dotwin
2016-05-23 13:58:34
- #1
Hello everyone!
I have a question about a creaking and cracking wooden beam ceiling. Unfortunately, I am a complete layman, but because of that, I’m trying to describe the problem as best as I can...
A few months ago, we bought a house built at the end of the 70s. Between the ground floor (EG) and the upper floor (OG) is a wooden beam ceiling. The previous owner had carpet in the OG, and underneath were apparently chipboards laid and screwed directly. About every 2-3 steps, you could hear creaking under your feet when entering the OG, which bothered us a lot. So we hired a craftsman to find a solution. He allegedly screwed the chipboards firmly with over 1000 screws, on top of which came screed element boards with impact sound insulation (Fermacell with mineral wool), an impact sound barrier (5mm parquet underlay), and a leveling compound. Above that came a layer of floor covering and vinyl floor (design covering, i.e., PVC), which was glued down.
Now we have the following result:
1.) It no longer creaks at every step. Whenever the OG has not been occupied for several hours (especially after the night), it creaks very strongly in some rooms. But each place only once. Apparently, something is being “pressed into place” by the weight. When you walk over the floor again afterward, it does not creak anymore. However, after some time without load, it does again. This, however, seems to depend on the weather, as this phenomenon has not been observed on very warm days.
2.) Even worse is another point: After the floor structure described above had been in place for about 2 ½ months, it started to crack extremely loudly. This phenomenon began around the end of March. Even when no one is on the upper floor, it cracks. Sometimes quieter, but often very loud, as if the floor is under tension and something is loosening (we hear it in the bedroom on the ground floor). This noise is so loud that we have woken up several times at night because of it, which is, of course, very stressful for the nerves... However, this problem does not always occur either. Possibly this also has something to do with the weather or wind. We have not been able to determine that yet.
For better orientation, here are some key data:
Of course, we asked ourselves why the problem did not occur for 2 ½ months. During this time, our attic was also insulated and now naturally weighs considerably more. There are two non-load-bearing wooden frame walls in the OG. Possibly, the weight of the attic presses on these walls, they transmit it, and it cracks, so we hear it on the ground floor. Therefore, two supports were now installed as a test in the OG (between OG and attic). However, the noise continues to occur.
In addition, the baseboards were glued to the wall. This change was also made shortly before the cracking began. However, I cannot imagine that this has anything to do with it.
Possibly, something is also too heavy (attic or OG), since a concrete floor (or at least a concrete layer) in the OG was rejected by the structural engineer.
Another idea from the craftsman was moisture still present in the floor causing the cracking, since quite a few liters of water were used (all rooms were newly wallpapered, painted, and then the leveling layers for the floor were added). Therefore, we have connected a room dehumidifier for a week now, also without the desired result.
Even though quite a bit of text has come together, I hope I was able to describe the problem understandably.
So now my question:
Does anyone have an idea what it could be?
How can we narrow down the problem?
And above all, how can it be solved?
I am very grateful for suggestions and tips!
Thank you very much in advance for your support!
I have a question about a creaking and cracking wooden beam ceiling. Unfortunately, I am a complete layman, but because of that, I’m trying to describe the problem as best as I can...
A few months ago, we bought a house built at the end of the 70s. Between the ground floor (EG) and the upper floor (OG) is a wooden beam ceiling. The previous owner had carpet in the OG, and underneath were apparently chipboards laid and screwed directly. About every 2-3 steps, you could hear creaking under your feet when entering the OG, which bothered us a lot. So we hired a craftsman to find a solution. He allegedly screwed the chipboards firmly with over 1000 screws, on top of which came screed element boards with impact sound insulation (Fermacell with mineral wool), an impact sound barrier (5mm parquet underlay), and a leveling compound. Above that came a layer of floor covering and vinyl floor (design covering, i.e., PVC), which was glued down.
Now we have the following result:
1.) It no longer creaks at every step. Whenever the OG has not been occupied for several hours (especially after the night), it creaks very strongly in some rooms. But each place only once. Apparently, something is being “pressed into place” by the weight. When you walk over the floor again afterward, it does not creak anymore. However, after some time without load, it does again. This, however, seems to depend on the weather, as this phenomenon has not been observed on very warm days.
2.) Even worse is another point: After the floor structure described above had been in place for about 2 ½ months, it started to crack extremely loudly. This phenomenon began around the end of March. Even when no one is on the upper floor, it cracks. Sometimes quieter, but often very loud, as if the floor is under tension and something is loosening (we hear it in the bedroom on the ground floor). This noise is so loud that we have woken up several times at night because of it, which is, of course, very stressful for the nerves... However, this problem does not always occur either. Possibly this also has something to do with the weather or wind. We have not been able to determine that yet.
For better orientation, here are some key data:
Of course, we asked ourselves why the problem did not occur for 2 ½ months. During this time, our attic was also insulated and now naturally weighs considerably more. There are two non-load-bearing wooden frame walls in the OG. Possibly, the weight of the attic presses on these walls, they transmit it, and it cracks, so we hear it on the ground floor. Therefore, two supports were now installed as a test in the OG (between OG and attic). However, the noise continues to occur.
In addition, the baseboards were glued to the wall. This change was also made shortly before the cracking began. However, I cannot imagine that this has anything to do with it.
Possibly, something is also too heavy (attic or OG), since a concrete floor (or at least a concrete layer) in the OG was rejected by the structural engineer.
Another idea from the craftsman was moisture still present in the floor causing the cracking, since quite a few liters of water were used (all rooms were newly wallpapered, painted, and then the leveling layers for the floor were added). Therefore, we have connected a room dehumidifier for a week now, also without the desired result.
Even though quite a bit of text has come together, I hope I was able to describe the problem understandably.
So now my question:
Does anyone have an idea what it could be?
How can we narrow down the problem?
And above all, how can it be solved?
I am very grateful for suggestions and tips!
Thank you very much in advance for your support!