Symptoms
- Creaking noise starting within weeks of a new floor installation
- Squeak in one or several specific spots
- Floor feels otherwise solid and new
- Installer may have used adhesive, nails, or a floating method
Likely causes
- CommonSubfloor not adequately fastened to joists before new flooring went downIf the original subfloor issue wasn't addressed during installation, new flooring won't fix an underlying squeak.
- CommonInsufficient fasteners or adhesive during the new floor's installationNail-down or glue-down floors need proper fastener spacing and adhesive coverage to stay silent.
- PossibleFloating floor without enough underlayment supportA thin or uneven underlayment can allow slight movement that creaks.
- PossibleSubfloor not cleaned of debris before installationA pebble or debris under new flooring can cause a persistent squeak at that spot.
What to do
- Note whether the creak is in a specific spot or spread across the new floor, which helps narrow down the cause.
- If it's a floating floor (laminate, engineered, vinyl plank), the same subfloor-focused fixes as a squeaky floorboard often apply, since the issue is likely below the new material.
- For a nail-down or glue-down solid or engineered hardwood, a squeak often means a fastener missed the joist or didn't get full adhesive coverage.
- Contact the installer if the floor is still under installation warranty, since squeaks appearing this soon are often considered a workmanship issue.
- If working on it yourself, locate joists with a stud finder and add a trim-head screw through problem areas, countersunk and filled to match.
- For a floating floor, sometimes lifting a board to check for and remove trapped debris resolves an isolated squeak.
- Document when the creaking started and photos of the installation if you plan to pursue a warranty claim.
Tools and parts
- Stud finder
- Drill/driver
Trim-head wood screwsSearch: “trim head wood screws floor squeak”
When to call a pro
Call the original installer first if the floor is still under warranty, since a new-floor squeak is often a workmanship issue they should address.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.