1jackguy

subport under the houes basement or cawl space sound wrong, spacing for bracing 12 foot spand is code missouri. the bouncing you typed about let's know the space is wrong.

Holly000

Yep, it's a silent floor. I'm still struggling to understand everything that's going on with my floor. Kind of like taking a crash course in construction.

Holly

nealtw

The floor should have been designed by the company that supplied it or their supplier. It comes with a full set of engineers instuctions on how to install it. As engineers are liable for a very long time, a copy of those instructions should be available somewhere. When you have those instruction you will be able to see from under whether they were followed. If it was under engineered you could go after the supplier and if it was not done correctly, you would go after the builder and the city inspectors.
The city gets an engineer stamped copy of the plan so that they can inspect it. To make sure the instruction were followed.

Holly000

How do I get a copy of the engineer stamped copy of the plan? Contact the city?

thank you!
Holly

nealtw

The city should have a copy, The builder could get a copy from his supplier.

nealtw

If you can't get a copy hire an engineer to get it for you.
The top and bottom cord of silent floor can be 2x3 or 2x4 depending on load and span and some time it will be 2x4 in the kitchen and 2x3 in the room above, they allso call for special blocking between in certain areas and the call for min. plywood subfloor.

Holly000

Hi again!
I had a structural engineer come to my home to do an inspection. This was his findings:

"Based on my visual inspection of the floor framing it appears that the actual framing was done per the plans with regards to spacing, spans, etc. The only notable difference is the floor joist used. The plans call out for a 9 ½” BCI 5000-1.7 DF Joist, but I observed the joists to be Cascade Capital CCI-40 and also noted a Pacific Woodtech 1048 on the joists. The span tables for these appear to meet with the requirements of the actual spans for L/480."

I don't know what any of this means. The flooring sub contractor is prepared to rip the laminate out again and replace it.
This time they want to try a different product. I'm waiting for them to coordinate the tear out and install. Grrrr. So frustrating.

The engineer did say that it's possible that the laminate isn't designed to be installed over such a large area (my entire house is laminate flooring, 1593 sq. ft.) with the exception of two bathrooms and laundry which have vinyl.

I just want this to be over and fixed.

Holly

nealtw

So you didn't say whether he looked at the plywood for the floor, I suspect he did. If the only difference between upstairs floor and down stairs floor is the drywall ceiling. This floor is flexing more than it should. I think I would be asking the builder to strap the bottom of the joists with 1x4s every two feet but that's just a guess.

nealtw

http://www.hoskinghardwood.com/Department/Hardwood-Floors/All-About-Subfloors.aspx?dId=7&pageId=2

These guys say if you deflection, another layer of subfloor may be required.

isola96

http://www.trioforest.com/pdf/Load-Span_Tables.pdf

Load span table might help you guys out

Rooms can only be so large of a sqr before you will need more support from below up, plywood will be only as strong as your joists are.
I could be wrong but sounds like the made the room(s) as large as they could before having to support it from under example a load barring wall or a column.