Wooden parquet is a floor covering that brings a lot of character. However, having any type of parquet (laminate, solid, laminated, etc.) is worth it. It is therefore necessary to ensure its maintenance carefully (cleaning with suitable products, sanding, treating scratches on parquet boards, etc.). In addition, wood is a living material and the slightest bad groove or wear in the socket can result in cracking. We then feel exasperation as we can no longer take a step incognito or leave the baby’s room without waking him! And let’s not talk about the little nighttime scares when the wood makes a few creaks like in an old haunted building from a horror film… Fortunately, grandmother knows a few tips against this problem of squeaky parquet floors.
1) Take care of its regular maintenance with some adjustments
Over the years, the wood never stops working. Subject to external aggression (humidity in the room, temperature variations, etc.), it tends to quickly stretch, swell or retract. In fact, spaces are created, which allows friction between the wooden slats. To avoid it, there are a few simple actions:
-If the parquet floor is too dry, this can indeed explain why it squeaks. It is therefore necessary first of all feed the wood with beeswax or linseed oil. Pay particular attention to the cracking areas and remove the excess to limit clogging of the tiles. This will make renovating it a little effortless.
-In the case of an expanded parquet floor (especially in summer), it is possible to recut the blades. Here it will be enough to remove the plinths and remove a few millimeters of wood to prevent it from touching the wall and squeaking due to friction.
-SLes wet rooms can also cause the parquet floor to swell, which explains why it squeaks. Install a dehumidifier to protect the slats in the damp room.
-Finally, simply laying a rug or carpet can sometimes reduce the noise of an older floor.
2) Talcum powder for your squeaky parquet floor
Baby powder can prevent slats from squeaking when you step on them. Start by cleaning the dust between the parquet tiles and the area to be treated. Then sprinkle this very fine powder. And now: the finishing touches! After applying the talcum powder, you must make it penetrate well between the blades. To do this, do not hesitate to call friends and jump or dance on the floor for a long time. This generates a bit of dust that will need to be wiped away with a slightly damp mop, but this ensures that the technique will work!
Please note that some also apply flakes of Marseille soap in the slots from the floor to avoid squeaking. Still others melt paraffin and apply it in the gaps with a syringe in small quantity to avoid spills that are difficult to clean. You must then let your old parquet dry well.
3) Repair a squeaky parquet floor when you’re a bit of a handyman
If you are not comfortable with tools, it is worth better call a professional. However, saving a squeaky floor is not as difficult as you might think! Very often, it is enough to consolidate the floor fixings to prevent friction.
In the case of a parquet floor fixed on joists, it will be necessary to feel and tap to identify the places where the noise is less hollow. And also test the adjoining slats to be sure of clearly locate the joist. Then all that remains is to nail or screw each squeaky floorboard to the joists. Here, prefer wood screws whose more elongated format will reach the joists. Those specially designed for parquet floors can also be used to avoid damaging the floor. Some also use headless nails or flat head nails or drive them in at an angle. The most important thing is to remember camouflage everything with wood putty whose color matches that of the parquet for an invisible result.
For the durability and noble appearance of the wood of the different types of parquet, every little bit counts. And even if it provides a rustic appearance when it wears out, the wood on the floor deserves our full attention to maintain all its beauty and shine. Whether we are talking about maintaining a cork, beech, exotic wood, chestnut, walnut or bamboo floor, you now know how to stop the squeaks.