If a laminate floor creaks, what to do, how to eliminate extraneous sound without disassembling the flooring? Laminate creaks - what to do indiscriminately: causes of creaking when walking in an apartment and ways to eliminate them Causes of creaking of laminate flooring

Less than six months ago, a hired team laid Kronostar Superior class 32 laminate on a screed in all our rooms. Under the coating, they bought a coniferous substrate, they chose 7 mm to make it warmer. When we entered the apartment for the first time, a slight rattle was heard in some places, but the master reassured me that the coating was new, it would still “sit down” in place. 5 months have already passed, but everything is still the same, and in some places even worse. I don't want to remove the floor. How to fix this defect as soon as possible and at minimal cost?

Answer

Why does it creak

Laminate parquet with a glueless joint system is assembled into a monolithic floor using locks. However, if after installation the coating crunches, creaks, then:

1. Laying technology is violated: uneven base, crumbling screed, incorrectly selected substrate, lack of compensation gaps around the perimeter, etc.;
2. A low-quality coating with crooked locks, broken plank geometry was chosen;
3. not respected climatic conditions coating operation.

Since you have not installed a floor heating system, and you have chosen a reliable manufacturer, the reason for the appearance of extraneous sounds is precisely in violation of the laying technology. Regarding the screed, it is difficult to say something without disassembling the coating. But clearly the problem (and perhaps not the only one) is in the underlying layer.

The substrate serves as a protective damper between the base and laminated parquet, slightly levels the differences in the subfloor (but not more than 2 mm for every 2 meters of surface), ensures comfortable operation of the coating. It is NOT a full-fledged sound and thermal insulation material, does NOT replace self-leveling finishing floors or leveling flooring made of GVL, plywood, chipboard.

Manufacturers on the insert in each pack of laminate indicate that the maximum allowable thickness of the substrate is 3 mm. Optimal - 2 mm. That is, initially the purchase of coniferous mats with a section of 7 mm was a mistake. The craftsmen actually created a springy underlying layer, due to which, in the load area, the slats bend and the locks begin to crack and break.

Unfortunately, in order to get rid of the defect, you will have to completely disassemble the coating, remove the substrate, carefully prepare the base in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer and SP 29.13330.2001 / SNiP 3.04.01-87 "Floors", purchase a new underlying layer 2-3 mm thick and reassemble the lamellas in the same order as they lay before.

How to eliminate a creak without disassembly

To eliminate crunches and creaks in local (rare) areas, you can use the experience of parquet installers:

1. Dismantle damaged (constantly creaking) strips in the amount of 1-4 pieces and install new ones.
2. Introduce a sealing or adhesive mass under the coating by injection.

Let's consider in more detail.

The first option allows you to correct errors made during the preparation of the floor, such as pits, potholes, sagging, bumps, etc. You will need the following set of tools and materials:

• grinder (circular saw, jigsaw),
• chisel or crowbar,
• new underlay and laminate,
• adhesive sealant or gel for sealing joints.

With the help of a power tool, a part of the plate is cut out, the cut-off element of the plank is hooked with a chisel and removed. The base is cleaned of the old substrate, debris, sand and dust. Next, floor defects are eliminated: the pits should be filled with quick-drying repair compounds, and bumps - clean with sandpaper or just grind construction knife, steel spatula. After drying and cleaning from dust, the base must be primed, covered with a substrate. At the new plank, cut off the protruding part of the locking comb, apply glue or sealant, insert into the opening and fix. If excess adhesive is squeezed out onto the surface, they must be removed immediately with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and the lamella should be loaded for 24-48 hours.

Every year the collections of laminate flooring are updated, so after a long time you may not find exactly the same laminate. In this case, try to choose the right thickness and shade. Better yet, immediately stock up on a few pieces for future repairs.

The second method is simpler, but it can be used to eliminate the creak at only one point. Required:

1. Drill or screwdriver.
2. Filling or adhesive compound. It can be PVA glue, Bindulin Parkett-Dicht or Tarkett Click Guard joint sealant, Bostik PK PROFI-SEAL SMP or Bostik 3071 wood joint sealant Eurocol Parquet Doctor or Stauf Repamed, expanding repair polyurethane Adesiv Adegloss 10 or Vermeister Polifoam. It is undesirable to use mounting foam, since under load it quickly settles, moreover, it crumbles over time.
3. Syringe or injection gun.
4. Masking tape or paper tape.
5. Wood sealant or repair wax with a melter and a rubber spatula for restoring the plank.

Filling compounds for parquet, laminate, parquet boards.

