Tarion CPG 2.4 explained Warranty first, repair second Free written quotes

Squeaky floors in a new build

Squeaky Floor works on new-build squeaks as well as century homes, and points new homeowners at their Tarion warranty first, because in Ontario that may cover it.

Before paying anyone to fix a squeak in a new home, check whether it is a warranty item. It often is.

Get a Free Quote for This Repair

Tell us about your project and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

What can we help with?

Service

So the right crew reviews your project.

No obligation. We reply within one business day.

New homes squeak, and Ontario has a rule about it

A new house is not immune to squeaks and it never was. Framing lumber arrives with moisture in it and gives that moisture up over the first year or two as the house dries out, which is enough to shrink the wood and loosen connections that were tight the day they were made. Ontario’s new home warranty programme addresses this directly. The Tarion Construction Performance Guidelines, currently the fifth edition updated in June 2024, include Article 2.4 on floor squeaks. The standard it sets is that some squeaking resulting from normal shrinkage of materials after construction is acceptable, but that floors shall be reasonably free from squeaks caused by movement in the floor system connections under normal seasonal indoor humidity and loading conditions. Where loose connections are causing squeaks, the guideline says they shall be repaired. Note what that draws a line between: shrinkage squeaks are excluded from the statutory warranty, while squeaks caused by movement in the floor system connections are a one-year work and materials item.

What Tarion actually says about squeaks

The wording matters, so here is what the current guidelines set out. Confirm the current text at tarion.com before relying on it.

Article 2.4, floor squeaks

Covered under the one-year work and materials warranty where the cause is movement in floor system connections. Squeaks from normal shrinkage after construction are excluded.

Article 10.12, squeaking stair tread or riser

Stricter wording than the floor article. Stair risers and treads shall be free of squeaks caused by loose or inadequately fastened joints, again a one-year item.

Article 2.3, loose subfloor

Where unacceptable movement of the subfloor is confirmed, repairs shall be made. Delamination of plywood subfloor is treated as a warranted material defect.

No numeric tolerance exists

The standard is the qualitative phrase reasonably free from squeaks. There is no decibel or count threshold, and anyone quoting you one is inventing it.

A squeak-free floor may not be attainable

The guidelines say this in plain terms, and note the homeowner must maintain indoor humidity to prevent excessive drying or expansion.

What to do before you pay anyone

Check your possession date

It sets which claim process applies to you and which deadlines you are working to. This is the single most important detail.

Put it on your warranty list

Items are recorded through MyHome during your first year. Get the squeak documented in writing rather than only mentioning it verbally.

Call us if it falls outside

If the item is excluded, out of time, or you would simply rather have it done, we repair new-build squeaks the same way as any other.

What a new-build squeak repair costs if it is not covered

If a squeak falls outside your warranty, or you are past the claim window, this is the typical range. Always check the warranty position first, because if it is covered you should not be paying at all.

New-Build Squeak Repair

$200 – $1,100 typical

Usually a fastener that missed a joist
Often a same-visit fix
Price confirmed in a written quote

Get a Free Quote

Our Process

Warranty first, repair second

1

Find your possession date

Everything about your claim timeline follows from it, including which forms apply.

2

Document the squeak in writing

Record it through the warranty process rather than relying on a conversation with the builder.

3

Let the process run

The builder gets a repair period. Rushing to hire someone can undercut your own claim.

4

Call us if it is not covered

We repair new-build squeaks like any other, and we will tell you if we think it is a warranty item.

What homeowners tell us

Real feedback from customers we have worked with.

We needed an urgent flooring repair after several boards became loose and uneven. The team responded quickly, secured the boards, and corrected the uneven sections. Professional service and a high-quality repair from start to finish.

We hired them to fix squeaking and movement in our hardwood floor. They identified the underlying problem quickly and completed the repair without needing to replace the entire floor. Everything now feels solid and quiet.

They repaired deep scratches and chipped areas in our hardwood flooring. The available repair options were explained clearly and the results were excellent. The floor looks refreshed, and the damaged spots are no longer noticeable.

Get a Free Quote

Squeaky floors in a new build questions

Are squeaky floors covered by the Tarion warranty in Ontario?

Partly, and the distinction is important. The current Construction Performance Guidelines say floors shall be reasonably free from squeaks caused by movement in the floor system connections, and that loose connections causing squeaks shall be repaired, as a one-year work and materials item. But squeaks resulting from normal shrinkage of materials after construction are explicitly excluded from the statutory warranty. Confirm the current wording at tarion.com, as the guidelines are periodically revised.

Is there a limit on how much squeaking is acceptable in a new home?

There is no numeric threshold. The standard is the qualitative phrase reasonably free from squeaks, with no decibel level, count or measurement attached. The guidelines also state plainly that a permanently squeak-free floor may not be attainable, and that the homeowner is expected to maintain indoor humidity to prevent excessive drying or expansion of materials.

Are squeaky stairs treated differently from squeaky floors under the warranty?

The stair article is worded more strictly. Where the floor article says floors shall be reasonably free from squeaks, the stair article says risers and treads shall be free of squeaks caused by loose or inadequately fastened joints. Both sit in the one-year work and materials warranty, and both exclude squeaks caused by normal shrinkage after construction.

How long do I have to make a claim?

That depends on your possession date, and the process changed for homes with a possession date on or after 1 May 2024, so it is essential to check which applies to you rather than relying on general advice. Deadlines are firm and missing one can end a claim. Confirm the current process and dates directly with Tarion for your own home before doing anything else.

Should I just hire someone instead of dealing with the warranty?

Not before you have checked, because if it is a covered item you would be paying for something you are entitled to have fixed. Hiring a contractor to work on an item that is under claim can also complicate the claim itself. Check the warranty position first. If it turns out not to be covered, or you are outside the window, we are happy to do the work.