Subfloor Framing
Squeak-free subfloors built on a level datum — because squeaking floors are a construction failure, not a maintenance issue.
Squeaking floors are not a maintenance issue. They are a construction failure that happened before the first sheet was ever laid. The adhesive bridged. The joist crowned. The substrate moved. None of it was caught.
We catch it.
The slab is walked at all wall locations before framing begins. The highest point becomes the datum for the entire structure. All packing goes directly on the slab — not disguised at top-plate level where no one can see it. Before any sheet is laid, every joist gets a straightedge check for crowning and localised high points. Anything that isn't flat gets planed flat.
Liquid nails are not used. They go brittle. They don't flex. They debond under cyclic loading — which is exactly what a floor does every day. We use polyurethane adhesive exclusively, applied in a 30 mm bead for full coverage and cushioning between joist and sheet. Ring-shank nails go in first, then a full screw fix-off after installation. Every tongue-and-groove joint and every butt joint gets adhesive. Expansion joints are installed to manufacturer requirements.
If it squeaks, we missed something. We don't miss things.
What's Included
- Slab walked and datum established before any frame goes in
- All packing at slab level — never hidden at top-plate
- Every joist straightedge-checked and planed before sheeting
- Polyurethane adhesive only — liquid nails not on site
- 30 mm adhesive bead for full cushioning and coverage
- Ring-shank nails followed by full structural screw fix-off
- Double beams under point loads laminated, glued, and bolted
- Tensioned X-brace to subfloor underside where applicable
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do new floors squeak?
Almost always the adhesive. Liquid nails goes brittle over time and debonds under the cyclic loading a floor experiences every day. We use polyurethane adhesive exclusively and don't bring liquid nails to site. Read our full breakdown of why subfloors squeak — and why it's always a construction failure.
How do you deal with an uneven slab?
We walk the slab at all wall locations first, find the highest point, and establish that as the datum for the whole structure. All packing sits directly on the slab. Nothing gets corrected at top-plate level where it's invisible — that's how you end up with a floor that looks level but squeaks at the low spots.
How long does subfloor framing take?
Typically two to three days per floor for a standard residential footprint. Varies with slab complexity, beam layout, and how much levelling work is required.
What flooring sheet thickness do you use?
19 mm tongue-and-groove particleboard as standard for residential. 22 mm where the load or specification requires it. We follow the structural documentation.
Can you fix an existing squeaky floor without pulling it up?
Depends on access. If there's a subfloor cavity we can get into, we can inject adhesive and add screw fix-off from below. In a slab-on-ground building with no access, options are very limited. We'll tell you upfront if it's not fixable without demolition.
Other Services
View AllWall Framing
Structural wall framing where every stud is checked, every plate is straight, and every fixing is done twice.
Roof Framing
Roof structures framed straight, set with controlled pre-camber, and fixed so they stay that way under load.
Fit Out
Internal carpentry where the quality of the frame becomes visible — in the doors that hang straight and the reveals that are consistent.