Why Do My Floorboards Creak?

Creaking floors can become incredibly frustrating for homeowners, with even the smallest movement causing nasty sounds to emerge from below. Plus, these noises can point to more serious issues with your floor, ensuring people worry when they wander through their space. Fortunately, creaking floors rarely signal a significant structural problem, but that doesn’t mean you should simply hope for the best when it occurs.

Instead, take action to confirm your home’s structure is sound while enjoying the peace you always imagined. But what causes your floors to creak in the first place? As this racket can quickly worsen, understanding the reasons for your problem means you’ll have a better chance of addressing it with little hassle.

To get you up to speed with the causes of creaking floors, we’ve delved into the major reasons for this issue below. From poor-quality installations and subfloor issues to changes in humidity, there’s no shortage of explanations for why your floors can become annoyingly noisy. However, with expert help from a team of experienced professionals, solving your problem and levelling up the quiet pleasure of your home is never far away.

6 Reasons Why Your Floors Creak

Tired of your floorboards creaking? Ranging from the simple to the complex, these are six of the most common causes of the noise coming from your house. Get to know the signs of each one and take action to resolve them as soon as possible.

1. Detached Floorboards

Your floorboards should be tightly secured to the subfloor beneath. However, as time goes on, there’s a good chance yours will become loose, especially if they’re in high-traffic areas of the home or the original installation has left something to be desired. As your floorboards shift in position and grind against each other, every step can lead to frustrating creaks. Fastening these back into place is the best way to fix detached floorboards.

2. Separated Floor Structure

If the components of your floor separate from each other, irritating squeaks and creaks are often the result. With the top layer, underlay, subfloor and joists needing to be tightly connected, gaps that appear between them can mean there are large spaces in your floor where flexing can occur. This movement is never good for silent floors, with each step rubbing the loose components together. Plugging these gaps with shims is a simple way to reduce this noisy movement.

3. Climatic Changes

One of the most confounding issues for homeowners is when their floors only creak at a certain time of year. In many cases, this is caused by changes in temperature and humidity, where floors naturally expand and constrict depending on the climate. With a high-quality installation leaving the ideal amount of room for expansion gaps, sometimes this job isn’t completed properly. Instead, you might need to add more nails or lubricate the floorboards to resolve any loud problems.

4. Inferior Underlay

Creaks don’t just come from the floorboards or the subfloor, the underlay chosen for your home can also lead to bothersome noise. If it’s fitted incorrectly, it can create problematic gaps between the floor and the subfloor, with each step resulting in another groan. Issues may also arise if the wrong type of underlay has been used for your flooring material. Unfortunately, addressing this problem usually means pulling up parts of your floor.

5. Everyday Wear

Every type of flooring material has a different lifespan. Plus, reaching this expected age depends on whether it was installed properly in the first place. With every day wear and tear causing your flooring to degrade over time, sometimes creaky floors are just a symptom of the floor reaching a ripe old age. For example, solid hardwood flooring should last at least 30 years while laminate might survive for 20 years. Keep this in mind when choosing the right fix for the job.

6. Incorrect Installation

Many of the issues associated with creaking floors are because of poor-quality installation. While there’s not much you can do about this if you move in years after the fact, if you’re installing a new floor, opting for a reputable flooring specialist is the best way forward. This way, you can ideally avoid some of the most common problems, such as the wrong underlay being used for the job or insufficient expansion gaps being left to account for temperature changes.

How Squeaky Floors’ Experts Can Help

Looking to fix your creaky floors? Our highly experienced team is ready to transform your space from somewhere incredibly frustrating into a tranquil haven. Supported by our qualified and insured experts, we offer an extensive variety of building skills perfect for eliminating noise from your carpeted and hardwood floors.

Founded in 2013, our wealth of experience means we can quickly diagnose the problem and develop a detailed plan to fix it. From detached floorboards to gaps between your joists and the subfloor, we work with the highest quality materials to address your home’s concerns and ensure you benefit from a top-notch outcome.

Chat with the Squeaky Floor Experts Today

Don’t put up with your floorboards making a racket. Instead, contact our expert team to discover how we can fix your home’s creaking and squeaking issues. Operating across Melbourne and Sydney, our specialised crew is ready to tackle even the most complex jobs.

Thanks to our superior skills and unmatched knowledge, we’re best prepared to address the full range of creaking floor concerns. Plus, we offer exceptional customer service and attention to detail. Get in touch today for an obligation-free quote.

