Squeaky Laminate Floor Fix, Squeak, Squeak No More
Looking for a squeaky laminate floor fix? You’re not alone! Squeaky floating floors are a major concern that occurs with many laminate and other floating floor installations. The good news is that a squeaky laminate floor fix is not out of the question.
In a previous article on squeaky laminate floors, we discussed the cause of squeaky laminate floors. In this article, we offer squeaky laminate floor fix suggestions. These fixes will get rid of or reduce many of those irritating floating floor squeaks.
Squeaky Laminate Floor Fix Starts With Determining Cause
A squeaky laminate floor fix starts with figuring out why the floor is squeaking. As flooring inspectors, our job is to discover the cause. If you are at a loss as to the cause, it may be worth the expense to hire a qualified flooring inspector, such as TW Group, to inspect the floor and tell you what is causing the squeaks.
Recommended Tools
- Klein ET140 Moisture Meter
- Squeeeeek No More Kit
- Liquid Nails Heavy Duty
Environmentally Related Squeaky Laminate Floors
Your flooring started to squeak a few weeks or a few months after installation. Before you start tearing up your floor, you may have an environmental issue. With changes in relative humidity and temperature a floating floors expand and contract. This is normal with all floors, floating or not, so do not get too excited.
If a property is not occupied for periods of time and the HVAC system is not operating your relative humidity can increase or decrease to the point where this is the culprit. Even in an occupied property, most floating floors perform best at 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and a relative humidity of 30-50%. Outside of this range you will experience the greatest amount of expansion and contraction and the most squeaks.
A moisture meter helps confirm subfloor moisture problems.
The Fix
The squeaky laminate floor fix here is to control temperature and relative humidity. Temperature 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and a relative humidity of 30-50%.
Furniture Related Squeaks
Furniture such as heavy cabinets and pool tables can create pinch points. The flooring is being pinched against the floor by these heavy objects, preventing movement.
The Fix
Try rearranging furniture and see if this helps. Unfortunately, you sometimes need to live with these squeaks if you want a floating floor.
A squeak repair kit can fix many issues without removing flooring.
Installer Related Squeaky Laminate Floors
As much as we hate beating up on laminate and other flooring installers, we often find installation at fault. Now, don’t get me wrong, most installers are really good, but even the best make mistakes. Believe me, when I installed floor covering, I made many mistakes, especially in the early years.
After an installer has to perform a couple of squeaky laminate floor fix jobs at their own expense, most will learn the same lesson I learned. Do the job right the first time, and you make more money!
The good news is that an installation-related squeaky laminate floor fix is usually the most successful. The fix may not be instant; after the repair, the floor may take days, weeks, or months to stop squeaking. The longer you wait to correct, the longer it usually takes to work.
Squeaks Near Doorways
No Transition
If you do not have T-molding in the doorway, this is probably the cause.
The Fix
The squeaky laminate floor fix is to cut out a strip of flooring between the rooms and install the proper T-molding.
Door Casings
The floor is installed tightly against the casings. Door casings should have been undercut and expansion space left. If expansion space is not left, the flooring will be pinched, and you will get movement and squeaks. If the floor is cut tight around the base instead of being undercut, you will also get movement and squeaks.
The Fix
If you are unable to add expansion space, you will either need to live with it or remove and reinstall the area around the casing. Make sure you leave the proper expansion space this time.
Near Walls and Fixed Objects
Squeak or movement next to walls, cabinets, door tracks, and other fixed objects is often the result of failure to allow for expansion. As the flooring expands, it gets pinched, and with pinching comes movement and squeaking.
The Fix
Add expansion space by undercutting the drywall so the laminate has an expansion zone below it. If you do not have drywall, use a multi-tool or a sharp chisel and hammer to trim the edges of the laminate floor.
Wall Base or Quarter Round to Tight Against Floor
If the wall base or quarter round is installed tightly against the surface, the floating floor will be pinched against the subfloor. When pinched, the flooring cannot properly move.
The Fix
Remove and reinstall the base, leaving at least the thickness of a standard business card above the surface of the floating floor.
Nails or Fasteners
If the quarter round or other transition has been nailed through the laminate flooring, this will also prevent movement and result in squeaks or up-and-down movement.
The Fix
Remove and replace the transition. Do not nail through the laminate or place the fasteners right next to the edge of the laminate.
Closets
If you have sliding doors, check to confirm that screws were not placed through the laminate without leaving expansion space.
The Fix
Remove the track or guides. Drill holes through the laminate that are about 3/8 to 1/2″ in size and reinstall the track or guides. Now you have room around the screw for the floor to expand and contract.
Structurally Related Squeaky Laminate Floors
Structurally related squeak laminate floors are usually a bigger problem. These problems should have been addressed before the floating floor was installed. A squeaky laminate floor fix is now more difficult. The floating floor will usually need to be removed before a fix can be made. Hopefully, you are just planning your installation and can make the fix before the new flooring is installed.
Squeaking Subfloors
Squeaking subfloors and not the floating floor are most commonly caused by nail pop. The subfloor was installed with nails, and the nails are loosening from the joist.
The Fix
Nail the subfloor and eliminate squeaks before installation. Take up the section of the floating floor where the subfloor is moving and re-nail.
Subfloor Not Flat
If the subfloor is flat, the laminate flooring will move up and down in these areas. Most manufacturers require that the subfloor be flat within 3/16″ in 10 ft. or 1/8″ in 6 ft.
The fix
Fill low spots or grind down high spots.
Unavoidable Squeaky Laminate Floors
You have eliminated all the other causes of squeaky floors, and you still have some localized squeaks.
The Talcum Powder Fix
Talcum Powder is a quick, squeaky laminate floor fix that is worth a try. It does not always work, but the most you will be out is the cost of a container of talcum powder and your labor.
The Fix
Sprinkle talcum powder on the seam joints in the area of the squeak. Work into the joints by rubbing in with a paint brush, a clean rag, or your fingers. Wipe off the access. The talcum powder lubricates the joints, which are now rubbing against the powder instead of each other.
Joints Wont Stay Together
The joints of a couple of planks keep coming apart. The floor is not locked in. You probably have a low or high area in the subfloor. If you just want to keep the planks together but are willing to put up with the movement and squeaks, try using construction adhesive.
The Fix
Push a blending color of construction adhesive into the joint, rub it in with a putty knife or your finger, push the planks back together, and weight them down as it sets up. This is not the best-looking fix, but it should keep the planks together.
Note: Do not nail the squeak planks to the floor or you will have a new problem with the surrounding flooring. Good luck with your squeaky laminate floor fix.
Helpful Products
- Klein ET140 Moisture Meter
- Squeeeeek No More Kit
- Liquid Nails Heavy Duty
Fix Subfloor Problems Before They Get Worse These tools help diagnose moisture issues and eliminate squeaks.
