"If you've ever tiptoed downstairs in search of a midnight snack, only to be betrayed by a tell-tale creak underfoot, you'll know how frustrating squeaky floors can be. For many homeowners, it's simply part of living in an older property with timber floors - an irritation that comes and goes with the seasons. But when do those squeaks stop being just a nuisance and start hinting at something more serious?"
"The most common cause of squeaky floors is loose floorboards. Nails and screws can work loose over time, so boards start to move as you walk over them. Another issue with wooden floorboards is expansion and contraction. Changes in moisture and temperature levels can cause boards to swell slightly. This can lead to boards rubbing together when you step on them."
Squeaky floors commonly arise from boards moving slightly against each other or the subfloor due to seasonal shrinkage, loose joints, or moisture-driven expansion and contraction. Nails and screws can work loose over time, producing movement and rubbing that causes creaks. Humidity variations make wood-based products expand or contract, intensifying noise. Most incidents are not structural emergencies and can be fixed by tightening fixings, securing boards, or managing humidity. Red flags include sudden worsening, persistent movement, sagging, unevenness, visible cracks, or joist and subfloor damage. Significant or unclear problems should prompt a professional surveyor or contractor inspection and targeted repair.
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