Find Samples
To add to your samples basket, simply navigate to a product you're interested in, select the colour you like and press the + icon on an empty sample slot.
Book an appointment
Smart ways to shop with Tapi. Book a convenient appointment online.
Book a Free Home Visit
Our flooring expert will help you find your dream floor in the comfort of your home
FREE
Book a Free Home VisitAvailable 7-days a week, some evenings. Approx. 90 minutes.
Book a Store Appointment
Grab time with our flooring experts and all our samples to help you choose
FREE
Book a Store AppointmentAvailable 7-days a week. Approx. 45 minutes.
Your Baskets
There are few things more frustrating than a floor that mysteriously begins to squeak. Locating the source of the squeak is half the battle, but then how do you go about fixing a problem that could be underneath your flooring? Our guide has all the information you need to figure that out.
From how to use powdered graphite to fix a squeak to preventing squeaking before it has the chance to even begin, this guide is packed full of top Tapi tips to keep your floors looking and sounding in great nick.
Wooden floors squeak when a part of the board rubs against something else – this could be a nail, another wooden board, part of your plumbing or even the subfloor. It really doesn’t take much motion for a floorboard to make a noise, because a wooden floor acts like a giant soundboard to amplify every sound, which is one of the many reasons why an underlay is so often recommended for wooden floorings like laminate or engineered wood.
Finding the cause of the squeak will require someone to walk around the room until you find the location of the noise, and then you need to look for any abnormalities, such as a loose nail or a section where the floor seams look to be either too loose or too tight. Once you find the cause, you can begin to fix it.
There are lots of different ways to fix a squeaky floor, and they all depend on the problem you’re working with. If your flooring is too loose or too tight, then you need to look at the spacing that’s been left between the flooring and the wall to fix that particular noise. If your squeak is caused by a loose nail, then you need to tighten the nail with a screwdriver or hammer. However, if you can’t find the source of a squeak, you might find some of the following solutions can help.
You can fix a squeaky floor you suspect is caused by gaps between the boards and the joists with some construction adhesive. This will fill the gap between the two and harden, and help to reduce the amount of rubbing between the two blocks of wood. This can be a much quicker solution than potentially having to pull up all your flooring to insert a small wedge of wood, known as a shim, or replace your joists.
If you don’t have easy access to the underside of your flooring, then you’d probably prefer a solution you can do from above. For engineered wood or solid wood flooring, floorboards can often squeak because they are rubbing against each other. Powdered graphite –the same as what your pencils are made from! – is a great fix for squeaky floors. It works by reducing the friction between wood and it’s also easy to apply. Just rub it into the joins between the floorboards. Some powdered graphite comes in a container with a nozzle for ease of us, or else apply with a cloth or sponge then vacuum up the excess.
The issue may be that your subfloor has become distanced from part of your flooring, and therefore when you step on that area they rub against one another. This can be fixed by reattaching your flooring to the subfloor using an adhesive. This can be a hammer and nails if you have wooden flooring, as this way you can cover the hole left by the nail with wood filler.
Alternatively, you may have to pull up flooring like carpets or vinyl to find out if your subfloor has separated from the joists below that. You could even screw nails into the subfloor to reattach it to the joists before relaying your flooring back on top, but you’d need to make sure your subfloor stayed smooth and even. If you have a concrete subfloor, then you can rule this out as the cause of the issue!
Sometimes, the reason your floor is squeaking is that it’s just too humid or too hot, and the boards have swollen a little to cope with the extra moisture. Putting a dehumidifier in the room will help to draw more moisture out of the air and allow your flooring to settle back into its rightful place.
It can also be true that when a room is too dry, it also accentuates a floor’s squeaking! So sometimes the opposite is try and adding a humidifier can help to eliminate squeaks by raising the moisture levels back to normal.