In a defective place with a drill, you need to drill a hole, remove dust. Stick masking tape on top of the cover. Introduce the filling composition with a syringe or nozzle, load the laminated parquet so that the mass is distributed over the voids, remove the excess along with the tape. After 2-6 hours, fill the hole with sealant or wax and level the surface. For reliability, you can apply a small amount of matte or glossy varnish on top with a thin brush.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for their selection. Just send in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and offers with prices from construction teams and firms will come to your mail. You can see reviews of each of them and photos with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

Today, a huge number of types of flooring are available, but laminate is especially popular. It is perfect for decorating any space.

Such material is distinguished by its positive characteristics, among which are:

• Aesthetics;
• Stylishness;
• Durability;
• Ease of installation.

But a problem often arises when the laminate begins to make unpleasant sounds, unless, of course, you step on it. It is possible to eliminate laminate creaking, further information and images on how to fix such a nuisance will be presented.

The main causes of creaking

To begin with, it is worth noting that the unpleasant sounds that the laminate makes will not just spoil your mood. After a while, the coating will begin to deteriorate due to them and most likely the floor will need to be changed.

Laminate creaking may occur immediately after installation. There are several reasons for the occurrence of such a squeak, the most common is improper installation.

Base unevenness

Often the coating is placed on concrete base or uneven surface:

• With significant height differences in different parts of the room;
• With dimples;
• And also with the layering of concrete.

In such a situation, you should not think for a long time about the cause of the creak. Even if after installation you do not hear any sounds, be sure that the uneven surface will soon present them to you.

Some solve this problem with a lining under the laminate. It will help level the base if there are no significant irregularities on the surface, otherwise this method will not help.

Crude base

The second reason for the creaking of the laminate can be hidden in the lock of the panels. In most cases, it is this part of the coating that creaks unpleasantly.

The reason for the creaking of the laminate may be an uncleaned base, namely, if the following remains on it before installation:

1. small pebbles;
2. Sand;
3. Other general or construction debris.

Immediately after laying, the flooring will most likely not make extraneous sounds, because. the substrate retains its elasticity and shape for some time. But over time, it will definitely sag and then the cod will not have to wait long. In this case, when walking barefoot, the creak of the laminate will be especially loud.

No space

Cracking can occur even on an expensive and high-quality coating. If there is no gap between the wall and the flooring along the perimeter of the entire room, then no characteristics of the laminate will help in this situation.

Important! The absence of a small gap will lead to the fact that the plates will soon expand a little and rest against the baseboard.

As a rule, when walking, the panels will rub against its edge, making an unwanted sound.

Under high load, the lack of clearance adversely affects the locks of the panels, so cracking can also be heard from them.

Poor quality material

A cheap and low-quality coating is sure to fill your home with extraneous sounds. The creak of such material cannot be eliminated in any way, even if a perfect and professional installation is carried out.

Helpful information ! Therefore, when buying a laminate, it is better to give preference to trusted manufacturers. The price of such a product is somewhat higher, but it will not bring you such problems that a cheap coating would present.

By purchasing quality products, you protect yourself from:

• cracks;
• Creaking;
• floor swelling;
• Cracks.

How to beat the creak

Well, now you know about the main causes of laminate floor creaking. Now let's look at how to fix such a problem, while spending a minimum of time and money.

We provide clearance

For example, unpleasant sounds appeared due to the fact that the installation was carried out incorrectly and there was no gap between the wall and the panels. It is possible to cope with a creak in such a situation and it is very simple to do it.

To fix the problem, you will need to perform the following tasks in strict sequence:

• Carefully remove the plinth;
• Dismantle the plates that are adjacent to the wall;
• Use a circular saw to cut off the required portion of each panel. Remember that the resulting gap should not exceed 1.5-2 centimeters;
• After that, you can put the panels, and then the baseboard in place.

Advice. Cracking may also appear due to the baseboard itself. Often it fits snugly against the panels, so in this case it is better to fix it a little higher above the floor surface. Then the plates will not come into contact with it and extraneous sounds will not occur.

As you can see, this procedure is very simple. If the room is large in area, then it will be somewhat more difficult and longer to work, but such actions will prevent not only creaking, but also swelling of the coating.

Removing debris from under the floor

If the installation is done correctly, all the rules are taken into account, the necessary clearance is observed, but the floor still makes extraneous sounds, then the problem is different. Most likely there is debris under the cover. It is also possible to solve such an issue, but this can only be done by dismantling the flooring.

