Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Oh no, Floor is crackling

I did my first install of a laminate floor this weekend and ran into some trouble. I am installing a pergo floor in a hallway foyer on a concrete slab. In one section I am getting a crackling sound. I have left the proper 1/4 spacing around the walls so it isn't that. Under further review, there is a section of the floor where there is movement, therefore I have concluded that I don't have a flat floor.


I am prepared to remove the floor to fix this problem (which hurts because I busted my butt all day on this). I know that I will need a SLC (self leveling compound) to fix it but I don't know how to do this.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for instruction on how to do this? How do you determine where the low and high spots are? I only have to fix the spots in question, right? Do I have to pour SLC over the entire surface? It is a small area but I would rather not get into that. How do you measure how many bags are needed?

One small area is making this noise and it really aggravates me that I have to do this but I think in the long run it will be worth it. Any information on how I should go about self-leveling the floor would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

You can buy the SLC from a building supply stoor, some flooring stores and the big orange or blue box. Before you lay down the green stuff for the product have someone in the know explain it and its application to your complete satisfaction. SLC is not really difficult to use but it will be a mes the first time you try it.

As for checking the flatness: Use a chalk line and fasten it across the corners of the room at just above floor level and measure the distance between the line and the floor ever few inches and mark the results on the sub floor. Then repeat the process across the center of each room. The low or high spots will become known.

I was thinking that it may be easier to use Thinset rather then SLC to fix this issue. I have 2 valleys that need to be corrected. One is 1.5 x 1.5 ft and the other is 1.0 x .75 ft.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Brian