Installing real-wood flooring - how to prevent creaking noise?

teepoo

Hi All,

I am currently installing some 83mm real wood (18 mm thick) flooring using metal clips.

However, after testing the first four rows, I have noticed that it creaks noticeably when I walk on it.

Can anyone tell me how to prevent this same noise from occurring for the rest of the floor I am about to lay?

i.e. Anything I need to keep in mind while fixing the clips? Or something I can add to the joints to prevent the creaking?

FYI, these are the clips that I am using:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/red-plastic-wallplugs/invt/158053/
This is the flooring that I am using:
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=649218

I should mention that I am laying this on fibre underlay which sits on a suspended wooden floor. I have tied this down and it doesn't make any noise. The floor is flat.

Thanks,
Pete.

DavidFx

The creaking is the boards moving with respect to each other possibly because the sub floor is not perfectly flat.

On the Wickes website 3 out of the 4 customer reviews mention creaking and 2 of them would not use these clips again

Glueing the boards will stop the creaking assuming the subfloor is reasonably flat and an expansion gap has been provided

Antoine1

Hi dudes...
I read out your problem and i also read out the review of David and i am
agreed with him he gives you the good solution...

teepoo

Cheers, the floor is flat so I don't think that is an issue.

I am trying to avoid the use of glue in case I have to lift the floorboards - but I will consider it if there is no alternative.

Thanks,
Pete.

tillycat123

Just to say we had wood floor taken up and new relaid a few weeks back. My husbands DIY job creaked like mad every step. It was because he thought it clever to make the underlay twice as thick, all it did was cause bounce, that caused creeks with every step.

New fllor lovely and not a creak to be heard.

PasturesNew

I read once that talcum powder works.... can't swear to it though, but it's easy enough to try.