Creaking & Settling Floors

Causes of Creaking Floors

• Floors can develop creaking sounds due to wood rubbing against other pieces of wood, which can occur when flooring nails become loosened from poor installation, or when humidity changes cause expansion and contraction of the wood itself. The wood shifts from its originally intended position, and each time someone steps on the wood, it loosely rubs against the piece next to it, causing the squeak or creak. This creaking can occur in one spot only, or more widely across the floor. The constant telltale noise can be a source of annoyance to homeowners.

Wood Floor Creaks

• Wood flooring in particular can often develop annoying creaks and squeaks. Proper installation is important for wood flooring. New flooring must be acclimated to the environment in which it will spend its lifespan. This acclimation process includes bringing the wood into the home two weeks before installation to become used to the environmental conditions. For some time after installation, good contractors control the temperature and humidity levels so the wood can settle into its new position, according to the Face Lift Floors website.

Fixing Creaking Wood Floors

• Repair creaks on ground floors by going to the basement and asking a friend to walk on the area above the basement to help you find the squeak. Screw a thin wooden shim to the underside of the floor to help stabilize the wood, as recommended the HandymanUSA website. You can use this method on subfloors under carpeting or under vinyl flooring as well. If the creaking is on a floor on which you can’t reach the underside, add a small bit of baby powder or baking soda to act as a lubricant between the pieces of rubbing wood to silence the noise.

Floor Settling Problems

• The settling of the house can cause a number of other flooring problems. Floors may sag in the center or may incline from one side of the room to the other. This type of problem is generally caused by structural problems underneath the floor, such as joists that are broken.

Fixing Settling or Sagging Floors

• Floor joists can be lifted with a floor jack and then supported with a concrete footer. The jacks raise the joist gradually a small amount each day. The joists are then kept in the proper position with concrete footers. Concrete footers are 18-to-24-inch columns that contain rebar for additional strength. For serious problems with floor joists, consult a contractor for professional advice.