Advice. If you used an expensive and high-quality laminate, then removing and putting it back is not recommended. It is better to be patient for a while, the debris will eventually fray and the sounds will disappear.

But this method still has a significant drawback - when the debris is frayed, the inside of the panels can be seriously affected by this.

To clean the base, you will need to follow these steps in strict order:

1. Remove panels;
2. Remove backing;
3. Thoroughly clean the base, removing even the smallest debris and dust. For perfect cleaning it is better to use a vacuum cleaner. The resulting surface in conclusion should be wiped with a damp cloth;
4. Put a new substrate (namely, a new one, because the old one is already damaged by debris and it is better to throw it away).

Advice. If you managed to determine the place from which the creaking is heard, then repair only this area. Radical measures need to be implemented only if crackling is heard throughout the floor.

After these steps, the laminate can be laid. But before that, wipe its locks and end parts with a slightly damp cloth, because. there may also be sand, dust or other dirt. Basically, the above tasks to remove any possible dirt and creaking will disappear.

Helpful information! If an unpleasant sound is heard only near the wall, then it is not necessary to remove the laminate.

You can solve this problem simply by inserting a small piece of cardboard into the space between the laminate and the wall. This method is very effective, but it should be used only in this case.

If you need to level the base

But what if the creaking occurs due to the uneven surface of the base? In this case, you will have to set yourself up for serious work. To solve this problem, you will need to carry out a large-scale and complete repair.

It will not be easy, but it is impossible to choose another option. Before mounting the panels, it was necessary to pay more attention to leveling the bases.

Well, such work is carried out by the following actions in the following sequence:

• To begin with, the flooring must be completely disassembled;
• Then remove the backing;
• Next, you need to lay out a cement-sand screed on the base of the floor, which will level the problem surface;
• After the screed is completely dry, you will need to apply a layer of self-leveling coating.

If in your case the base is wooden, then you will need to scrape it or apply a thick sheet of plywood or chipboard.

Laminate flooring looks modern, elegant, and seemingly does not require special skills when laying. But is it really so? For any repair and construction work, it is important not to forget the fact that before starting a business, you need to study it in detail. Laminate flooring is no exception. Inattentive and careless work leads to an unpleasant creak underfoot. Let's look at why the laminate creaks, find out the origins of extraneous sounds and possible options elimination.

The main reasons for the appearance of coating squeaks

First reason. The most popular reason is the unscrupulous preparation of the base before covering the floor of the room. Most people make this mistake, deciding that negligence will not be noticeable. Perhaps you hear not a creak under your feet, but a crunch. The reason for this is the garbage left behind. To prevent this problem, the floor must be thoroughly cleaned before grouting. Do not be lazy and limit yourself to a broom, you will need a vacuum cleaner or a wet rag to completely remove dirt and dust.
How to solve the problem if there is debris under the laminate? It will require complete dismantling of the coating and accurate, even scrupulous cleaning of the base floor. The surface should be free of dust, grains of sand, chips, sawdust and other debris. A clean base floor is a guarantee of no squeaks after laying the laminate.

Second reason also is poor-quality preparation of the floor before laying. In this case, you hear exactly the creak, and it occurs when you move around the room. This problem arose due to an uneven floor. Under the laminate there are cavities with a depth of more than 2 mm per square meter, in which you step when walking, causing deformation of the coating. At the junction of the locks, the strips of the laminate are shifting, which is why we hear a creak. The result of long-term operation will be broken interlock connections and deformation of the seams.

This kind of problem can be solved only by a complete analysis of the coating and subsequent installation, as in the first case.

Correcting the root cause depends on the actual condition of the underlying floor, which you will see after removing the laminate and underlay. If the pits on the base slightly exceed a depth of 2 mm, then they can be eliminated using gypsum putty and a wide spatula. Otherwise, leveling with self-leveling floors or may be required. Leveling the floor before laying any floor is rule number one and should not be forgotten.

Third reason creaking laminate - expansion joints are made incorrectly. During the laying process, the seams are not given due attention, although this is an important element of coating technology. There are errors such as the absence of an expansion joint or its incorrect size. The appearance of a creak is the best option in this case. It will be much worse when your coating puffs up.

Even if in one place, the laminate rests against the wall, you are guaranteed a creak. Just as in the second reason, extraneous sounds occur when walking due to the displacement of the locks relative to each other. There are two ways to solve the problem in such a situation. With a one-time emphasis of the laminate on the wall, you just need to pick up a hammer or chisel and chop off the element of the coating or wall that rests against the wall. If the problem arose along the entire length of the room, you will need a grinder or any. It is necessary to disassemble the extreme row of slats, file them along the contact line by 8-10 mm, and then lay them back.

