Why does my hardwood floor squeak?

A squeaky hardwood floor is hard to ignore. And the more time that passes, the worse the squeaky sound becomes. In order to fix your floors properly, it’s important to know the reasons why your wood floor squeaks in the first place.

Common causes include:

• Poor construction of the subfloor. Because subfloors support the rest of the flooring, it’s important that they’re installed tightly. Otherwise, they will shift with varying weights and squeak.
• Poor installation of the hardwood flooring. If the flooring is not fastened securely, it can shift with your steps. This can also happen when overly large nails are used for the floor boards, causing them to rub against one another.
• Poor installation of the cross bracing. The cross bracing beneath the subfloor is meant to be positioned in an even X shape. If one side is placed slightly higher than the other, the braces can rub against each other causing a squeaking sound.

Fixing a Squeaky Hardwood Floor

In order to properly repair wood floor squeaks, it’s important to determine the cause of the problem and the location where the sound originates. Because this can be difficult to do, it’s not typically a do-it-yourself job.

If you need help fixing a squeaky hardwood floor in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, contact Elegant Floor Service.