Over time, it is not uncommon for parquet to warp, change color or even start to make noise. If various reasons explain this squeaking phenomenon, there are also solutions to remedy it. Here are some tips to prevent your wood floors from creaking.
Why is my floating floor creaking?
Parquet squeaks are most often due to a natural phenomenon, wood being a living material that reacts to light, climatic variations and humidity in the air.
In this case, they mainly come from temperature changes (summer heat or heat from radiators that can be too high) which causes the wood to dry out and the boards to shrink. This retraction then causes friction between the floorboards which crack.
To a lesser extent, squeaks can also emanate from improper blade attachment.
What can I do to stop my parquet squeaking?
There are different possible solutions, more or less easy to implement, to overcome squeaking floors.
The first is to use talc. To do this, the parquet must be completely cleaned to be free of any dust, with a vacuum cleaner on the one hand, then a small brush on the other hand to access the interstices of the blades. Once clean, talc is inserted between the blades, again using a brush, so that it slides in more easily. To facilitate its insertion, it is finally advisable to jump on the floor.
The second solution is then to put paraffin oil. By filling the spaces between the blades, it will prevent friction. To achieve this, the floor must again be in an impeccable state of cleanliness. The paraffin oil is then heated and then gently poured into the slots, using a brush for example. To protect the parquet, adhesive tape, of those used for paints, can be stuck on the surrounding wood. The operation carried out, it is advisable to let dry approximately one hour. The same method can also be used but using wax.
Finally, more complex, the last solution aims to reinforce the fixing of squeaky blades, due to poor interlocking. For this, it is first necessary to have identified the problematic blades, then to put headless nails, in a diagonal position, in the joists. In some cases, however, there will be no choice but to change the faulty blades.
Finally, whatever the situation, it is advisable to check the temperature and humidity of the room from time to time, and to maintain your parquet regularly (passage of linseed oil or wax for example, depending on the nature of the parquet).
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