Wooden floors are so popular, and this is because of so many reasons. They are aesthetically pleasing and complimentary for almost any decor. They are easy to maintain and very hard-wearing.
Not only that, but they are also an excellent addition to pretty much any home. But, there is something that a lot of people tend to overlook about wooden flooring, and that is the fact that they do come with a whole host of potential issues.
If it is laid properly, then wooden flooring can last for years without falling into disrepair. But, if it is not laid properly, then you can quickly begin to experience issues with your wooden flooring.
One of the main issues being a bounce beneath the floorboards when you walk. So, if you want to find out why your wooden floor bounces, you are in the right place because we’ll be taking a look at that and lots more in this guide. Since we are talking about flooring, if you have questions about oak wood as an option for your home, check out our answer here.
So, What is the Reason Behind the “Bounciness”?!
If you have wooden flooring in your home, then you might have noticed that it has a slight bounce to it. This is a fairly common fault with wooden floors, and it is something that you want to avoid. But, why does wooden flooring bounce?
Wooden flooring isn’t supposed to bounce. If your wooden flooring does bounce, it is because of a common error that was made when it was installed.
As wood and laminate flooring has become more and more popular, some people have chosen to install it themselves. Unfortunately, this is why bouncy wood flooring is becoming more and more common.
The bounce that you are experiencing in your wood flooring is caused by the ground beneath the flooring being uneven. When you lay wooden flooring, it is supposed to be laid on a completely level surface, which is why some people board the ground beneath their wooden flooring, or use thick underlay to create a level surface.
But some people choose to skip this step, simply hoping that the surface they are laying their flooring upon is even enough. But, when wooden flooring is laid on uneven ground, the planks of wooden flooring will attempt to bridge the gaps in the dips. So, when you walk along the flooring, the individual planks will bend into the dips beneath your weight, creating a bouncy feeling.
So, if your wooden floor is bouncy, this is probably because the ground beneath the flooring is uneven. This is why you should only ever lay wooden flooring on a level surface.
Should It Bounce?
No, wooden flooring shouldn’t bounce. This isn’t part of the design of the flooring, instead this is a fault that has occurred during the installation process of the flooring. Wooden flooring is supposed to be solid under foot, not bouncy.
That being said, depending on the type of wooden flooring that you are having installed, you might find that it has a slight bounce to it. Some laminate flooring is designed to bounce a little when you walk on it, in order to deflect pressure and prevent the flooring from becoming damaged.
This is known as ‘deflection’ by flooring professionals, and it is normal. This bounce will usually die down after a few months, leaving the flooring solid. But, not all wooden flooring is supposed to have this bounce.
So, if your laminate flooring has a slight bounce, this is probably normal. But, if you have hardwood flooring, it should not bounce. Hardwood flooring is not designed to have a deflection bounce, instead it should be completely solid.
As soon as it has been installed, hardwood flooring should be solid beneath the foot. So, if your hardwood flooring bounces, this is a sign that something went wrong during the installation process.
As we said earlier, the most common cause of bounciness in wooden flooring is the ground beneath the planks being uneven. But, this isn’t the only thing that can cause wooden flooring to bounce.
Some other things such as inadequate expansion gaps, damage to the structure of the flooring, and water can cause wooden flooring to become bouncy. So, if your wooden flooring is bouncy (when it isn’t supposed to be), how can you fix it? Let’s take a look.
How do you Fix Bouncy Flooring?
If you have found that your wooden flooring is bouncy, and it isn’t supposed to be, you might be wondering how you can fix it. In some cases, feeling a bounce beneath the foot when you walk on your flooring can be an early sign of a bigger problem, so you might want to try to fix this as quickly as you can.
Of course, the best way to fix a bouncy wooden floor is to ensure that it doesn’t happen in the first place. As long as your flooring is laid upon a perfectly even surface, with no dips or bumps, then you shouldn’t experience any bounce problems.
So, if you are laying your wooden flooring yourself, take the time and effort to prepare the base level of your floor to be perfectly level. This will ensure that your wooden flooring does not bounce.
Unfortunately, once your laminate or hardwood flooring begins to experience bounce issues, there isn’t really much that you can do to fix it. Ideally, you should test out the laminate while you are in the process of laying it, to ensure that you can catch and fix any bounces before the floor is all laid.
If you do not catch these issues early on, then your options for fixing the flooring are limited. In most cases, you will have to get sections of the flooring relaid to resolve this. So, it is best to ensure that your base flooring is perfectly level before you begin.
Summary
In short, if your laminate flooring is slightly bouncy, there is a good chance that this is because it has a ‘deflection’ bounce built into it. But, if your hardwood flooring is bouncy, this is likely because the floor it was laid upon was not even, causing the floor to warp beneath the foot, creating a bouncing feeling.