Short answer: a floating floor almost always creaks because it moves where it should not: the subfloor is not level, the floor has no room to expand or the underlay has given way. The fix depends on the cause, and in most cases it means taking up the area from the wall, correcting the problem and relaying it. What you must never do is screw or glue a floating floor to the subfloor.
Why does a floating floor creak?
A floating floor is neither glued nor nailed down: the boards click together and rest on a foam underlay. That is why it needs to be able to move slightly with changes in humidity and temperature. When something prevents that, or when it moves too much underfoot, creaks appear.
This applies to laminate, wood and click vinyl floors alike.
How to tell what is causing the creak
| Cause | How to recognise it | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven subfloor | It always creaks in the same spot; the board "rocks" or sinks when you step on it | Take up the floor as far as that area, level the subfloor and relay |
| Missing expansion gap | It creaks next to walls, doors or fixed furniture; it gets worse as the seasons change; sometimes the floor lifts | Trim the boards touching the wall or frame, free up fixed furniture and fit a profile at the doorway |
| Worn-out or unsuitable underlay | Creaks spread across walkways; it sounds hollow | Replace the underlay with one suited to the subfloor and the use |
| Rubbing at the joints or damaged click | A clicking noise right at the join between two boards | If the click is fine, a little talc in the joint reduces the friction; if it is broken, replace the board |
| Damp | Creaks with swollen boards or raised joints | Find the source of the water first (see water-damaged floating floor) |
How to stop the creaking, step by step
1. Find the exact spot
Walk slowly around the room and mark where it creaks with masking tape. If it creaks in one specific spot, it is usually the subfloor; if it creaks around the whole perimeter or near the doors, it is usually the expansion gap.
2. Check the perimeter
Remove the skirting board in that area and check that there is a gap between the floor and the wall all the way round, including at door frames, columns and pipes. If any board touches, trim it. Also check that no fitted wardrobes, kitchen islands or other fixed furniture are resting on the floor: they lock it in place.
3. Take up the floor and correct the subfloor
As the boards click together, they can be taken up from the nearest wall to the creaking area without breaking them. With the area exposed, check the level with a long straightedge: dips and bumps are corrected with levelling compound and sanding. If the foam is crushed or torn, replace it.
4. Relay the floor
Relay the boards in the same order, with staggered joints, and fit the skirting board fixed to the wall, never to the floor.
What not to do
- Screwing or gluing the floor down: it stops the floor expanding and causes new lifting and creaking elsewhere.
- Drilling the board to inject foam or adhesive: it does not fix the cause, leaves marks and may void the manufacturer's warranty.
- Covering the problem with more skirting or silicone around the perimeter: it blocks the expansion gap even further.
Why does parquet creak in summer?
With natural wood parquet glued to the floor, seasonal creaking has a different cause: the wood loses moisture with the heat and air conditioning, shrinks and the pieces rub against each other. We explain it in why parquet creaks in summer.
How to stop a floating floor from creaking
Most creaks are avoided at installation. In ours:
- We check the level of the floor on the initial visit and level it where needed.
- We lay a foam underlay with a damp-proof barrier, or a specific underlay where there is underfloor heating or noise matters.
- We leave expansion gaps around the whole perimeter and a profile at every doorway, which is what manufacturers require.
If you are choosing the underlay yourself, we explain the options in the best underlay for laminate flooring.
Frequently asked questions
Can you stop a floor creaking without taking it up?
Only when the noise comes from rubbing at a specific joint: a little talc in the joint may be enough. If the cause is the subfloor, the underlay or a missing gap, the area has to be taken up.
Why does a floating floor make a noise when you walk on it?
A slight hollow sound is normal for a floating floor; a good underlay reduces it. Creaks or clicks, on the other hand, mean something is moving or rubbing, and they can be fixed.
Does laminate creak more than a wooden floor?
Both creak for the same reasons, because they are installed the same way. The difference lies in the installation and the underlay, not in the material.