I'm in the planning stages of redoing our home flooring. It is currently a mix of carpet, tile and laminate and we planning on going back with either hardwood or laminate.
My question is, given that solid/engineered hardwood flooring is fairly thick, can it be installed on a slightly bowed surface? Either parallel or perpendicular to the bow in the subfloor?
The problem: most of our home is on a poured basement and is relatively level and solid. However, when remodeled in the 80's two walls were pushed out approximately 6 feet to expand two rooms on opposite sides of the home. A combination an massive shrink/swell clay soil and inadequate footer depth means the two expansions move vertically as the soil moisture changes. Essentially the home has "wings" that move up and down a small amount depending on soil moisture . Other than a few small cracks in the walls, it has not been an issue for the 31 years that is has been this way.
I have installed laminate before, but never real hardwood and am trying to decide if hardwood is even an option given my situation. I would imagine hardwood that requires nailing is not a good idea due to the flex, but how about the newer floating lock together engineered hardwood floors? It is my understanding that even the engineered flooring is still 3/4" thick and I am concerned it will not want to follow the contour.
FWIW, one room currently has laminate flooring placed perpendicular to the bow in the subfloor. The bow is gradual and even and the laminate floor follows the contour of the subfloor. We have experienced no issues with the floor wanting to buckle or separate at the joints. In fact, you can't even tell the floor is uneven unless you lay down and look at the surface. Or drop a marble...
So what do you guys think?
Thanks in advance.
My question is, given that solid/engineered hardwood flooring is fairly thick, can it be installed on a slightly bowed surface? Either parallel or perpendicular to the bow in the subfloor?
The problem: most of our home is on a poured basement and is relatively level and solid. However, when remodeled in the 80's two walls were pushed out approximately 6 feet to expand two rooms on opposite sides of the home. A combination an massive shrink/swell clay soil and inadequate footer depth means the two expansions move vertically as the soil moisture changes. Essentially the home has "wings" that move up and down a small amount depending on soil moisture . Other than a few small cracks in the walls, it has not been an issue for the 31 years that is has been this way.
I have installed laminate before, but never real hardwood and am trying to decide if hardwood is even an option given my situation. I would imagine hardwood that requires nailing is not a good idea due to the flex, but how about the newer floating lock together engineered hardwood floors? It is my understanding that even the engineered flooring is still 3/4" thick and I am concerned it will not want to follow the contour.
FWIW, one room currently has laminate flooring placed perpendicular to the bow in the subfloor. The bow is gradual and even and the laminate floor follows the contour of the subfloor. We have experienced no issues with the floor wanting to buckle or separate at the joints. In fact, you can't even tell the floor is uneven unless you lay down and look at the surface. Or drop a marble...
So what do you guys think?
Thanks in advance.