By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,We've got a brand-new, two-story home with floors that squeak and groan. We've asked the builder to do something about it, but he says, "It's normal." Can you believe that? Our previous homes never had squeaky floors, so it's not normal, and he needs to realize that. So first, how can we fix the squeaks and groans? And second, how can we fix a builder who refuses to take care of business? --Don
Dear Don,
Some builders have an unfortunate habit of saying, "Oh, that's just normal," whenever construction defects are pointed out. Doors that rub are normal; sinks that drain slowly are normal; heaters that don't provide adequate warmth are normal; and so on. To these developers, eager (it would seem) to move on to the next project, the "normal" statement seems to be a default setting in their customer service programming. But squeaky floors in a new home are definitely not normal, and responsible builders correct the problem rather than making excuses.
Squeaky floors are trying to tell you something. They're saying that the nails that hold the subfloor to the framing are not secure. These nails slide up and down in response to the weight of foot traffic. The solution is to roll back the carpets and install screws, rather than nails, along the entire framing layout. In rooms with floor coverings other than carpets, floors may need total replacement in order to make this kind of repair. This, of course, would be very costly for the builder. But that's the price of doing business when construction defects occur.
If your builder is not willing to make the subfloors quiet and secure, file a complaint with the state agency that licenses contractors. And if you haven't already done so, hire a professional home inspector to review all aspects of the construction. A qualified, experienced inspector will find more than just squeaky floors.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "