Solid hardwood · Squeaking
Why is my hardwood floor squeaking?
Squeaks come from movement: boards rubbing against each other or fasteners sliding in the subfloor. Common causes are a subfloor that isn't flat or stiff enough, too few fasteners, or seasonal drying.
Also searched as: "wood floor creaks when I walk", "noisy hardwood floor", "floor boards popping sound"
What usually causes it
- Subfloor deflection or flatness problems
- Too few or incorrect fasteners
- Seasonal shrinkage loosening the floor
What you can check yourself
- Note where and in which season it squeaks
What an independent inspection checks
- Subfloor flatness and stiffness
- Fastening against NWFA guidelines
- Moisture content of the flooring and the subfloor, mapped across the room
- Room temperature and relative humidity, and how they change by season
Who is responsible?
Usually an installation or subfloor issue rather than a product defect.
Get your hardwood floor inspected
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll explain the next step. We cover every county in Southern California and only inspect. We don't sell or install flooring.