Creaks when I step on floorboards (just overboarded with 6mm ply)

Hello, I've overboarded my floorboards (that were not creaking) with 6mm plywood sheets and fixed them with screws at 15 cm centers (10 cm at the borders).

After a few days, the plywood started to creak when I step on it; it seems to stop after I've walked on it for a few seconds; however, if I come back the day after, the creaks are there again (and then stop after a few steps around the room)

What could be wrong?

 

What fixings did you use?

 

Was the plywood acclimatise?

 

I used these https://www.screwfix.com/p/goldscre...s-3-5-x-16mm-200-pack/2438f?_requestid=687756

The plywood was in the house for a few days before I fitted it; it was stored in the downstairs hallway and then fitted in the bedrooms upstairs; there are no doors, so no big differences in temperature/humidity


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How did you screw it?
Sounds daft question but I mean did you start from middle worked out both ways, down the sides then the middle..... or just closed your eyes and went for it

 

Good question, I started doing one side and proceeded screwing one row next to the previous one


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Maybe, I do think it’s a low quality ply given what I paid for it; I just didn’t think it would matter too much given the amount of fixings I used


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Mapei Eco Prim
Mapei Ultraplan renovation screed
Underlay
14 mm engineered wood


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Chuck some talc down

 

Are you sure it’s not cut in too tight to any walls, skirting or for linings? That often causes issues


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Door linings


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No, I've left gaps around walls and door linings; anyway I don't think gaps should matter as it's fixed using screws every 15cm and very close to borders (approx 10 mm from the edge), so any expansion at the borders would be in the order of a few μm

 

The creaking will be coming from movement of the ply on the screws. It may only be a few of the fixings making the noise but it won't stop if you don't address the issue now. This can occur with the best ply in the world if it isn't fixed properly.

The problem is probably the ply moving very slightly up and down some of the screws which causes the creaking. Ply is often glued down to avoid exactly this problem.

 

I did think of glueing it down but thought it unnecessary... not much I can do nw I guess?

 

You could consider unscrewing it and glueing it down. I am assuming that you have yet to lay anything over it yet.

 

No, the screeder has laid self levelling compound over it already, but he did a bad job and I still have dips and humps

 

Take it up and start again I would, that creaking is going to do your head in!

 

Even if I wanted to, the screws are filled with screed to impossible to remove