need some flooring suggestions - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Farmer Boy · 02-21-2009, 09:19 AM

We converted an old barn into a winery. For the new floor we took out the existing 100+ year old flooring got it planed down and put a t&G on it.
then we installed two layers of 3/4" T&G plywood flooring, felt paper, double bubble insulation, and 2 x 4 sleepers with hot water floor heat between the sleepers, buried all the tubing with gyp crete and then put the original flooring back in as a hardwood floor. The flooring was attached to the sleepers with construction adhesive and hardwood floor nailers. It all looked good when it was done

but now we have a problem with the stuff buckling. So i'm hoping somebody can tell me what we should have done different and maybe a good solution to fix the problem. we did give the gyp crete about 3 weeks to cure properly but it seems we're still getting some moisture.
Also we had about 4 different species of wood mixed together.Any suggestions would be appreciated.

jamestrd · 02-21-2009, 10:50 AM

if your floor is buckling , it is always water..

check the radiant system thoroughly.

secondly, if its a plank floor, it is against guidleine to install over sleepers..need plywood substrate.

as the heat came on, possibly more moisutre was expellled from the gypcrete into the flooring..

is it buckling or cupping?

you need a moisture barrier directly under the flooring.

Farmer Boy · 02-21-2009, 11:06 AM

we do not have plywood substrate or moisture barrier. and the floor is buckling and cupping. the flooring is anywhere from 4" to 8" wide. Not enough research was done before the job and it's kinda coming back to bite us. So is there a remedy or does the whole flor need to come back up.

Floordude · 02-21-2009, 03:22 PM

From my monitor, I can tell you this...

The wood flooring gained moisture since it was installed.

Now for probable causes.

#1 most common cause, especially for plank flooring... Acclimation

#2 lack of a moisture barrier

#3 dew points being reached

#4 green housing, creating #3

#5 leaky pipe in foundation

#6 flood

What's the rule for concrete... 30 days per inch. Now, you have Gypcrete which is much wetter when pumped or poured. You could be looking at months before it really is dehydrated and ready for flooring.

the big 12 inch · 02-21-2009, 07:53 PM

You need to pull up a few boards all the way down the middle to at least take the pressure off the floor for now...