If you have discovered a squeaking floor in your home, the odds are that you’ll want to fix the issue as soon as possible. However, the ideal repair options depend heavily on the cause of your squeaking floor. In this article, we’ll explain some of the most common reasons a floor might squeak and various repair options.
Common Causes of a Squeaking Floor
There are many possible causes of a squeaking floor. We have narrowed them down to three main reasons a floor might squeak. Read through the sections below to better understand what is causing your floors to make noise while you walk on them.
Poor Installation
The top reason why your floor might start squeaking is improper installation. Consider whether your initial installer was inexperienced or cut corners during installation. If either of those issues come into play, there’s an excellent chance they could cause a floor to start squeaking. For example, if your installer forgot to place the proper number of floor joists or spaced them incorrectly, your floor will likely begin squeaking shortly after. Additionally, squeaking will probably arise if your installer places the wrong kind of subfloor, uses bad nails, or fails to install your floor correctly in any other way.
Changes in Temperature and Moisture
Changes in temperature and moisture are another cause of floor noises. When the ambient temperature or the relative humidity rises or falls, your floor will expand and contract. This expansion and contraction can sometimes cause your floor to begin squeaking. Expansion and contraction can also cause more significant issues, such as cracks in your floor, wall, or ceiling.
Differential Settlement
If you have been a homeowner for any length of time, there is a chance that you have heard of foundation settlement. There are two types of foundation settlement, uniform and differential. Here’s what you need to know:
Uniform foundation settlement is fairly typical and usually not a cause for concern. For example, if your home experiences a small amount of uniform settlement after construction, you probably don’t need to worry about it.
Differential settlement happens when a foundation settles into the ground unevenly. When this happens, you can expect many issues to arise throughout your home. Squeaking floors at any level is just one of the issues that can occur.
Best Way to Repair a Squeaking Floor
Now that you know a few of the leading causes of a squeaking floor, it is time to learn about the solutions you can use. When hiring a professional to resolve your floor problems, they will likely recommend one of the following solutions:
Hiring a Contractor Who Specializes in Flooring
This first solution is most common when your floor was installed incorrectly from the start. If you discover that the flooring in your home involved an inexperienced installer, one of the only solutions you can choose is to hire a new contractor to diagnose and fix the problem.
Unfortunately, there is no way to fix an improper installation without bringing in a new contractor. The right contractor will have the needed experience and can discover your specific issue quickly. They can also repair your floor both safely and efficiently on the first try.
Running a Dehumidifier
Occasionally, your squeaking floor may arise from changes in temperature and humidity. One of the best ways to fix this issue is to install a dehumidification system in or around the floor that is causing you problems.
A dehumidification system allows you to monitor the humidity near your floor. These systems also let you manage the air moisture level to ensure it remains ideal. If you live in an area that has extreme temperature or moisture changes throughout the year, this is one of the best fixes you can choose.
Hiring a Foundation Expert
Our last resolution for a squeaking floor involves hiring a foundation expert to fix your differential settlement problem, assuming you have one. If you hire one of these professionals, you can expect them to repair your floor using a set of foundation piers.
Foundation piers come in multiple forms, including helical and push piers, both of which serve a similar purpose. Your foundation team begins by inserting the piers deep into the earth until they reach firm strata. Once they reach the strong strata, your foundation team will connect the piers to the foundation using a bracket.
Once the connection is formed, your foundation team can use the piers to level your home as much as possible without causing damage. The piers will also hold your home in place to ensure that future settlement does not occur.
Get Help with Your Squeaking Floors
Finding the source of a squeaking floor can be quite difficult at times. As such, it is not a role that the average homeowner should take on independently. Instead, the best approach is to hire an experienced professional who can diagnose and resolve the issue for you.
If you think you are having foundation problems and you live in the Charlotte, NC, area, you should reach out to HydroHelp911. We have the experience you need to resolve any foundation issues. Reach out today to learn more about what we can offer you.
