Laminate, Page 1

Noises And Squeaks In Laminate Flooring

New laminate flooring is beautiful, long lasting and easy to maintain and when installed properly it will give the homeowner many years of carefree use.

From time to time however people have complained of irritating squeaking noises coming from their floor when they step on it. Such noises are generally caused by one or more planks or tiles coming in contacting another object, like a wall, doorway or adjacent plank or tile. Another common reason for noises and squeaks in laminate flooring is the surface underneath is not adequately smooth or flat. That unevenness in the subfloor results in the laminate flooring flexing and rubbing together, causing the noises.

The key to avoiding noisy laminate flooring is proper installation

It is the installer's responsibility to check the conditions of the subfloor before beginning the installation. As a general rule, there should be is less than 3/16" variance in 10 ft., or 1/8" variance in 6 ft. However actual tolerances can very from floor to floor. Consult the manufacturer or Efloors.com for the actual tolerance of the laminate floot you are buying. If the laminate flooring is being installed over concrete, the problem is easily solved by topping the concrete with a thin layer of leveling compound.

Installing laminate flooring over a suspended wood floor requires a little more care and preparation. The sub-floor should be firmly attached to the floor joists, ensuring no movement among the sub-floor or between the sub-floor and the floor joists. If the sub-floor is not smooth or level enough, a skim coat should be applied and the sub-floor carefully belt sanded where necessary.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Following the manufacturer's installation instructions to prevent movement is the surest way to get a fabulous installation. Doing the job right the first time is much less expensive than going back and trying to correct a careless installation.

We have heard reports that some people have used non-approved substances such as talcum powder or WD-40 to address noisy installations. Accordingly, we do not endorse those fixes to eliminate noises and squeaks in laminate floors as they can create more long-tern issues.

A few more thoughts

  • Check the locking mechanisms to be sure none are broken. These mechanisms hold the planks in place.
  • Always use the manufacturer's recommended underlayment.
  • Leave room for expansion around the perimeter of the room – usually a ¼" to ½" expansion zone is required.
  • Don't install cabinets or an island on your laminate floor.
  • Don't create "pinch-points" on the floor i.e. wall base sitting too tightly on the laminate, or quarter round nailed into the floor.

Summary

We hope this has been a helpful overview of explaining the noise and squeaking causes in laminate floors. When you know what's involved with your purchase, you can save a lot of money and avoid making an unfortunate mistake.

For more information, feel free to contact us at 1-888-522-5456, email us at info@efloors.com or visit our live chat. You'll meet our experienced flooring specialists who will be happy to answer all your questions.

Efloors.com offers top-quality laminate flooring from several major manufacturers, including.

Because we want you to be a satisfied customer, we also have a lot of useful information to help you learn more about laminate floors: