Glue Click/laminate flooring

[mialen]

Hello. I have installed a click/laminate floor in the kitchen and hallway. It is laid directly on the previous vinyl floor. However, I have a problem where in certain areas the floor creaks/moves when stepped on, as if it's not flush with the substrate. I have googled and searched on the issue, and most threads suggest that it's too tight against the wall, but I have checked that. Could it be that I didn't lay foam underneath? I'm considering since it's not so much movement to try gluing it against the vinyl, but 50% of sources say you can do it and 50% say you should/can't do it. What are your experiences? How should I proceed with the following options:

1. Tear up and relay the floor with foam and ensure there's enough space against the wall
2. Tear up and glue and ensure there's enough space against the wall
3. Just ensure there's enough space against the wall

 

[Plupp 358496]

1.

Also, thoroughly inspect the subfloor and level out dips/peaks when possible.

 

[hempularen]

Start with 3, then 1. Most likely your floor is not flat enough. There are usually instructions in the assembly manual for how to check this before you start laying the floor.

Foam helps to even out slight irregularities.

Then it could theoretically be a fault in the new floor. You can perform a similar flatness measurement now before tearing it up. If the floor pops up somewhere, it’s either a fault in the floor, or it can't move as it should. Besides being too close to a wall, the phenomenon can occur if you have a very heavy piece of furniture fixing the floor to the substrate. The floor must be able to move against the substrate.

That's why it shouldn’t be glued. Theoretically, you could glue it so that it cannot move at all. But this requires both a strong adhesive that doesn't release from the substrate when the floor tries to move, and that you can press the entire floor while the glue dries; you would need to place several tons of sand or similar to achieve that pressure.

 

[mialen]

The base is a concrete slab with a glued plastic mat on top before I laid the floor. It looked completely flat before.

Start with 3, then 1. Most likely, your floor is not flat enough. There are usually instructions in the installation guide on how to check this before starting to lay the floor.

Foam helps to even out small irregularities.

Then theoretically, the new floor could be faulty. You can do a corresponding flatness test now before tearing it up. If the floor sticks up anywhere, it's either flawed or unable to move as it should. In addition to being too close to a wall, the phenomenon can occur if you have a very heavy piece of furniture fixing the floor against the base. The floor must be able to move against the base.

That's why it shouldn't be glued. Theoretically, you could glue it so that it can't move at all. But that requires a strong glue that doesn't release from the base when the floor tries to move, and you need to apply pressure to the entire floor while the glue dries; you would need to apply several tons of sand or similar to get that pressure.

I don't understand why it shouldn't be glued? What if I glue each board with quick-drying glue?

 

[BirgitS]

The base is a concrete slab with a glued plastic mat before I laid the floor. It looked completely flat before.

That a plastic mat looks flat doesn't mean there aren't slight dips that exceed the conditions in the installation instructions. For example, a 2 mm height difference over 2 m is not visible, but it may still be outside the permissible limit.

 

[Plupp 358496]

The base is a concrete slab with glued plastic mat before I laid the floor. Looks completely flat before

I don't understand why it shouldn't be glued? If I glue each board with fast-drying glue?

Just go ahead and glue it.

Regarding flatness, you need a straightedge or equivalent.