I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. The homeowner had tried to install the boards himself before calling me. He had used a framing saw with a 24-tooth blade to cut his planks. The result was a disaster of chipped melamine and…
I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet underfoot. Most guys skip the leveling compound because they think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I have seen countless homeowners despair over a scratch in their brand new flooring, only to find…
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That job was a wake-up call for the homeowner. They bought a cheap laminate from a big-box store and…
The January phone call usually starts the same way. The homeowner is frantic because they heard a sound like a pistol shot in the middle of the night. Then they noticed a ridge running down the center of their hallway. I have spent twenty five years with sawdust under my nails and a moisture meter…
The physics of shifting laminate floors Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That job taught me that a sliding laminate plank is never just a…
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. I have spent twenty five years with sawdust under my nails and a level in my hand. If you…
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. That clicking sound is the death rattle of a laminate locking system. When a floating floor has a void…
Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click like a castanet. I have spent twenty five years on my knees with a moisture meter and a level. I have seen…
The ghost in the expansion gap Air leaks under baseboards often indicate structural gaps in the subfloor or improper perimeter expansion zones where the wall meets the floor. These gaps allow unconditioned air to migrate from crawlspaces or slabs into the living environment. Detecting these leaks via a draft test reveals whether your laminate or…
The sound of a laminate floor groaning under your weight is not just an annoyance. It is a structural cry for help. Most guys skip the leveling compound. They think the underlayment will hide the dip. It won’t. I spent three days grinding concrete on a job last month just so the floor wouldn’t click…
