Hello, all,
I have just joined and read your exchange with interest, as I am also in a newbuild (3 years) with creaking floors and I thought I was alone! The two things seem as though they ought not to be mentioned in the same sentence, don't they? One of the many things about my new flat that is disappointing. Anyway, I too know from unhappy experience that neither the builder nor the housing association (through whom I would have to go for NHBC cover) will deal with it. So, I have to deal with it and am indebted to dunder for the tip about the brackets. My question is: how do you get the floorboards up? I am assuming that your floorboards are similar to mine? Not planks, but greenish particle board in sheets that are about 2' x 8'? I presume they are tongue in groove? I haven't been able to lift a floorboard yet. I don't know how to get at an edge. Do I need to take skirting board off?
Very grateful to have found my problem is not unique, though I wish none of us had to deal with it! My builder's John Laing Partnership, by the way. Also grateful for any flooboard lifting tips.
Very best,
HI THE BEST THING IS TO BUY METAL HERRING BONE STRUTS THEY WORK IN THE SAME WAY AS A NOGGING BUT ARE MUCH BETTER AS TO NO MOVEMENT THEY FIT DIAGONALLY AND THEY ARE SCREWED TO THE JOISTS, AS YOU KNOW WOOD EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS THESE STRUTS ARE METAL AND THEREFOR DONT EXPAND OR CONTRACT ,ANY BUILDERS MERCHANT WILL SELL THESE , MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT SIZE DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF YOUR CENTERS OF THE JOISTS NORMALLY 400MM , BEFORE YOU DO THIS TAKE UP THE BOARDS WALK OVER ALL THE EXPOSED JOISTS , "BE CAREFULL NOT TO FALL THROUGH" IF THE CREAKING STOPS YOU KNOW IT IS THE BOARDS AND SOME 2 3/4" X 10 SPAX SCREWS WILL DO A GOOD JOB OF SECURING THEM DOWN , DO AWAY WITH NAILS , WHY OTHER BUILDERS USE NAILS I DONT KNOW BUT THEY DONT SECURE THE BOARDS PROPERLY AND OVER TIME WILL MOVE , IF THE CREAKING IS STILL THERE WHEN YOU WALK ON THE JOISTS THEN REMOVE ALL OF THE INSULATION FROM THE FLOOR KEEP IT TO ONE SIDE , NOW YOU CAN SEE ALL THE JOISTS AND SERVICES PROPLERY IE PIPES CABLES ETC NOW LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING LIKE TIGHT PIPES THROUGH JOISTS IF THE PLUMBERS WERE GOOD THEY WOULD OF USED A 25MM HOLE FOR A 15MM PIPE SO THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EXPANSION, CHECK ALL JOIST HANGERS IF USED, A JOIST HANGER IS WHERE A JOIST MEETS ANOTHER JOIST OR WALL A METAL HANGER THESE CAN SOMETIMES MAKE A CREAK OR CRACK NOISE AGAINST EXPANSION I STAY AWAY FROM HANGERS IF I CAN, AS THE WOOD JOISTS ARE USUALLY PUT IN PLACE DAMP AND A SNUG FIT SO BY THE TIME THE HOUSE IS BUILT AND THE CENTRAL HEATING DRYS OUT THE HOUSE, THE JOISTS JAM UP AGAINST THE HANGER CAUSING PRESSURE THEREFORE CAUSING FRICTON AND THATS HOW YOU GET THE CREAKING GOOD BUILDERS KNOW THIS AND AVOID IT BUT GOOD BUILDERS ARE HARD TO COME BY , MOST OF THESE BIG DEVELOPERS JUST HAVE ANY TRADES PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB AND LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS A BUILDING INSPECTOR WOULD NEVER PICK UP ON IT ,NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TELL THEM. ALSO CHECK FOR ANY SCREWS NAILS STICKING OUT ANYWHERE NORMALLY YOU CAN TRACK A CREAK IN THE JOISTS JUST BY LISTENING CLOSEY THEN YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM , WEDGING AND THE HERRING BONE STRUTS WILL DO THE JOB FORGET THE TALC IDEA "NONSENSE" THATS LIKE THE GUY WHO INVENTED TYRE WELD IN A CAN . IT NEVER WORKS
THANKS
