What Causes Floors to Squeak When You Walk on Them?

Floors usually squeak when you walk on them for one of three reasons: they were installed poorly, the wood moves with seasonal swings in temperature and humidity, or the foundation has settled unevenly. The right repair depends on which one it is, so this article covers each cause and its fix.

What Are the Common Causes of a Squeaking Floor?

There are many possible causes of a squeaking floor. These are the three main ones.

Poor Installation

Installation problems are a common reason a floor squeaks. If the house was built with too few floor joists, or joists spaced too far apart, the floor can start squeaking early on. The wrong kind of subfloor, the wrong nails or other installation mistakes can cause squeaks too.

Changes in Temperature and Moisture

Changes in temperature and humidity are another cause. As the temperature or humidity rises and falls, wood floors expand and contract, and that movement can make them squeak. Larger swings can also contribute to cracks in floors, walls or ceilings.

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, such as a small amount of even settlement after construction.

Differential settlement happens when a foundation settles into the ground unevenly. It can cause problems throughout the home, and squeaking floors on any level are one of them.

What Is the Best Way to Repair a Squeaking Floor?

The repair depends on the cause. A professional looking at your floor problems will usually recommend one of these:

Repairing the Floor Framing or the Flooring

When a floor squeaks because of how it was installed, the fix is in the framing or the flooring itself. Loose subfloor can be fastened to the joists, and joists that are too few or too weak can be reinforced with sistered floor joists. A problem in the finished flooring, such as loose boards, is work for a flooring contractor.

Running a Dehumidifier

When temperature and humidity swings are behind the squeak, a dehumidifier in the crawl space under the floor can help.

A dehumidifier lets you monitor and manage the humidity under the floor and keep it steadier through the year, which can help in a humid climate like the Carolinas.

Stabilizing the Foundation

When uneven settlement is the cause, the repair is usually foundation piers.

Foundation piers come in more than one form, including push piers and helical piers, which serve a similar purpose. The piers are installed down to firmer soil and connected to the foundation with brackets.

Once the piers carry the load, they can often be used to lift the house back toward level without causing damage. Our pier warranty covers no additional settlement in the area where the piers are installed, with conditions on our warranties page.