If you’ve noticed your floors have started to squeak, you might be worried about the integrity of your home. The good news is that squeaky floors generally aren’t a serious structural problem. However, the annoyance of creaking floorboards is bound to get worse, so understanding the issue and addressing it is the best way forward. After all, something as simple as a squeaky floorboard shouldn’t ruin your relaxation at home.

Whether your floorboards are squeaking for the first time or the problem seems to getting louder and louder, figuring out the cause is essential to solving the issue. Ranging from floorboards that have come loose to gaps emerging between the subfloor and joists, taking the time to pinpoint the cause of your squeaky floors means applying a fix should deliver greater success.

Here, we explore what causes squeaky floors and why you shouldn’t usually worry about a structural problem in your home. Then, we’ll delve into the common solutions when squeaky floors strike, helping homeowners fix and prevent annoying creaks from disrupting their everyday enjoyment at home.

What Causes Squeaky Floors?

Ready to investigate your squeaky floors? First, it’s a good idea to learn about the most common causes. At least one of the following issues usually contributes to the noise and dissatisfaction, whether you live in an older home or a newer build.

Loose Floorboards

Don’t be surprised if your floorboards come loose, as everyday wear and tear or poor installation technique can mean they unfasten from the subfloor. With this leading to individual floorboards shifting and rubbing against each other, irritating squeaks and creaks are the outcome.

Gaps in the Floor Structure

Floors are basically made with four major components: the top layer, the underlay, the subfloor and the joists. If the latter two develop gaps, this can lead to significant flexing of your floor. Not only can you sometimes feel this dip when you walk across it, but the noise created can be substantial.

Environmental Changes

Changes in temperature and humidity throughout the seasons can cause your floorboards to squeak, especially when the installer doesn’t include appropriate expansion gaps. As the wood expands and contracts depending on the conditions, keeping a stable interior climate is crucial to prevent noise throughout the entire year.

Incorrect Underlay

The underlay beneath your floorboards is another potential cause of squeaky floors. If it isn’t installed correctly, it can produce gaps between the boards and the subfloor, leading to unnecessary noise. There are also times when an inappropriate underlay has been chosen for the job, with this issue needing to be addressed before too long.

Fix Your Squeaky Floors

Time to fix your squeaky floors? There are several simple solutions you can explore to solve or at least reduce the noise. If the problem seems more serious, you can always call our expert team to address your issue with the least possible hassle.

Buy a Squeak-No-More Kit

One of the first potential fixes to consider is a squeak-no-more kit. These simple products are designed to work with hardwood, carpet and vinyl floors, making them suitable for the full spectrum of homeowners. Using the equipment inside, you can drill through the surface of the floor into the joists, tightening anything that’s come loose over time.

If you don’t have access to the space beneath your floor, you might be wondering how you find the joists to screw into. With a basic stud finder and the alignment tool, it’s a relatively easy job to insert the provided screws. As these are designed to snap off in the ideal spot, the finished product appears flush with the rest of your floor.

Reduce the Gaps with Shims

Shims are another simple solution for resolving some of the more common causes of squeaky floors. As gaps between the subfloor and joists often result in noisy movement, shims help plug these gaps to create a tighter, more consistent surface with minimal flex. Available in wood or metal, you’ll have to look for the perfect spot to place your shims.

The easiest way to identify these spots is to have someone walk on the surface of the floor, listening carefully for where the noise is loudest. Once you find a potential problem, push a shim into place and see if the noise has improved. As you move around the subfloor looking for unnecessary gaps, you have a good chance of resolving your squeaky issues.

Sprinkle Baby Powder

While it might be more of a temporary fix, many homeowners have found success sprinkling baby powder or graphite powder over their floorboards. As this substance helps lubricate the surface and falls into the minute cracks, it prevents them from rubbing together and creating a noise.

For situations where squeaky floors are caused by seasonal temperature changes, perhaps a healthy coating of baby powder is enough to resolve the issue until the floorboards expand or constrict into place again. Keep an open mind and see if this approach helps with your squeaky floors.

Signs Your Squeaky Floors Are Serious

Although squeaky floors generally aren’t a sign of a more serious problem with your home’s structure, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. While you might notice some movement beneath your feet, pay attention to whether it feels more spongy than you’d expect. This could mean that your subfloor or joists have begun to rot.

