Why your floors squeak more at night
If you have ever been woken up by a sudden crack or pop, you might wonder why floors creak at night when nobody is walking on them. For those with a vivid imagination, it is easy to imagine a ghost pacing the landing. However, the true reason is far less sinister. In most UK homes, these mysterious sounds are simply a natural reaction to changes in your environment.
The science of thermal expansion
The primary reason why floors creak at night is the natural drop in temperature and air pressure once the sun goes down. Most materials on the planet expand when they are warm and contract when they cool. Because your home is constructed from a mix of brick, metal, and timber, these materials are constantly moving.
In the context of your sub-floor, wood and metal are often fixed tightly together using nails, screws, or joist hangers. These two materials react to temperature changes at very different rates. Consequently, as the air cools at night, the wood and metal begin to rub against each other.
Why does it sound like a creaking ship?
When two materials are touching but moving at different speeds, pressure builds up. Once that pressure is released, you hear a ping, a sharp click or a ghostly groan. This is why your home can sometimes sound like an old wooden ship at sea.
Furthermore, your heating pipes also play a role. As hot water stops flowing and the pipes cool down, they contract against the timber joists. This creates a symphony of metallic sounds that seem to travel through the walls and floors. While this movement is a law of physics, it can be incredibly disruptive to a peaceful night’s sleep.
Can these night-time noises be stopped?
To be perfectly honest, stopping materials from expanding and contracting is physically impossible. However, the noise caused by that movement can be greatly reduced. We have developed extremely specific methods to fuse or separate materials while still allowing them to retain their structural integrity.
By using a medley of experience and specialist products, we can silence the friction between your floor components. Therefore, while the materials will still move, they will no longer shout about it.
Reclaim your peace and quiet
If your property sounds like a bad jazz band, especially during the colder months, you don’t need an exorcist; you need a floor specialist. We are here to help you understand why floors creak at night and, more importantly, how to settle them down.
To request your free online estimate and bring some silence back to your evenings, simply contact SqueakFix via the button below.