Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - woodden floor makes squeaky noise.

Our wooden floor makes squeaky noise when stepped on. Lately it started making us very uncomfortable. It used to be only couple of stripps but i think now its around the area.

I am wondering if there could be something wrong with the floor under it or whats going on. Of course it is in center of the kitchen where we always walk.

Is there something i can do or do i have to get the pro to have a look.

Well i was not a homeowner till now so i dont know much about maintenance issues.

Hardwood flooring expands and contracts and often loosens boards and nails. Squeaks could be wood rubbing on nails or wood rubbing on wood. Sometimes sprinkling affected boards with talcum powder alleviates squeaks. Sometimes affected boards may require face nailing to secure and prevent squeaks. Pre-drill pilot hole for finishing nail. Countersink the nail and fill hole with putty.

Maintaining temperature year round at about 70 degrees and humidity between 35-55% tends to keep issues associated with expansion and contraction of hardwood flooring under control. Humidity tends to vary among rooms, with greater humidity usually found in kitchen and bathrooms. A hygrometer, sold where they sell thermometers, can help you with humidity management.

Thank you twelveplole.

I still need to understand what exactly you want me to do to fix this. Some reference to detailed instructions would help. Please understand i am complete novice in this matter.

BTW this whole winter we were maintining house temprature at 60 degree and using room heater wherever needed. Do you think that could have brought the problem?

Talcum powder will make refinishing a total nightmare. It will bead the new finish, immediately.

A hygrometer will tell you if humidity levels are not between 35-55%. Humidifiers add humidity to the home. Dehumidifiers remove humidity. Squeaks tend to be more of a problem in winter when heat is on and humidity levels drop. You may find that as the spring and summer season progress and humidity rises that squeaks may become less noticeable.

You might try dusting the gaps of squeaky boards with talcum powder to see if that alleviates the squeaks. If squeaks do not appear to disappear as the season progresses, then drilling and face-nailing to hold boards in position and reduce movement is an option.

To do this, you would take a drill with a very small bit and drill through the affected boards to the subfloor to make a pilot hole for nail. Then, you would nail board with finishing nail into subfloor and countersink the nail below surface of board with nail punch and fill the hole.

Thank you twelvepole.
Your talcum powder suggestion seems simple to me. I will try that and wait for some time to see if that helps.

Thank you.