With too much moisture, high humidity and liquid water damage contributing to weak foundations, watching out for the signs is important. This can also include musty smells, warped floorboards, unexpected water stains or mould and mildew growth. Take action quickly if you think a more serious problem has occurred beneath your floor.

Chat with the Squeaky Floor Experts

Are your floorboards making a racket? Getting help from an expert team is the fastest and easiest way to address your issue. With our highly experienced professionals working across Melbourne and Sydney, we have what it takes to return peace to your home.

Founded in 2013, we’ve seen every squeaky floor and know the best ways to fix them. Renowned for our stellar customer service and attention to detail, trust Squeaky Floors to fix your problem. Get in touch today for an obligation-free quote – our friendly team can answer all your questions.

Don’t let the annoyance of squeaky floors ruin your quiet comfort at home. Whether you live in a modern or older property, finding a suitable solution ensures you enjoy your space to its maximum potential.

However, there are numerous reasons why your floors might be squeaking, so determining the best fix isn’t always straightforward. With age, structural issues and daily wear and tear possible culprits, understanding the cause is crucial for arriving at the ideal solution.

Here, we’ll explore how to fix squeaky floors from numerous perspectives, helping homeowners address frustrating creaks and whines whenever someone moves in your house. With a few changes, you can quickly elevate the serenity of your space.

Discover the Source of the Squeak

Ready to fix your squeaky floors? First, you have to discover the source of the squeak. You can save yourself time and energy if you have a solid idea about the components of your floor, ranging from the top layer to the subfloor and joists. With each having the potential to create squeaks, getting up close is the best approach.

For example, if water damage has caused your subfloor to deteriorate, the nails and fasteners that typically hold down the panels can shift and rub against each other, leading to squeaks. Similarly, if the joists become loose or aren’t strong enough to withstand the weight on them without flexing, they might begin to creak in distress.

Although it can be difficult to identify the exact location of a squeak, you can use a few time-tested methods to increase your precision. Walk back and forth slowly in the room, carefully listening for the precise spot creaks occur. If you can access the subfloor, a torch and a mirror can help you look for gaps in your joists and other components.

Choose the Ideal Fix

Once you feel confident you’ve identified the problem area, it’s time to find the right solution for the job. But with several approaches to consider, you don’t want to rush into the process. Here, we explore the most common ways to fix squeaky floors from above and below.

Add Shims to the Joists

If the gaps between your joists and subfloor are causing creaks and squeaks, many homeowners have found success by sliding shims into these spaces. Shims are essentially thin pieces of wood, perfect for preventing the floor from moving and making annoying noise.

You can add shims from above or below your floor. Just add a small amount of wood glue to the shim and wedge it between the gaps in the joists and subfloor. Once the glue has dried, you can trim back the shim to create a flush finish between the joists and subfloor.

How to Prevent Squeaky Floors

What’s better than fixing squeaky floors? Preventing them in the first place. Although you can’t predict the future, there are steps you can take before, during and after installation to ensure you don’t encounter frustrating sounds in the years ahead. Here are some simple tips to avoid squeaky floors becoming an issue in your home.

Install the Right Way

Installing your floor with the proper technique is crucial to achieving a solid base free from creaks and squeaks. Unfortunately, there’s a lot that can go wrong during the process. For example, you might not leave enough space for expansion gaps, fail to use enough nails or even choose the wrong wood for your circumstances. By following the manufacturer’s precise installation instructions, you can avoid many of the most common pitfalls.

Conduct Regular Inspections

While a properly installed floor should last for years without issue, conducting regular inspections and maintenance is vital for upkeep. At least once a year, every homeowner should inspect their floor for common concerns, such as gaps appearing in the joists or nails coming loose. This way, you can address any issues that arise before they become a bigger problem. If you want to prevent squeaky floors, make sure you stay on top of your maintenance.

Chat with the Squeaky Floor Experts

Can’t stand the noise coming from your floor? The experts at Squeaky Floors have what it takes to fix your problem. As a standout specialist in the space, our professional team is equipped to assist with properties in Melbourne and Sydney.

Founded in 2013, we work on the full spectrum of squeaky floors and ensure our customers benefit from the quietest, most relaxing homes possible. Get in touch today for an obligation-free quote – our helpful team is ready to answer all your questions.

The sound of creaking floorboards is enough to drive someone mad. But it gets even more frustrating when the floorboards are under the carpet, as fixing the issues becomes harder than necessary. With this problem occurring in historic homes and new builds, getting the greatest relaxation at home is only possible after you’ve solved this squeaky issue.

