Why Do Floors Creak? Causes and Best Fixes for a Silent Home

Introduce the common issue of creaky floors and why they can be frustrating for homeowners. Mention that while squeaky floors are usually harmless, they can indicate underlying structural issues. The article will explore the causes and solutions to help create a noise-free home.

Do you find yourself walking around your home and noticing strange noises coming from your floors? Is there a sinking feeling underfoot when treading on laminate, LVT or vinyl tiles? Frustrating isn’t it; creaky floors are a common inconvenience for homeowners, whether it’s a loud squeak in the hallway or a persistent creak in the bedroom, as these noises can disrupt the peace of your home. Fortunately, in most cases, creaky floors are nothing to be concerned about, but there is a small chance the root cause is underlying structural issues that need attention.

We’re looking at the causes of creaky floors and the best ways to fix them, helping to get your home back to the tranquil surroundings you know and love.

Understanding Why Floors Creak

Before looking at the top solutions for fixing floor creaks and other annoying noises, it’s important to understand the different reasons why these noises sneak their way into your home.

Natural Wood Expansion and Contraction

The temperature and humidity of your home plays a big role in causing wooden floors to expand and contract. The warmer months will cause wood to absorb moisture, causing it to swell, while in the colder seasons it contracts. With this constant movement, gaps will begin to form between the floorboards or even between the flooring and subfloor, leading to pesky creaks when stepped on.

Loose Floorboards

If floorboards are not secured properly to the subfloor, when pressure is applied, they will create friction and creaking and squeaking noises. Older homes face this concern quite a lot as nails or adhesives have weakened due to general wear, tear and age.

Poorly Installed Flooring

Unfortunately, some floors are not properly installed due to lazy builders and contractors cutting corners. Those moving into new builds often face floor issues and other avoidable problems. When not securely attached, planks will rub against each other and move against the subfloor, not only causing creaky noises but also sinking and bouncy feelings when stepping on them. Floating floors, which are not nailed or glued down, are particularly prone to this problem.

Worn Out Or Loose Nails

High-foot traffic areas around your home, most notably in kitchens, stairways and bedrooms, will cause the nails securing your flooring to become loose. When nails are no longer holding the floorboards tightly in place, gaps form and will cause movement and squeaks when walked on. This problem is exacerbated if your floorboards aren’t backed up with glue either.

Uneven Subfloor Or Joists

One of the other causes of creaky floors is when you have an uneven subfloor or joists, which results in certain areas of your flooring not being fully supported. Due to the flexing and unwanted movement, noises, sinking and other issues will pop up. The subfloor and joists themselves could also be sloped, so if it feels like you’re walking up or down a hill in your home, the culprit is likely uneven joists or the subfloor.

Best Fixes for Creaky Floors

Now you know the main reasons why floors creak, it’s time to take a look at the best ways to fix creaky floors.

1. Tighten Loose Floorboards

Use screws or nails to secure loose boards to the subfloor, ensuring they are properly fastened to the subfloor and joists. It may take a bit longer, but we recommend nailing by hand rather than with a nail gun, as this will ensure more precise placement and control, and you have less of a risk of damaging the wood.

2. Lubricate the Gaps

A great, quick solution that can help if the creaking is more significant; apply WD-40, powdered graphite or even talcum powder to the creaky areas to reduce friction between the moving panels.

3. Add Shims to Gaps

If you have quite noticeable gaps, inserting wood shims can provide extra support and eliminate movement, helping to prevent noisy floorboards.

4. Level the Subfloor

If you know your subfloor is uneven, it’s vital that you level it out. Fortunately, self-levelling is straightforward and can be done using self-levelling cement or a self-levelling compound poured into place and then spread evenly. Your laminate, vinyl or hardwood floorboards or tiles will go over the top of the compound.

5. Use Adhesives Or Wood Glue

Stop squeaky floors with strong adhesives or glue, better securing your loose planks and tiles to the subfloor. Some adhesives can even be used without removing the floorboards and instead fill the gaps.

Preventing Creaky Floors in the Future

Prevention is a key strategy to stop creaks and other floor issues from occurring. Fixing floor creaks can be a real pain, so save yourself the trouble and use these top prevention methods.

Maintain Proper Indoor Humidity Levels

Since wood reacts to humidity changes, keeping your home at a stable level of humidity and temperature is a great solution to stopping creaks from happening. It may be worth investing in a humidifier for the dryer months and a dehumidifier for the more humid times of the year.

Regular Floor Maintenance

Regular floor inspections will help you catch minor issues before they snowball into major problems. Check for loose boards, tighten screws and nails and address early signs of wear to prolong the life of your flooring.

Choosing the Right Flooring Materials

Engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl and well-installed laminate flooring are less prone to creaking and warping compared to traditional hardwood. If you are having new flooring installed, choosing high-quality materials and ensuring proper installation can help reduce noises and other issues. It may be more expensive, but it will be highly worthwhile.

When to Call a Professional for Floor Repairs

Hopefully, most causes of creaky floors can be handled by yourself with DIY solutions, but some cases may require a professional to help. Call in a pro if your floors have:

· widespread creaking that persists after attempted fixes,

· visible signs of damage such as cracks, gaps and separation,

· significant movement, warping or sagging,

· potential structural issues in the subfloor or joists.

Final Thoughts

There are a handful of reasons why floors creak and understanding them is the first step to finding the right fix, taking preventative measures and keeping your home quiet and comfortable. Addressing creaks and issues early can save you time, money and prevent bigger issues developing further down the line.