Looking after your flooring is the number one way to make sure it doesn’t start to make those irritating squeaking noises. Use our flooring care guides to find out all the answers to your questions, including why is my laminate flooring spongy, why is my laminate flooring bouncy, and more.
If the squeaking noises have become completely unbearable, and you’ve tried every solution in the book, then why not get in touch with our team here at Tapi to look into getting some new flooring that won’t make a noise? You could pop down to your local Tapi store for a free store appointment, or we can even come to you with one of our free home appointments. Alternatively, if you're not sure if it's time to replace your flooring with something new, have a read of our handy guide.
Published: 01-12-2022
Find out more about underfloor heating, why it’s such a great way to keep your home cosy, and which flooring it works best with.
Laminate flooring has a reputation for being easy to install yourself. However, sometimes problems can occur – such as your laminate flooring lifting at the edges or even lifting in the middle.
It can be incredibly frustrating when you spot scratches spoiling the look of your beautiful flooring. But don’t panic - there are ways to fix these little imperfections.
Carpet stains can be a real pain, but if you know how to deal with each different kind of stain, you will never have to worry about replacing your carpet.
Are you looking for a cleaning solution for your carpet that fits your budget and carpet type? Check out our guide to carpet cleaners to find the right cleaner for you.
We’ll take you through the different ways in which your carpet pile can be flattened, and then how to lift a carpet to make it look good as new.
Wondering if you have what it takes to fit your own laminate flooring? We believe in you – and our step-by-step guide to laying laminate flooring too.
Find out the different ways you can reduce heat loss through your flooring this winter with our tips and tricks.
Wondering how to get bubbles out of laminate? Our guide to laminate floor bubbling talks through all the issues and ways to fix bubbles in laminate flooring.
Wondering “why does my laminate floor feel spongy?” - we’ve got the all-encompassing guide you need to figure out what the problem is and how to fix it asap!
Are you struggling to choose between engineered wood and laminate? We don’t blame you; they’re both amazing options for pretty much every space in the house! But if you’re looking for a way to decide, this guide is for you.
If you’re thinking of switching up your old bathroom for a trendy wet room, then we have written this guide just for you – check out the best flooring ideas for your new wet room.
Stair runners aren’t just a stylish accessory for your stairs, they can also be a practical one.
Picking new flooring for your home should be fun – there are so many gorgeous choices! If you’re struggling to decide between vinyl or carpet, this guide is here to help you make up your mind.
Our nautical navy lookbook is perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms alike. Check out our interior and décor ideas for this serene colour palette.
Thinking about getting a new carpet and considering sisal? Check out our guide to ‘what is sisal carpet’ for everything you need to know.
The luxurious feel of a natural fibre carpet – without the price tag! Polypropylene carpets are a popular choice for modern and traditional interiors alike thanks to their stylish looks and easy-to-clean practicality.
Trying to find an easy guide to removing laminate flooring without all sorts of complicated steps? This is the best step-by-step guide you’ll find online!
Today wool carpets remain a classic interior design feature for a reason – they suit both modern and traditional homes alike!
Here’s the inside scoop on which flooring finishes work best on different flooring types, what the different types of flooring finishes are, and which one will be best for you.
We’ve come up with some of the ways you can get creases out of rugs and how to flatten a rug that’s been rolled or folded when it was delivered to you.
Mind the gap! Check out our guide on how to fix gaps in your laminate flooring, as well as several prevention tips.
If you want to pick the best flooring possible for your new home office, then you’ll want to know all the options available to you! Read through our list of different flooring types and why they might be great in your space to help you make the right decision.
We’ve got a host of tips that’ll help you become a legend in the art of layering rugs, from colour combos to the different layering techniques you can use in different rooms.
Wondering which type of flooring is the best for a smaller kitchen and what designs will work best? Check out Tapi Carpets’ ideas for a small kitchen for more..
Cleaning vinyl flooring can be a daunting task when you don’t know what to do – read our guide to caring for vinyl flooring for all our insider tips and tricks!
