If Laguna Woods is where your home or office is, hardwood flooring becomes a convenient option. The surface is easy to clean and maintain. More so, it is eco-friendly and durable. However, at times, wood floors seem to squeak because of subfloor movement, moisture, or other reasons. But not to worry, we’ll provide some tips to mute those bothersome noises.
Reasons for Noisy Hardwood Floors
Following are some typical reasons of noisy hardwood floors.
1. Change of Seasons
When you hear the creaks for the first time, you would call up experts to address the issue. More so, you would research to find it out for yourself: The most plausible reason of hardwood floor noises is moisture or humidity. However, that’s not true at all times.
Solid and engineered hardwood flooring is made from real, unaltered wood. This type of wood will expand and shrink as temperature fluctuates, causing strange and irritating noises. If your wood flooring starts to creak in the winter, dry winter air and interior heating appliances are likely the cause of the noise.
2. Joist Issues
Joists provide structural support under your floor and subfloor. These horizontal beams prevent excessive movement and provide the framework for your flooring. Excessive flooring movement may indicate a joist issue.
How to Fix Squeaking Wood Floors in Laguna Woods?
1. Loosening Nails
One of the reasons of squeaky floors is loose nails. As the wood shrinks and expands over time, the nails may eventually break loose, resulting in loud, bothersome noises. You can eliminate the noise with a nail puller or hammer. Hammer the nails back into place to ensure they are firmly fixed on the hardwood floor. Be careful not to damage any adjacent wood pieces or planks in the process.
2. Lubricate
Squeaks can also be caused by friction between floorboards and joists: Apply lubrication to offset this; sprinkle some talcum powder or powdered graphite in the crevices between the boards. It functions as a lubricant to limit squeaks and lower friction. Just be careful not to make a mess by wiping excess powder with a towel.
3. Screw the Subfloors
If the gap between the floor and subfloor is the main issue, a short screw from the subfloor to the base of the finished flooring can be nailed. If you can’t reach your flooring system from below, try using finishing nails to address squeaks. Locate every spot that creaks. More so, fasten the problematic flooring component to the subfloor joist. Ensure the nails penetrate beneath the flooring, Lastly, use wood filler to seal the hole.
4. Expert Intervention
If you can’t find the source of the noise, call up experts to seek assistance. An experienced flooring professional has the expertise to find the problem and address it promptly.
5. Preventive Actions
After eliminating squeaks from your hardwood floors, take crucial steps to prevent them. Control humidity levels to reduce the expansion and contraction of wood. Place rugs or mats to lessen the strain on the flooring. Manage routine maintenance, such as tightening loose screws or nails, to prevent problems in the future.
If you are residing in a bungalow or apartment in Laguna Woods, issues with hardwood floors will creep up. But you don’t need to panic! You can stop those bothersome noises by applying any of the methods mentioned above. Whether you do it alone, or need professional assistance, the result will be well worth the effort: a comfortable living space free from noises of different kinds.
Want to hire experts for fixing squeaks? Opt for Flooring and Refinishing Guru, the best firm for refinishing and replacement processes in Laguna Woods.