Wood Laminate Floor Squeaking!

indiegirl_2

I've had wood laminate down in my flat for about a year now. I had it professionally fitted and used a local reputable firm.

However a year on the 'boards' squeak when certain ones are stepped on. I don't think it's too tightly fitted as I watched the fitters leave (what I think is) an adequate gap around the edges of about 1-2cm around each edge. Also, if it were too tight, surely the floor would 'warp' and be uneven?? (it hasn't)

Is there anything I can do to ease the squeaking noise? For all I know it may be the poor quality floors that the builders put in (my bedroom which is carpeted also has a squeaky floor in certain places). I'm a first floor flat in a new build, with what I assume are 'floating' floors (or is it ceilings?).

Should I try the old adage of washing up liquid as you would for proper wooden floors, or is there something else that could be used?

Thanks in advance!

martindow

I think it could be an inadequate gap. Floors expand and contract (hence the need for the gap). Can you still see the gaps or are they hidden by something to tidy them up?

looby-loo_2

A friend drilled a hole and screwed it down then put a plastic screw cap over it. Problem solved!

indiegirl_2

martindow - I hope it isn't inadequate gapping, I was most insistent that they left enough. The edges are tidied by the strips I've forgotten the name of (the usual way to 'hide' the gaps)

In some ways I'm inclined to agree - the floor is the interlocking sort and it sounds as if the interlocked parts are rubbing together. Is there anything suitable that I could use to lubricate the joints?

missile

My floor squeaked at one of the doors. In my case it was not insufficient gap, but uneven floor underneath which was allowing the boards to move. The fitter had to lift the boards and repair the floor underneath to solve the problem.

He did mention a "quick fix" is to run some fairy liquid down the joints. Apparently this acts as a lubricant. Talcum power has a similar effect.

Lorian

First thing ring the fitting company and ask for advice!

IndieGirl "Hi, I had a laminate floor fitted about a year ago, it recently started squeaking, is there anything that can be done to stop it?"

Fitter "We'll come round later and see what we can do" *

OR

Fitter "It's over 12 months Luv, tough luck" **

* = Ideal world, fingers crossed.

** = Not so ideal world

Anyhow, if they won't help, it's almost cedrtainly going to need to come up to be fixed. Was it click together stuff (got any offcuts to look at?). I presume they didn't glue it together.

If it's click together it's usually easy to take up and re-lay, it's just like a big jiugsaw but your have to be really careful not to knock the edges. To take it up you HAVE to start at the point they finished.

when it's up the most likely cause of the squeaks will be inadequate levelling or compacting/poor underlay.

OK_Sauce

The squeaks could be from the floorboards underneath. The nails could have worked loose. To be honest if you had floorboards underneath they should have screwed them down first to prevent this happening.

roger56

looby-loo wrote:

This happened to my mum. Her partner drilled a hole and screwed it down then put a plastic screw cap over it. Problem solved!

Not much help but I though it was a funny solution.

....but be careful if you have underfloor heating, you may end up with
a fountain in your room...:beer:

or worse an electric shock if its electric underfloor heating....

missile

roger56 wrote:

....but be careful if you have underfloor heating, you may end up with
a fountain in your room...:beer:

or worse an electric shock if its electric underfloor heating....

In a previous house I had squeaky floor board, well to be pedantic a squeaky MDF board. On New Year holidays decided to fix it. Lifted the carpet fitted a few screws with the battery drill which my wife got me for X Mas. Was feeling really pleased with my efforts until the next night when a damp patch appeared on the living room ceiling. One of the screws had made a very small hole in the central heating pipe. !!!!!!, I managed to fix the leak with blue tack until the shops opened. Not one of my better DIY efforts:rolleyes:

Scoot

most likley cause is not enough gap around the bottom of the door frames or uneven floor.
fitters cant leave a 10mm gap under the frames and this can lead to unseeable problems esle where that leads to sqeeks.

scoot

ariba10

Powdered French chalk is one of the best lubricants for squeaky wood.