You’ve just installed your floating parquet at home, it’s brand new, bright, and soft as you hoped. The only downside: in certain places, you hear squeaking noises under your steps. Noisy parquets are often associated with wear and tear, but it turns out that you can find yourself facing a new floating parquet that squeaks. These little creaks may seem trivial to some people, just as they can make everyday life very difficult, and rightly so. After changing your floor, you want to be able to enjoy it! We explain where this phenomenon can come from and the solutions that exist.
Squeaking due to the floorboards
Floating parquets are an attractive option for many, as they offer the look of hardwood at a lower cost. Moreover, new floating floors are increasingly beautiful and come in a series of colors, sizes, and styles. But their very nature presents certain limitations. Thus, the interlocking parquet system explains the potential squeaking. In fact, where the boards meet, they can rub against each other and make a creaking noise. This is also explained by the type of floating floor used: if the boards are waxed or have lubricated edges, the squeaking can be avoided.
Squeaking due to installation
The source of the noise can also come from the installation of the parquet itself. Although your parquet is easy to install, it’s very easy to miss certain details when choosing a floating floor. For example, the edges of the floor, the space between the walls and the parquet, and the base of the floor itself that sits between the ground and the boards are important elements that require particular attention. It’s therefore possible that the subfloor wasn’t completely flat when the boards were laid on top, causing squeaks in certain places. We’ll also notice that the squeaks are more or less bothersome depending on the season, with humidity playing a determining role in the behavior of wooden floors.
Reinstalling the parquet
If the squeaking persists and is disturbing, there’s no other solution than to reinstall the parquet, at least in the areas that squeak. A professional will then first ensure the humidity level in the house, the room, and the floor where the parquet will be reinstalled. Based on this data, they will choose the type of subfloor to ensure air can pass between the ground and the floor. The material will also help to dampen possible noises. The expert can also choose another type of floating floor that will be better for the room, such as bamboo flooring, which is increasingly popular.
Squeaks in a house can be very difficult to live with for some people who are more sensitive to noise. That’s why laying a parquet, even a floating one, must be done meticulously, scrupulously following the procedure and adapting to its environment. Don’t hesitate to call on professionals to get their opinion and receive expert advice before embarking on this adventure.
