It is written frequently that the character of an older building lies in its squeaky floorboards.
What if the creaking is so loud that your partner going to the bathroom in the middle of the night wakes you up?
As time passes, the attraction turns into worry. In this article, you will learn an easy solution to the squeaking problem.
What’s causing this creaking sound in my hardwood floors?
Squeaky and creaky wooden floorboards may be a warning sign of foundational problems. Eliminating these issues is crucial to protecting against this threat permanently.
As a rule, the floorboards creak where the floor is used frequently. The reason may be that:
Broken or cracked floorboards
Wooden floorboards are stable. But they may crack or break due to frequent stress and because they are fixed. Then the board no longer forms a stable unit. The wood fibers rub against each other or crack. It helps to replace the damaged board.
The floor cannot work
When laying a plank floor, leave a minimum gap of 10 mm between the floor and the wall. To enjoy the summer, they require this area to spread out.
Because of their expansion, the planks will buckle if they aren’t given enough room. When you walk over it, it makes a creaking sound. In winter, the issue usually disappears because the floorboards have sunk and then risen again.
Remove the outer boards and plane them down a few millimeters if the planks are too snug. A shadow gap saw is another option. It’s reasonable to anticipate further growth and prudent to allocate more room for this purpose. The baseboard then conceals the gap.
Inadequate bonding
The fastening system may also be a contributor to the squeaky floor. In modern construction, floorboards are typically floated over insulation, but in older homes, they are often nailed into place.
A few loose nails could cause a minor uplift in the planks. A floorboard sags and makes a creaking sound when someone walks across it.
A squeaky floor may also result from too far apart joists, causing the planks to bow and scrape against one another as you walk. This makes noise as well.
In the first scenario, it would be sufficient to replace the nails. In the second scenario, removing the flooring and adding some joists is necessary.
Make sure you check the flooring
If you suspect a problem with your wooden floor, determine if the subfloor is at fault or if the floorboards are damaged. When this happens, the foundation must be fixed first.
Check the room with a spirit level to see if any of the floors are sagging. Make as much room as you can. The result can be skewed if the furniture is left in the room, as each item presses down onto the floor.
Next, wear socks and step on each plank to see if only a few need to be secured or if the whole thing is in jeopardy.
Prevent movement
Nails or screws are used to fix any loose planks where they have been spotted. Find out which of the two options you prefer.
When the floor is a little worn, nails are easier to pull up again despite your best efforts to keep them in place. However, screws keep the boards in place for longer and with greater stability, but they are also easily noticeable.
Screwing the floor is a more affordable option if you and your family frequently go barefoot. Then, using a fine drill, pre-drill the holes before using a countersink to make them deeper.
As a result, the screw head will blend in more naturally with the wood, and your toes will be spared any potential harm.