- Most squeaks come from the subfloor rubbing on nails or joists, not the flooring itself.
- The best time to fix them is when the old floor is up: screw the subfloor down properly.
- Squeaks in floating floors usually mean an uneven subfloor or debris underneath.
- Seasonal creaks in hardwood can come and go with humidity.
Common causes
- Loose subfloor: plywood or OSB moving on joists, rubbing against nails. The classic squeak.
- Gaps between joist and subfloor, often from shrinkage or a dip in a joist.
- Boards rubbing on each other in nailed hardwood, worse when the air is dry.
- Floating floor over dips: the floor flexes and the joints click or crackle.
- Debris left under a floating floor.
Fixes that work
| Situation | Fix |
|---|---|
| Floor is being replaced | Screw the subfloor to the joists everywhere (the best fix, by far) |
| Access from below (unfinished basement) | Shims or construction adhesive in gaps, screws from below |
| Finished ceiling below, carpet or hardwood above | Specialty breakaway-screw kits from above |
| Floating floor clicking | Lift the area, level, clean and relay |
Getting new floors? Ask your installer whether screwing down the subfloor is included. It's cheap insurance and the most-skipped step we see.
Common questions
What causes squeaky floors?
Usually the subfloor moving against nails or joists. In floating floors, squeaks and clicks usually mean an uneven subfloor or debris underneath. In hardwood, boards rubbing together can squeak, especially in dry winter air.
Should squeaks be fixed before installing new flooring?
Yes. With the old floor removed, the subfloor can be screwed down to the joists, which fixes most squeaks permanently. Once the new floor is in, it's much harder.
Why does my laminate floor crackle when I walk on it?
Crackling usually means the floor is flexing over dips in the subfloor or there's debris underneath. The fix is lifting that area, levelling and relaying.
Who's writing this: Rose and Thorn Flooring is a flooring company in Surrey, BC. We install floors for a living, so yes, we'd love to do yours. But nobody pays us to say nice things about a product, and we don't earn commission from any brand. If something here is wrong or out of date, text us at 604-716-4160 and we'll fix it.