Floor board movement?

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:19

I live in a new build and have just noticed the floor in the livingroom seems to dip a bit when walked on. I know im not the smallest person in the world but I wouldnt have thought it would dip that much.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on how much give the floor should do. Doesnt seem to do it anywhere else in the house. Could this be a problem or is it supposed to be like that?

If you watch someone stand on it from the side you can see the give.

The room is quite big, probably 14 feet by 18 feet. So at first I thought it might just be the size that caused it.

Any comments would be appreciated. I dont want to call out the builders if it is legit.

Thanks

Rotty · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:26

doesnt sound right to me

bloodiedathame · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:27

Your floor is definitely supposed to move as you walk over it.

radderfire · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:28

I take it this is a ground floor living room?

How many cm do you think the floor board is moving down in the middle?

I'm no builder, but I guess there are many different construction techniques for floors, some of which will suspend floor boards on cross beams. If only a few cross beams have been used then I guess there is more chance of bowing between them. I suppose I would have it looked at if I thought it was dangerous or found it a great annoyance.

Just to say also I expect a certain amount of give is usual for certain floor construction types.

Rgds

666_Pounder · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:29

Whats the flooring material? A wooden floor or just carpet?

Sounds like something to do with the underlay. There will always be a bit but that sounds a bit much.

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:41

radderfire said:
I take it this is a ground floor living room?

How many cm do you think the floor board is moving down in the middle?

I'm no builder, but I guess there are many different construction techniques for floors, some of which will suspend floor boards on cross beams. If only a few cross beams have been used then I guess there is more chance of bowing between them. I suppose I would have it looked at if I thought it was dangerous or found it a great annoyance.

Just to say also I expect a certain amount of give is usual for certain floor construction types.

Rgds

Yes its a ground floor living room.

Its hard to tell how many cms it goes down. I would definately say over 1cm. But as you said it might just be the way its laid. Its a big room so if they dont have that many beams it could just be its the weak point.

666_Pounder said:
Whats the flooring material? A wooden floor or just carpet?

Sounds like something to do with the underlay. There will always be a bit but that sounds a bit much.

Wooden floor with carpet. (I take it you meant wooden floor with carpet or there would be a lot more give if it was just carpet

)

Participant · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:43

666_Pounder said:
Sounds like something to do with the underlay.

I don't see what Mexicans have got to do with this?

OP, if you're concerned, contact them and get them to have a look. What is wasting a builder's time compared to your house being badly built? As above though, some description as to how much dip we're talking would help. Edit - you've added this now. Hmm I'd call them out, nothing to lose lots to gain. The problem could get worse.

PS - beams in a ground floor living room??! Would have thought the floor would be on concrete.

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:52

Robbie G said:
I don't see what Mexicans have got to do with this?

OP, if you're concerned, contact them and get them to have a look. What is wasting a builder's time compared to your house being badly built? As above though, some description as to how much dip we're talking would help. Edit - you've added this now. Hmm I'd call them out, nothing to lose lots to gain. The problem could get worse.

PS - beams in a ground floor living room??! Would have thought the floor would be on concrete.

Yeah I would have thought most new build houses would be concrete these days. Wouldnt that be cheaper for the builder?

The only thing i didnt want to do is get the builders out and they say, no thats fine. No much else i could say if they say that.

Surely it has to be beams as concrete isnt going to give at all.

666_Pounder · 12 Apr 2010 at 15:59

You don't lay carpet straight onto concrete, well you shouldn't at any rate.

You need some sort of barrier between the bare concrete and the carpet, can either be as thin as just some tarp style stuff as a vapour barrier or layers of insulation underlay and possibly boards. Its put there for moisture and thermal reasons more than anything else.

It could just be springy under lay (checked for Mexicans this time D: )

Amp34 · 12 Apr 2010 at 16:02

It's a new build, they probably used tile battons instead of joists to save money...

As for laying carpet straight over concrete, it's pretty common, just some underlay under the carpet. They would have insulation and a damp course sandwiched between the concrete.

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 16:33

Amp34 said:
It's a new build, they probably used tile battons instead of joists to save money...

As for laying carpet straight over concrete, it's pretty common, just some underlay under the carpet. They would have insulation and a damp course sandwiched between the concrete.

On my last house they had a concrete floor with underlay under the carpet.

4T5 · 12 Apr 2010 at 16:34

Amp34 said:
It's a new build, they probably used tile battons instead of joists to save money...

I know it's not funny when people have spent hundreds of thousands but Honestly new builds are built about as well as rabbit hutches these days & No I am not kidding.
Wooden frames, A few bin bags & the rest is MDF.

When I did Property maintenance for my mates firm down Chelmsford way we would go in a 450 grand house, The owner would say I want Exactly the same fittings, We would say No prob mate, When we went out to B&Q the same fittings were in the Bargain bin, Yes they were the Cheapest you could buy just like Everything else used to build the house.
It really is Criminal.
The above is not just One story it is Every single New build I have ever been in I just don't tell people as they are better of not knowing.

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:25

malc30 said:
I know it's not funny when people have spent hundreds of thousands but Honestly new builds are built about as well as rabbit hutches these days & No I am not kidding.
Wooden frames, A few bin bags & the rest is MDF.

When I did Property maintenance for my mates firm down Chelmsford way we would go in a 450 grand house, The owner would say I want Exactly the same fittings, We would say No prob mate, When we went out to B&Q the same fittings were in the Bargain bin, Yes they were the Cheapest you could buy just like Everything else used to build the house.
It really is Criminal.
The above is not just One story it is Every single New build I have ever been in I just don't tell people as they are better of not knowing.

So in your opinion does that sound right or wrong?

apeZ · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:29

(sorry

)

Amp34 · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:32

It does sound wrong. Our front room is a similar size and it certainly doesn't move in the middle. Wooden floor in an old house.

illogik · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:35

It wasnt built over an old indian burial ground was it?

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:46

illogik said:
It wasnt built over an old indian burial ground was it?

I would think thats cool. My wife however would never reenter the house.

Tachyon · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:50

Your floor shouldn't be dipping when you walk on it regardless of the size of the room. Is it chipboard sheets or something? My guess is they missed a few screws and it's lifted slightly so when you walk on it, your weight is pushing it down on top of the joist the same as the rest of the room.

When you stand on it, can you get someone to run a straight edge across it, you'll be able to tell if it's dipping then or just down where it's supposed to be.

kylew · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:53

The problem is that there's too much distance between joists.

Joists shouldn't be any more than 600mm apart centre to centre.

At 600mm centres there should be absolutely no give at all, over 1CM is what I'd personally call a lot of give, you should get it checked out properly.

bloodline76 · 12 Apr 2010 at 17:59

kylew said:
The problem is that there's too much distance between joists.

Joists shouldn't be any more than 600mm apart centre to centre.

At 600mm centres there should be absolutely no give at all, over 1CM is what I'd personally call a lot of give, you should get it checked out properly.

My problem is that it is covered by the people that built the house and they would be the ones who have come out and inspect it. And not to give builders a bad name but these are the same people that used sealant rather grout to do the shower tiles.

So what is stopping him from just saying. No its supposed to do that. Just so he doesnt have to rip up the floor and carpet.