We had new hardwood installed about 6 months ago. A month or so ago we noticed a squeak or two, and a few creeks (board moving against board sound). When it got hotter out last week (70 degrees) the squeaks calmed down or disappeared. Is this normal? They took up a particle board or osb type subfloor and put in half inch plywood over the existing plywood. They used staples also which had me worried. They did lay a paper down between the new plywood and the hardwood. Thoughts.....
Jim

 

Did they screw the plywood down to the joists? The noise could be the plywoods rubbing. The staples should hold it down to the new plywood.

 

What type of hardwood? Maple? Was it an engineered wood and did they let the wood acclimate in the house for a week or so? If not the moisture of the wood may be high and as it drys out will contract resulting in small gaps and squeaks.However that stuffs gonna move a little bit anyway with the humidity levels and temp changes in your part of the country. Best thing you can do is try and keep the house at a steady temp all year and maintain proper moisture levels by running the a/c and using a humidifier in the winter. If you have a moisture reader the moisture content of the new wood and sub floor should not be over 7-9%.

 

Wood is solid oak. It sat for a good week before install. The salesrep came by and took readings for humidity and it was 30% or so if I remember correctly. I wasn't sure if I should give them another call or not? Thanks.