Why does my new laminate flooring creak?

tina92

Hi,

I am getting my house done with laminate flooring at the moment, using 12mm laminate with the good heavy 3mm underlay with aluminium backing. The guys seem to know their job well but I notice that in the hallway of house the floors tend to creak more than in other rooms when you walk on it. The joints seem to fit ok together and it looks well, but the creaking is bothering me a bit. I wonder why this is?

is it just the nature of things that you have to live with a certain amount of creaks with laminate flooring?

thanks

Tina

vetfred

Perhaps your floor isn't level, I don't think the underlay in itself hides that problem and an uneven floor can make things creak on top.

Another suggestion would be that wood and laminates may need to acclimatise before being laid so they expand/shrink with the natural conditions of the room.

ianeverton

Is it creaking in the middle of the hall or at the edges. If it is at the edges it is because it is rubbing on your skirting or wall. Middle will be an uneven floor base.

Sue-UU

Hi Tina and welcome.
Our daughter's had theirs done and there's no squeaking anywhere at all. I'd want to know where it comes from if it were me, so ask them Tina, after all you're the ones paying for it!

Sue

ajtrader100

Creaking floors can be down to one of the following problems.

1) Uneven subfloor - the creaking is actually the 2 laminate surfaces of neighbouring boards rubbing against each other, can also sound like a clicking noise. If the probels persists the joints on the boards can break causing boards to move independantly of each other. This can be remedied by checking the subfloor.

2) Expansion - Around the perimitor of the floor there needs to be a minimum of 5mm space left between the boards and the wall. Laminate will expand and contract depending of temperature and relative humidity and if the are stuck against a wall the floor will raise in areas across the floor and create the same effect as having an uneven subfloor. Check this by removing the beading or skirting from around the floor and look for a gap, no gap = problems.

3) Broken joints - if it is local to a very small area the joints of one or more boards may have been broken. This is very difficult to check without ripping the floor up.

Hope this helps, any questions let me know!

Lillys_mum

This is interesting.

We have just moved into a new build house and had Bamboo laid in the livingroom and hallway.
When you walk on it it makes cracking noises - not everywhere but on the majority of it. Does this mean there is a problem with it?

I am concerned now.

Thanks

LM

ajtrader100

Lillys_mum wrote: »

This is interesting.

We have just moved into a new build house and had Bamboo laid in the livingroom and hallway.
When you walk on it it makes cracking noises - not everywhere but on the majority of it. Does this mean there is a problem with it?

I am concerned now.

Thanks

LM

Its slightly different with totally natural products as opposed to manufactured products like laminate, but the cause could still be expansion issues. Check to make sure the floor isnt lifting in certain areas this allowing the boards to move independently of each other. And again if you can check for the required space around the perimitor of the floor. How long has the floor been down?

Lillys_mum

It was laid in January and we only moved in March so it is only just getting used to heating etc being on.

Sue-UU

Hi Lillys mum, it sounds as though you could well have hit the nail on the head there, it would certainly make sense. I hope it soon settles down.

ajtrader100

Lillys_mum wrote: »

It was laid in January and we only moved in March so it is only just getting used to heating etc being on.

It will be down to the heating issue. Give it 3 months to get acclimatised. If there are still problems PM me for a way to reslove.

Lillys_mum

Thanks ajtrader100 I will keep you in mind if needed.

LM