While herringbone and chevron patterns may appear to look similar, some key differences between the two are important to know. If you want to opt for patterned wood in your home, read this guide to find out more.
Wondering if it’s worth investing in new home features if you want to sell soon? Find out how upgrading your home can actually help you sell for more!
Want to create a cosy bedroom in your home and need somewhere to start? The best place to begin is with our guide to creating the perfect cosy bedroom.
Create beautifully bespoke pieces from preloved furniture and household accessories.
Are you hoping to refresh your home in the new year and want to know more about the latest wallpaper trends? This guide explains how you can embrace all the freshest ideas to create contemporary and stylish rooms
Are you searching for the underlay that will go perfectly with the brand-new LVT or vinyl flooring you’ve just picked out? Our guide has all the information you need.
Are you hunting for the perfect underlay to go with your brand-new carpet and you’re not sure where to start? Our guide to finding the best carpet underlay takes you through all the different types of underlays you could choose between.
Heat your home and warm up a cold room with our tried and tested tips.
Are you wondering if engineered wood is suitable for your kitchen? There are so many gorgeous options to choose from that are hard-wearing and stay looking good.
If you’re having the flooring in your home replaced, then you may not be sure of what steps to take to make sure your room is ready for new flooring coming in – our guide has all the steps you need to take to prepare your room for new flooring.
Find out some of the different style ideas you could try on your staircase this Christmas to add some extra tinsel and baubles to your home’s festive flair.
If your carpet is looking a little worse for wear, there are plenty of small fixes you can do yourself. Learn how to repair carpet and patch up damage.
Learn how to lay vinyl click flooring properly in our step-by-step guide with lots of guidance and Tapi top tips.
Find the best way to remove old carpet on your stairs and flooring.
Check out our guide on how to protect your floor at Christmas when you have family and friends visiting or you’re thinking of putting up a tree.
Do you want to make your living room a stylish haven? Start with your coffee table and this really handy guide to styling it perfectly.
Find all the information you need to properly dispose of and recycle old carpet, including the typical costs you could expect to pay.
Are you looking for ways to style tiled flooring in your living space? Check out our guide for plenty of ideas and styles of flooring you could try if this trend is one you’re desperate to try.
Discover how to host the perfect dinner party with our guide, including the food, the decor, the games and, of course, the post-party clean-up.
Blush pink is all the rage in interiors. Our guide will give you ideas on how to have this chic shade in your bathroom.
Discover the best reading nook ideas so you can curl up and get cosy at home and enjoy your favourite book.
Find a purpose for your spare room with our handy guide – from top tips you can try or trends that you’ll love to follow, we’ve got all the inside knowledge on what to do with your spare room.
Discover Christmas table décor ideas that won’t cost a fortune in our guide to dressing a table for Christmas.
Discover how to install commercial carpets in your space with our comprehensive, step-by-step guide.
Looking for ways to decorate your home on a tight budget and wondering where to begin? Our guide is packed full of helpful top tips on ways you can make your home feel rejuvenated, for less.
Our guide to child-friendly flooring is packed full of insightful information you can use to pick flooring for your family home that suits all your little one’s needs.
This step-by-step guide to fitting LVT flooring has everything you need to fit your own luxury vinyl tiles and get perfect flooring every time.
Create the Parisian apartment style of your dreams by following all our tips and tricks to really embrace French style in your space.
Read our guide to laying herringbone flooring, and all the steps required to ensure you get your herringbone flooring perfect every time.
Read our guide to Victorian kitchen style to get all the inspiration and tips to pull together your own Victorian-style kitchen design.
Looking to design a white kitchen? Discover the latest trends in modern and traditional white kitchen décor, colour palettes, and flooring options in this comprehensive guide.
Receive the latest offers, promotions and Tapi news delivered straight to your inbox with our exclusive email newsletter.
Please confirm you would like to subscribe to our newsletter?