Be sure to thoroughly clean the floor after cutting to avoid squeaks.

Fourth reason- obsolete wood flooring under the laminate. Of course, in such a situation it is difficult to determine the true cause of the creak: is it the coating itself or the floor under it. You should start looking for a problem by inspecting the surface of the laminate and checking the expansion gaps. Everything is in order, and the laminate bends when walking, which means the source of the creak is under the coating. If there is an old wooden floor, then there is a high probability that it is he who gives you inconvenience. Such a result should have been foreseen before the start of laying, since removing the sound after it is quite laborious.

To solve this problem, you need to remove the laminate. The fastening of the wooden floor must be strengthened in those places where the floorboards are attached to the logs. At an angle, screw self-tapping screws into each board where it connects to the joists. Old rotten boards should be replaced. After that, make sure that the base has stopped creaking. Next, check the surface for evenness and return the laminate to its place.

This is a common cause and is much easier to fix before laying the floor.

Fifth reason. The creaking may begin due to changes in humidity. The sound will not be heard locally, but around the entire perimeter of the coverage. In this case, it is worth waiting for the change of season. If you did repairs in the summer, wait for the winter, and vice versa. Over time, the laminate will get used to the new microclimate, and the squeak will stop. If this does not happen, then you will have to remove the cover and continue to search for the cause.

Sixth reason. There is another option for a creaky laminate - this is its poor quality. Panel edges and locks have inaccurate geometry. They do not fit snugly together during installation. Because of this, dust and sand from the floor surface gets into the cracks, causing creaking when walking. Often manufacturers from China sin with this. The cheapness of the laminate should alert you.

Approach the choice of coverage with all responsibility, if you do not want to enjoy serenades during its service life. You should not save, at least, on your peace of mind. The result of negligence when buying can be not only a creak.

conclusions

In any case, laminate creaking is a problem that is best addressed before it occurs. Do not neglect the choice of material, specialists and process technology (if you decide to do the repair yourself). The process of laying laminate flooring is quite simple, but, like any other stage of finishing, it requires thorough preparation and a rational approach.

First, do not rush when buying coating material. Secondly, be careful and careful before you start laying. Do not disregard any oversight, and the laminate will not creak for the entire service life.

After installation floor covering an unpleasant problem may arise - the laminate creaks. This may occur due to the fact that certain installation requirements were violated during installation. If such a situation arose, then you have to figure it out and look for where the creak is coming from. It is best to eliminate the cause without parsing the floor, because the locks can be disposable and after parsing it will be necessary to buy new material.

Why does laminate creak?

When the laminate makes various sounds, not everyone thinks about the causes of such problems. And there are many of them, such reasons include:

1. Violation of the rules for preparing the foundation.
2. Poor condition of subfloor.
3. Poor quality laminate.
4. Violation of floor laying rules.
5. Poor choice of substrate or its complete absence.

If you do not follow all the rules for laying the foundation, then the appearance of various shortcomings is quite an expected phenomenon. Some of these problems can be fixed without parsing, but sometimes a partial parsing or a complete one is required. When parsing, there is a high probability of damage to the locks, as a result of which you will have to purchase additional material, and this will lead to an increase in the cost of the laminate floor.

In order not to puzzle over the question of how to eliminate the creak of the laminate indiscriminately, it is necessary to strictly follow all the laying rules.

Laminate creaking due to poor base preparation

Sometimes, laminate creaking can be the result of the original (rough) floor being in poor condition. If the coating was laid on a wooden floor, then it is necessary to check its condition before starting work. To do this, check for cracks and rotten boards. If the base is in an unsatisfactory condition, then alteration is necessary.

Before starting work, wooden floors need to be rallied. Rotten boards, even partially damaged, must be replaced. In the process, it is necessary to do alignment.

A concrete screed can have 2 problems:

1. Roughness - in this case, alignment must be done.
2. The old foundation may be crumbling. Most often, this option occurs if low-quality concrete is taken.

If the base is old and has begun to collapse, then it is better to replace it. But such work is very laborious and financially costly. Correct the situation will help at least 6 mm thick. It is placed on the floor and fixed. Then the laminate is laid. With the help of plywood, you can also level the wooden base.

Installation of plywood for laying laminate

If the shortcomings of the finished laminate base appeared due to a poor subfloor, then the entire structure will have to be disassembled. There will be no other way.

