Laminate Floor Squeaking

albany

Hi

A friend installed some laminate floor. They really like it but it squeaks when they walk on it. They have had people say the floor is not level. Then another person has said he lays laminate on unlevel floors and does not have this problem.
Please, can someone offer help.

JetSwet

Could very well be the case that it's not level.
If the floor isn't level then the T&G in the laminate won't sit right making sounds as you walk on it, any laminate jobs needs to have a flat and level subfloor.

If the installer was careless then the expansion gaps are questionable as well.

almazon

Laminate usually doesn't squeak. Most likely its a subfloor. I am not a PRO, but I did it on my 2nd and 3rd floor in my house.

On 2nd floor I turned subfloor upside down, put it on LiquidNails and then screw it every 8 inch. It was gone. On 3rd it was harder because I had to use shims between joists. Its silent now.

The most important is to find a spot of where and what squeaks.

Good luck!

joecaption

Level does not matter much, it's how flat it is that matters.
Was there a pad layed down before it was installed?
Was there a moisture test down befor it went in on the subfloor?
Is it squecking in the middle or the outsides of the floor.

JetSwet

Somewhere between putting laminant in a old batman and robin episode vs putting it over Masonite?..... Lol ha ha

tribe_fan

My advice is to call the manufacturer. A friend bought some from Home Depot and it squeaked. The manufacturer came out and examined the installation and offered a settlement. He decided to live with the squeak and take the cash, but they did offer to replace all of the boxes of Laminate. If it was installed improperly, then you're stuck.

BNTHERE

Laminates dont squeak, that said, if its a thicker laminate it might happen.
If thats the case, they will spring when u walk on them. That will be mainly because the planks does not have enough clearence in corners or by the walls. Laminate plank should have a minimum of 1/4" clearence - its a floating floor.
If the floor does not spring and there is squeak, then it is the subfloor.

JetSwet

Laminate floors can squeak I have seen many 1st hand.
Was the floor squeaking before the laminate was put in?.... The op hasn't said so and if it was then it would defeat the why ask the question now.

albany

thanks everyone, they had it re installed and it seems to be ok atm! Fingers crossed it stays that way.