HOME RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION ARTICLE in                         

Bouncy or squeaky floors

A problem in many buildings is that the floors vibrate or shake and often squeak when walked on. Possible causes are:

·   In order buildings the timber floor joist or bearers may be spanning further thatn is now acceptable for their size

·   Broken, cracked or warped floor joists or bearers.

·   Uneven foundation settlement.

·   The timber has shrunk leaving movement gaps

·   The timber may be badly infested with termites or borer

·   Rotted timber stumps or poles (corrosion of steel)

·   Cracked or failed mortar in brick piers

·   Loose boards as a result of not enough fixings or inadequate hold of nails into the floor joist

·   Movement from expansive soils

·   Bearers not being properly supported on or fixed to the piers, stumps or poles

·   Shallow stump or pole embedment or inadequate footing allowing the stumps or poles to move within their hole

·   Inadequate or poorly installed sub-floor fixings (e.g. fixing has split the timber)

Squeaking floors may also start when an existing floor has insulation or an underfloor heating system added, as the floor timber moisture content will change and caude shrinkage.