How to Fix Squeaky Floors

Squeaky floors can be quite irritating. Also, they will reduce the value of your home when it is time to sell. When the floor sheets rub against one another, they produce an irritating noise. This is the reason behind squeaky floors. If you can prevent the panels from moving, you can stop the noise. That is the only remedy.

If noisy floors have been destroying the peace and quiet at home, you should try these simple steps to restore peace instantly.

What causes noisy floors?

Noisy floors are a common problem. This is almost always caused by improper installation of the panels. If floors are not installed properly, they can buckle or squeak. Nails might even pop. Fortunately, preventing these problems is relatively easy. Here is a step-by-step guide to fixing noisy floors.

Choose the right materials

Any lumber that you use for flooring must be dry. Green lumber is not dimensionally stable. Its size may shrink when it dries. As green lumber dries, it may cause nail pops. This creates ugly bumps under the flooring and also causes squeaking. In addition it accelerates wear and tear.

Engineered wood dries up during just the production stage. When these wooden panels are properly installed, they will not cause nail pops. While selecting the panel for your floors, you should consider finish flooring, joist spacing, applied load, and floor system.

Allow proper panel spacing

Engineered wood is dry when it leaves the factory. However, these panels will eventually absorb moisture and expand. While installing them, ample space should be left between the panels to allow for expansion. If there is no room to expand, the panels may buckle and then you will hear the noise. According to APA, ¹/₈^th of an inch should be left at all end joints and sheathing.

Ideally, you should let the panels acclimatize before they are installed. This will further reduce the potential for buckling. You can acclimatize panels by letting them stand on their edge for a few days. This arrangement allows ample air circulation.

Choose the right adhesives

If you use glue to keep panels in their place, you should choose an adhesive that meets the APA Performance Specification ASTM D3498 or AFG-01. The adhesive can dry out faster, so you should spread only enough adhesive to lay 1 or 2 panels at a time.

Before applying the adhesive, you should wipe away dust, debris and water. This is necessary to ensure that the boards will be properly secured to their joists.

Use ample amount of glue. Glue should be applied in a serpentine fashion in wide areas. All tongue and groove joints should be glued together by spreading the adhesive in the groove.

Each panel should be nailed before the adhesive sets. Note that adhesives tend to set faster in warm weather.

Nail panels correctly

Choosing nails of the right size is essential. The correct spacing and nail size depend on the thickness of your panel and joist spacing. You should also take into account the unique nature of the panel product you use.

Noisy floors are a headache, but by taking some simple steps you can easily solve this problem.