rub talcum powder into the joins.

Paul Ollis, July 2007

I hate to say this, but your friend even though was trying to help did not know what they were doing. You have to pull all that back up and start over. Best thing to do, is start at one point and pull the boards back up. Make a picture sketch of the floor and number the back side of the boards. Put that on your sketch, so you know where the boards go in reverse process. Once removed all the rooms, pull up the old laminate floor and carpet pad. Everything until you get to the subfloor underneath. Make sure floor is clean of dirt and debri.There is a 1/4 inch foam that is the under layment for floating laminate floors. Some floating laminate floors need glue in between the joints, so it doesn't separate while walking on it.

Paul, July 2007