How to eliminate laminate creaking indiscriminately

If the laminate began to creak, then not in all cases, to eliminate this problem, it will be necessary to disassemble the floor. If you correctly determine the cause of the creak, then in most cases you will not have to disassemble the panels, and fixing the problem will not take much time.

Eliminate creaking on uneven ground

If you clearly and correctly follow all the conditions for preparing the base for the laminate, then the likelihood of flaws is reduced significantly. All depending on the type of floor. Irregularities have a negative effect on the locks of the boards. If the laminate creaks when walking, then the likelihood of an uneven floor increases. This problem needs to be fixed.

by the most effective method will be drilling a small hole in the board. Next, the medical syringe is filled with PVA glue and this glue is injected into the hole.

Filling is best done at a not very high speed until the glue comes out of the hole.

If glue gets on the edges of the hole, then it must be removed. Then you need to leave the filling place for 3-4 hours. At this time, it is better not to walk on the floor so that the glue can grab.

Once the glue has set, you need to close the hole. For this, sealants or mastics, putties or self-adhesive films are used. Sealants and mastics can have colored bases, and therefore you can choose the composition that matches the color of the laminate as much as possible.

To create the maximum effect of an intact board, you need to remove the excess composition with a cloth, and process the hole with fine sandpaper, then polish it with a cloth. For reliability, you can cover the board with a layer of colorless varnish.

Eliminate creaking by drilling laminate

Creaking in the absence of a temperature gap

It happens that the sounds from the coating pass over the entire surface area. In this case, it is likely that the laminate was laid without observing the temperature gap. Such a gap must be left between the edge boards and the coating, since the laminate has the property of linear expansion. If the gap is small, then under the action of the expansion, the locks begin to creak.

Correcting such a defect does not take much time and effort. To do this, you need to remove the plinth, and increase the size of the gap with the help of a grinder. The cover does not need to be removed.

Laminate creaking in the absence of a temperature gap

Laminate locks creak

A very common cause of an unpleasant sound is the discrepancy or loose connection of the locks. In the event of a discrepancy, a gap is formed, which can sometimes touch another board, resulting in a sound. With a loose connection of the lock, the same thing happens.

In this case, the situation can be corrected without parsing the surface. To solve the problem, an adhesive composition is used, which is applied to the locks, and the boards are trying to move towards each other. The surface is left for some time for the glue to harden.

Sometimes, instead of glue, it makes sense to use mounting foam. It sets much better and faster, and also holds the panels noticeably better. A big plus of the foam is that it is enough to apply it to the edges of the boards, due to the expansion it will itself reach the desired, opposite edge.

However, when working with foam, care should be taken:

1. The joints must be cleaned from dust.
2. Glue construction tape or masking tape along the edge of the board. This is done so that the foam does not stain the surface of the boards.
3. Foam is poured into the joint.
4. After some time, the excess frozen foam is removed.

The joint surface can be painted over so that the processing is not noticeable. Either a sealant or mastic of a suitable color is used.

Gluing laminate locks

Laminate creaking when laying on rubbish

When the owners of the house begin to be interested in what to do if the laminate creaks, it is important to remember how the premises were cleaned before laying work.

After preparing the base, debris often remains, and if large debris is removed, then such attention is not paid to dust and small motes. And this step is in vain. If there is sand under the laminate, then creaking is quite possible. Therefore, before laying, you need to thoroughly vacuum the rough base and all the cracks. If the gaps are large, then they must be treated with filling compounds.

If it is determined that the laminate is crunching due to debris, then you can either dismantle the entire coating or vacuum the laminate at the points of contact with the wall. To do this, it is necessary to remove, and the coating can be slightly raised so that there is a gap. Insert a vacuum cleaner hose into this gap and try to remove debris.

Creaking from underlay

Such a moment can also be. This is due to the fact that the wrong substrate was selected. Laminate is a floating floor system and requires an underlay. This element provides some softness to the coating and hides small irregularities in the subfloor. Choose a substrate depending on the material of manufacture and thickness. If the coating creaks, then, most likely, the matter is in the wrong choice of the thickness of the substrate.

When choosing a thickness, it is important to remember that the larger this parameter, the greater the gap between the floor and the board. A large gap can give a creak. Therefore, the substrate must be chosen with a normal thickness.

The optimal thickness is 3-7 mm. the maximum parameter can be up to 10 mm. But here everything is deplorable for the owners. In this case, it is necessary to dismantle the coating and replace the substrate with a thinner one. There are no other options for resolving the issue.

