Why Hardwood Floors Crackle

Dry Lumber

• When wood dries out it will contract slightly. This can cause any finish that might be on the hardwood floors to have a slight crackling effect. This will worsen over time. Wood shrinkage will also cause the hardwood floor slats to not fit as tightly as they once did. This can cause a crackling sound when you walk over it.

Home Settling

• Over time your home will naturally settle into the ground. This settling is slight, but it can cause the hardwood floors to slightly warp. In some cases, the warping will not cause crackling, but if the warping is extreme it will make a crackling noise when you walk over it.

Loose Subfloors

• The subfloor under your wood flooring can become loose from the hardwood floor. This generally happens on very old wood floors and will cause the floor to squeak and crackle when you walk on it. Repair this by drilling floor squeak removing nails through the subfloor and into the hardwood. This will tighten the hardwood floor and stop the crackling.

Moisture

• Wood is a very porous material that will absorb water when the air is humid. The wood will then dry out during dry periods. This process will eventually cause the floors to warp and the slats will rub up against each other and cause crackling.