What to Do When Laminated Wood Floor Squeaks?

Installation

• Installation without proper underlayment can cause laminated wood floors to squeak. Check with the installer to see what type of underlayment was used. If none was put in place, or it is not the type recommended by the manufacturer, the floor may need to be reinstalled with the right underlayment to permanently eliminate all squeaks. The squeaks and sounds can also be caused by the planks being installed too tightly without enough space to expand and contract. In this case, the installer should be asked to come back and reinstall the floor with the proper spacing.

Loose Planks

• Occasionally a plank will come loose from its position when the locking grooves separate. The loose plank rubs against the neighboring boards each time weight is placed on or around it. Inspect the area around the squeak carefully for any loose planks. They may appear slightly raised or there may be a bigger gap between the loose and the attached planks. You may need to feel for the loose plank rather than looking for it. Carefully push the plank back into place so that it locks back in with the neighboring planks.

Powdered Graphite

• If no exact cause can be found for the squeak, or if the repair is difficult, it may be cured with powdered graphite. Sprinkle plenty of powdered graphite around the squeaky area, concentrating on the seams between the planks. Lay some old rags over the graphite, and walk on them to work the powder into the seams. Repeat the process until the squeak is gone. Vacuum up any remaining graphite. Use only powdered, not liquid, graphite.

Uneven Subfloor

• An uneven subfloor can cause squeaking and may even be the source of the sound. If repairs or using graphite on the laminate floor do not get rid of the squeaking, you may need to remove part of the flooring and repair or even out the subfloor. If new laminate is being installed, verify that the subfloor is as even as possible. Floating laminate floors will tolerate and cover some flaws in the subfloor, but large flaws can cause squeaking by making the laminate uneven and unable to lock in place properly.