When choosing a laminate, it is important to remember that creaking can also produce a poor-quality coating, so you need to choose quality material. In many cases, it is impossible to do without dismantling the coating, therefore, in such a case, you need to pay attention to what kind of locks the boards are equipped with.

On sale there is a laminate that can be dismantled up to several times. Of course, these coating options are more expensive, but it's better than buying new material all over again.

This publication will help you figure it out and get an answer to the question: “The laminate creaks, what should I do?”. Laminate flooring transforms any room, giving it a respectable look. But this new material, for a number of reasons, can become a source of certain inconveniences, for example, in the form of creaking of individual floorboards.

If the laminate creaks what to do? This question arises for almost every homeowner if such noise accompanies residents when moving around the house. Do not think that such a phenomenon is the norm. This sad fact only says that during the installation of the flooring, the process technology was somehow violated. Any defect that causes unpleasant noises can be corrected, but only first you need to find out the cause of its occurrence.

Causes of creaking laminate flooring

It should be noted right away that even experienced specialists who have been installing this coating for a long time always talk about the “capriciousness” of the laminate, since it first of all requires a perfectly even base.

Some customers refuse to heed the wizard's warnings and ask to install on the existing base, without careful preliminary preparation. But this may be the first reason for the creaking of the laminate. However, it also happens that everything goes well, and the coating serves for many years without any negative manifestations.

Quite common are cases when work is carried out in full accordance with all developed technologies and on an absolutely even basis, and, after it proper styling, it still makes unpleasant sounds to the ear. Sometimes, after some time, the panels rub against each other, sit down and the creak disappears, but this does not always happen, and you have to make efforts and look for a way out of this situation.

There can be several reasons for noise and creaking, and it is not enough just to list them. You should consider each of them separately in order to figure out how to deal with the noise of the coating.

Uneven or unstable base

As mentioned above, most often the cause of the creak is an uneven or shaky base for laying the material. To be sure that it will not cause an unreliable creaky floor, although it is covered with expensive laminate, it is necessary to level it.

One of the most common causes is an uneven base surface.

If, nevertheless, the laminate has already been laid on an unprepared base, and a creak has appeared in its individual sections, then in these places the base of the irregularities (depressions) are maximum, and the decorative coating is able to sag when a load is applied to its surface. When changing the position of the panel while pressing it, friction occurs between the individual adjacent elements of the laminate floor, which causes creaking.

If, when walking on the pavement, the creak is heard not in separate areas, but on almost the entire surface, then the entire base definitely requires

Troubleshooting

• When a creak appears in small areas of the floor, local repairs can be carried out by dismantling individual panels. To carry out the work carefully, you first need to remove the thresholds and skirting boards that fix the laminate in the place of repair. When removing the cover panels, it is recommended to number them on the reverse side, indicating the number of the row from the wall and the location of the element in the row, so that there is no confusion during reinstallation.

- After removing the laminate panels and making sure that it was the recess in the surface of the base that was the culprit of the creak, the flaw must be eliminated.

- The leveling process is best carried out with a quick-hardening mortar, which is leveled with a spatula to the general level of the main floor.

- After the mixture has dried, the leveled area must be sanded, since even a slight elevation or depression may not fix, but aggravate the problem.

- A thin cardboard is laid on the dried surface of the base, the substrate is returned and the laminate is mounted again.

• If the coating sticks everywhere, wherever it is stepped on, this means that the initial laying was of poor quality. In this case, you will have to disassemble the coating completely.

• If the laminate was laid on a wooden floor, then perhaps it was the plank base that caused the laminate to creak, since the boards may lie unevenly or move away from the log on which they are laid.

- In this case, you will have to do a great job. First of all, you will need to remove the baseboards and thresholds, and then the entire laminate.

- Then you have to inspect the wooden floor and find "problem" areas on it. Particular attention is paid to floorboards that have obvious signs of “decrepit” wood, mold or fungus stains - such parts are subject to unconditional replacement

- If it is not possible to carry out the scraping process, then the boardwalk can be leveled with plywood with a thickness of at least 10 mm. Plywood must be mounted on glue with fixation with self-tapping screws.

From above, the boards or sheets of plywood are covered with a substrate, on which the laminate is subsequently mounted according to all the rules of technology.

Video: a few techniques for repairing or replacing laminate flooring

Wrong underlay selected

Laminate panel manufacturers usually recommend substrate types - these tips should be followed

Garbage under the laminate

Cracking and creaking when moving on a laminated floor can also come from if the base, before laying, was not sufficiently well cleaned of various debris, such as small pieces of construction debris, ordinary sand or small pebbles.