Unfortunately, figuring out what’s causing your floorboards to squeak under the carpet isn’t always simple. This is because there are actually several common causes, ranging from the age of the floorboards to structural issues under your house. But as pulling up the carpet only adds to the drama, fixing the problem without major work is a top priority.

Fortunately, there are strategies you can explore to stop floorboards from creaking under your carpet. With our expert team specialising in this exact job, we have what it takes to guide you through the process or complete the job to the highest possible standard. Read on to rid your home of annoying squeaks and creaks.

Pinpoint Your Floor’s Creaks

Before you can address your creaking floorboards, you must ensure you identify the precise problem area. When your floorboards are hidden beneath the carpet, this job might not be as simple as you’d hoped. However, taking the time to understand your floor and where the issue might have emerged means you can apply a fix with greater confidence.

The main components of your floor include the top layer, the joists and the subfloor, with creaks most likely to occur in these major areas. However, you should also check for loose carpet, as this can lead to tedious squeaks too. While there are endless reasons why creaking occurs, water damage to your subfloor, loose nails and everyday wear contribute to problematic deterioration.

Ahead of taking more drastic measures, see if you can identify the location of the squeak by walking back and forth across the space. By listening carefully as you adjust the pressure of your feet, you should be able to get an accurate idea of where the issue occurs. Then, you can develop a plan that addresses the problem.

Find the Right Approach

After you’ve isolated the creaking sound to a specific area, you must choose the right method for fixing the groan coming through the carpet. Yet as it’s easy to get yourself in a bind, take the time to understand these techniques and how they might make sense for your situation.

Get a Squeak-No-More Kit

Fixing the creaks in your floorboards can be a challenge, but there is an off-the-shelf product designed for the job. Purpose-made to work with carpet, use this kit to drill through the surface into the joists below. This should tighten any components that have become loose over time.

Although finding the joists can be a challenge, using a magnetic or electronic stud finder makes it far simpler. Supported by the alignment tool and the provided screws, secure the floor to the joists and snap off the tops of the screws to benefit from a clean finish.

Plug the Gaps with Shims

If you have access to the subfloor either under the house or in a crawlspace, you might be able to plug any creaky gaps in your home using shims. Ranging from simple thin pieces of wood to engineered metal wedges, positioning these in the right spots helps prevent the floor from shifting.

For example, you might notice how your joists have sprung loose from the subfloor. Listen as someone walks across the problem area, then knock in a shim into place at this precise location. Continue this process until the creaks in your floor have disappeared.

Lift the Carpet

While lifting the carpet can be an annoying and involved process, it might not be too difficult if you only have to pull back a small section. In fact, if you have a creaky floor and can’t get to the source of the issue, perhaps peeling back the carpet is actually the easiest way to make a quick fix.

Once you can get a good look at the state of your floor, adding a shim, nailing together the components or even using talcum powder to lubricate the area becomes much easier. With a tool like a carpet knee kicker, you can stretch it back into place without too much issue.

Stop Creaky Floors Before They Occur

Achieving a DIY fix for floorboards that creak through carpet certainly isn’t impossible, but taking the steps to prevent noise from the get-go is much more satisfying. Whether you’re installing new floorboards or keeping tabs on old ones, completing the ideal installation and staying on top of maintenance is essential to success. Follow this advice to prevent your floors from developing annoying creaks.

Follow the Installation Instructions

If you’re preparing to install new floorboards in your home, making sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions is crucial to avoiding creaks in the future. Although every product is different, you should consider expansion gaps, the number of nails required to secure the boards and whether you’re using the ideal underlay.

Complete Frequent Inspections

Floorboards installed the right way can happily exist without developing creaks for decades. However, it’s always wise to conduct inspections every year or so. Although the subfloor and joists are often where problems occur, floorboards can also shift over time, leading to creaks as gaps emerge or boards rub together.

Chat with the Squeaky Floor Experts

Have your floorboards developed creaks? It doesn’t matter if they’re hidden under the carpet – the experts at Squeaky Floors have the skills to resolve your issues. Supported by a highly professional team, we’re the go-to specialist for homes in Melbourne and Sydney.

Founded in 2013, we have experience in every kind of squeaky floor imaginable and take immense pride in helping our customers achieve a peaceful home. Get in touch today for an obligation-free quote – our friendly team is ready to answer all your questions.