Squeaks, cracks and colour changes in wood flooring: what can you do?

Does your parquet squeak, develop gaps between boards or change colour near a window? These symptoms do not always mean the whole floor needs replacing. First establish whether the problem is in the finish, the wood itself or the subfloor. This helps avoid unnecessary sanding and repeated repair costs.

Know your floor first

Solid wood, engineered parquet and laminate are different materials. Wood may have a lacquered or oiled finish, which determines the appropriate care and repair products. Laminate cannot be sanded like parquet. For engineered wood, the remaining top-layer thickness and the manufacturer's instructions determine whether refurbishment is possible.

Photograph the problem areas before starting. Note whether gaps change with the seasons or whether there has been a nearby leak. This helps an installer identify the cause.

Squeaks: locate the sound

Walk slowly around the room and mark the noisy spots. Does a board flex underfoot? Is the sound localised or widespread? Occasional sounds can result from normal movement, but increasing noise and noticeable flexing need investigation.

Loose fixings, movement in the subfloor or voids beneath the covering may be responsible. Applying lacquer will not solve these problems. The subfloor may need securing or a section may need lifting and repairing. Do not screw down a floating parquet floor arbitrarily: this restricts its intended movement.

Ask the installer to check whether skirting boards or transition profiles are trapping the floor. Do not drill without knowing where pipes and cables run. Pouring oil or random fillers into gaps can make diagnosis harder.

A gap between boards is not the same as a crack

A gap is a space between two boards. A crack is a split within the wood itself. Timber can shrink in dry air, increasing gaps. Do not immediately fill narrow seasonal gaps with rigid filler: the boards may expand again as humidity rises.

Measure room humidity with a hygrometer and keep it within the flooring manufacturer's recommended range. No single figure suits every wood floor. If the problem persists under stable conditions, an installer should assess the joints, timber and cause of the gaps.

A suitable repair product may address a small, stable surface defect. A deeply split, splintered or moving board may be better replaced. Do not fill the expansion gaps provided around the room perimeter.

If the edges of the boards rise

Edges standing higher than the middle of a board can indicate a moisture imbalance. Investigate leaks, wet cleaning and moisture from below. Sanding before the cause is resolved may make matters worse. Assess drying and stabilisation before choosing a repair.

What can be done about sunlight-related colour changes?

Wood can become lighter or darker with exposure to light. This explains differences between areas under rugs and those near windows. The change is not simply surface dirt and cannot be wiped away with an ordinary cleaner.

Use curtains or blinds during strong sunlight. Moving rugs and furniture periodically may make differences less noticeable, but does not guarantee a return to the original colour. UV-resistant lacquer cannot prevent every colour change in wood.

First try an appropriate cleaner in a small, inconspicuous area: a dull appearance can sometimes be residue from an unsuitable care product. For a genuine colour change, an installer can assess refinishing or board replacement. Sanding only one spot may leave a patch with a different colour or sheen.

Three simple care habits

• Remove grit and dust regularly and fit protective felt pads to furniture feet.
• Wipe up spills promptly and use a suitable cleaner without soaking the floor.
• Use care products designed for the specific oiled or lacquered finish; test new products in a small area first.

When contacting an installer, provide the flooring model, installation method, photographs and humidity readings. To compare materials, visit our parquet and wood flooring section.