why does my laminate floor snap crackle and pop ?

My laminate flooring is 5 years old. I hear popping and crackling sounds at night and no one is walking on them. Is this possible?

peggy
July 2017

Too much floor shine liquid applied. Use recommended floor shine remover and really moderately.

Fred
October 2016

Too many answers, milling, not fitted correctly on install, fitting too tight, too loose...yikes !! I don't know either, but I did notice when it turns colder outside, the cracking stops. Now, I'm not an expert, but expansion and contraction happens in heat and cold. Things contract in cold, more space, less crackling. ???

Frank
January 2014

My laminate flooring was laid, laid and relaid several times. The final outcome was okay but now three years later, the snapping especially in the hallway, is irritating. I have two spots I found where the boards go down slightly. I read somewhere that putting in a powder like baby powder and pushing down may help.
My flooring is a laminate that has something like a foam rubber on the back. It was professionally installed. The house is about 60 years old.

Ken Rokusek
October 2012

I have glue down flooring, and have a bad problem with it snapping...........not sure what to do??

Jason
August 2012

I am having the same problem. It just started and has been down for over a year??? Help, is there something that I can apply that will help it?

M Murray
May 2012

I have the same problem, except that it started at least 6 years after the flooring was laid. Any suggestions?

Rob S
November 2011

The most simple cause is the laying of the flooring was not pressed down properly during fitting so air bubbles are coming through the surface of the floor and adhesive. Best way to sort either apply more adhesive or underlay depending on specific floor and press out area and fit tight and even when the floor contracts the flooring will not be affected.

Shaun
September 2009

I find my flooring does the same in the morning around breakfast time when I walk accross it with my rice crispies, all I hear is snap crackle and pop!

But the reas.l answer to your question is if you have used the foil backed polystyrene underlay on a somewhat uneven floor, after time the underlay flattens and the creaking begins the best type of underlay to use to prevent this is a fibreboard underlay but now it is down you will probably have to live with it as taking it up and putting it back down again is not recommended.

Wayner
September 2009

Our house is a hundred years old and we laid laminate over the original pine floorboards. We had to use house jacks under the center part of the room because it had begun sagging in the center. After the laminate had been laid for about six months, we had the same problem with snap, crackle, pop when we walk across the floor. It is VERY annoying. We went back under the house and adjusted the height of the jacks slightly and it solved the popping noises. I imagine it will be something we will have to do every so often as the house settles.

HL
August 2009

i don't have an answer, but i do have the same problem. wish someone would chime in who does have an answer.

sml
July 2009

No quick solution here, but it sounds like your laminate was laid on an uneven or insecure base - or perhaps the correct underlay wasn't used when it went down.

John
July 2009