Poor cleaning is a direct cause of “noisy” laminate floors

Foreign elements that have fallen under the laminate may not manifest themselves immediately, as they will still be covered not sagging underlay. However, over time, under the influence of loads, the material of any substrate is necessarily crushed, and if even small solid fragments of debris remain under it, then squeaks will be heard when they come into contact with the laminate. Little of, decorative panels these can be damaged by the same and will have to be completely replaced.

Due to such an oversight as a poorly cleaned base, you may have to completely redo all the voluminous and costly work.

Troubleshooting

To remove all unnecessary from the base, it is necessary to carry out the following manipulations:

• First, skirting boards and sills are removed - this can only be done in those areas of the floor where a creak is heard when pressed.
• Further, the entire coating is dismantled or only that part of it, under which it is necessary to carry out cleaning.
• The next step is to remove the backing, which will most likely need to be replaced, as it may already be damaged by solid debris fragments.
• Then, you need to thoroughly clean the base, and it is better if a vacuum cleaner is used for this, and then a wet cleaning is also carried out.

• A new substrate is laid on a completely clean surface, and a laminate is laid on top.
• The final steps are to fix the skirting boards and sills.

Sudden change in temperature and humidity

A sharp, abrupt change in one of the parameters characteristic of the prevailing normal indoor microclimate can also negatively affect. Under the influence of high humidity or a dramatic change in temperature, the decorative coating may begin to creak or even deform.

For example, after the autumn cool weather, the heating season begins, and the material must adapt to more high temperatures and dry indoor air. Humidity rises during rainy autumn and spring days, and its effect on laminate layers is especially detrimental. Floor panels may swell or shrink. It is these processes that lead to the appearance of unwanted sounds.

After a recent laying of a laminate and during the period of its adaptation to the conditions of a certain room, similar phenomena can also occur. In this case, you should not rush to correct them, since, perhaps, the material needs to be given time to “get used to” the new conditions.

If the laminate creaks only in the off-season, and “calms down” at steady temperatures and humidity, then there is only one effective way to avoid this negative. It is necessary, if possible, to try to maintain indoor humidity and temperature at the same level all year round. Climate change can help equipment - air conditioning and a humidifier, and special measuring instruments- thermometer and hygrometer.

lack of space

The laminate will not have enough space if the installation was immediately carried out incorrectly, or rather, without leaving compensation gaps, close to the walls. In this case, there is simply no free space for the expansion of the material when the parameters of its environment change.

That's why experienced craftsmen know that around the entire perimeter of the room where the laminate is laid, a gap of 10 ÷ 12 mm must be left between the coating and the walls, depending on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. In halls with a large coverage area, where voluminous skirting boards will look perfect and are able to close fairly large gaps, even 20 ÷ 30 mm recede from the walls.

In large rooms, gaps can even reach 20 - 30 mm.

By the way, even special skirting boards are produced for laminate, which have an elastic soft layer from below. This is necessary so that when expanding, the material can easily move to the required distance. Well, if there is no gap at all, then not only creaking and crackling, but also, possibly, significant deformations of the entire surface of the laminate will be provided.

Troubleshooting

If the laminate begins to creak, you should immediately check for gaps. This can be done by removing one of the skirting boards. If there are simply no gaps, or they are extremely small (less than 5 mm), it is urgent to start correcting this violation during installation, otherwise the coating panels, their locking connections may be damaged, and you will have to seriously spend money on replacing them.

In order to correct the situation, you need to leave gaps of the desired size. This is done in the following way:

• Removed from all skirting board walls.
• Next, the outer panels of the cover are dismantled. The required distance is measured on them, and the section is sawn off using a manual circular saw. Another option is to carefully perform this action on the spot, using a special hand-held electric tool (somewhat reminiscent of the work of a conventional grinder).

The second option is much more difficult to make - far from even all masters have such a specialized tool, so it is better to use the first one.

• The dismantled trimmed panels must be installed in place, and then the skirting boards and sills must be fixed.

It should be noted that sometimes the baseboard itself can also cause a creak if it is very strongly pressed against the laminate. To correct this moment, you need to slightly raise the plinth, or better, fix a tape of thin polyethylene foam on its lower part, or purchase this finishing element with an existing soft bottom plane.

Poor quality laminate

Attempts to save money often lead to the purchase of low-quality flooring material. You should not expect long-term service from such a laminate, since manufacturing inaccuracies can be made in the design of its locks, and this panel element is very often the cause of creaking.

It is difficult to understand the logic of people who save on quality. Perhaps they are led by the confidence that they will “carry over”, everything will work out and it will work out. It is possible that they heard enough "good advice" from acquaintances who had already once walked along this "slippery" path. But the logic here is clearly lame - high-quality material of the highest or first grade cannot be very cheap.

Even if at least one of the layers of the laminate is made of low-grade materials, this can cause delamination of the entire coating. Such material can generally react unpredictably not only to changes in temperature and humidity, but even to ordinary wet cleaning.

Video: an original method for replacing a damaged laminated panel

Solution

To get rid of the creak of a low-quality laminate, you can take all the above methods of repairing it, but the most the best option the cover will be completely replaced. Therefore, when choosing a decorative flooring for the floor, it is necessary to carefully study its characteristics and be sure to find out the warranty period that is set for it by the manufacturer. It is very important to purchase such materials in building stores with a good reputation, which do not allow counterfeit goods on their shelves. And you can find out more in the publication of our portal specially dedicated to this issue.

New coating

A new laminate flooring must adapt not only to its environment, but also to the substrate as well as the substrate. At first, it may not behave quite the way you would like, and when walking on it, creaking, rustling or clattering may appear, slightly noticeable instability. Experts say that this is quite normal, since the laminate flooring must adhere well to the underlying surface. In connecting locks, the tension that occurs during installation will be relieved over time individual elements. The laminate flooring is floating, that is, it is not fixed to the base and to the walls, and therefore it must be sure to find and take its stable place in a limited space.

A new coating at first can also make squeaks - this is not a "pathology"

If during installation the process technology was fully observed and the manufacturer's recommendations were not ignored, then after a certain time (usually no more than a month ÷ two), the floors will settle down and stop "floating" and creaking. The stabilization period depends on the quality and material of the laminate, as well as on the substrate and the type of substrate used during installation.

Of course, if after six months nothing has changed, and the coating will still be “naughty”, then it’s not at all about the novelty of the laminate - it’s worth looking for one of the reasons described above.

Prices for different types of laminate

Strict implementation of all technological recommendations of the manufacturer of the selected model of laminated flooring is the main condition for the floor to delight with its beauty, comfort and noiselessness for the longest possible time. Well, in order to get rid of the problems that arose during operation, it is necessary to take one of the repair methods proposed above.

TOP 10 best laminate manufacturers

	Photo	Name	Rating	Price
The best laminate manufacturers from Europe
#1			⭐ 99 / 100
#2			⭐ 98 / 100
#3			⭐ 97 / 100
#4			⭐ 96 / 100
#5		Kronotex laminate	⭐ 95 / 100
The best Russian manufacturers and joint companies
#1		Quick Step Laminate	⭐ 96 / 100
#2		Laminate Tarkett/Sinteros	⭐ 95 / 100
#3		Kronostar laminate	⭐ 94 / 100
#4		Laminate Egger	⭐ 93 / 100
#5		Laminate Ritter	⭐ 92 / 100

The Swedish company, which is the ancestor of the manufacture of laminated coatings. The range includes laminate from 32 to 34 classes in 12 collections. Careful control over production allows the company to offer the consumer high quality laminate. 25 year manufacturer's warranty.

• high strength (TitanX system);
• a varied assortment for any interior;
• ease of installation (lock set PerfectFoldTM 3.0.);
• safe and environmentally friendly;
• moisture resistant and easy to care for;
• long service life.

• there is a risk of acquiring a fake;
• high price.

High quality Austrian laminate, made from 98% natural alpine spruce. The coating has high moisture resistance and resistance to mechanical stress, so it can be laid in rooms with high humidity and high traffic. Long service life up to 30 years.

• shockproof and moisture resistant (HDF base with a density of 950 kg/m3);
• a wide range of design solutions;
• operation up to 30 years.

• overpriced.

Laminated coating of German quality. The laminate has high ecological characteristics. Thanks to Aqua Resis technology, the product is reliably and completely protected from moisture. UV resistant, fire retardant, does not emit harmful substances for a person. The coating has 31-33 load class.

• suitable for any room;
• treated with antistatic;
• the presence of a locking system (Top Connect and Lock Connect plus);
• has good sound insulation (TRITTY Silent CT);
• service life from 15 to 30 years depending on the class.

• laminate is stylized only under a tree;
• high price.

Berry Alloc laminate Belgian-Norwegian production combines excellent quality and inertness to any kind of impact on the base. The unique HPL technology was used for the release. Mounting system Best Lock Xtreme makes installation quite simple.

Laminate Berry Alloc