What type of subfloor? What format of install (glue, float, nail/staple/cleat)? How long was it allowed to acclimate?

Squeaking/noise from hardwood has several reasons and each is HIGHLY dependent on all of the answers above. A noisy WOODEN subfloor is one option. But it can be wood if your subfloor is concrete.

Noisy GLUE down hardwood can be the adhesive, lack of adhesive, level of subfloor, etc. A floating floor has it's OWN reasons for squeaking. A nail/cleat/staple install has yet other reasons for making noise.

And just for fun...there can be a combination of reasons. Please give us a bit more information. At this point we don't have enough information as to why this is happening. There are so many possibilities it is paralyzing.

I was speaking to a rep for a brand at my local wholesale flooring shop and he mentioned that *every* manufacturer of engineered flooring would recommend gluing as the best install method and the best way to minimize noise from an engineered flooring install.

Is there any truth to this?

@Ken....adhesive installs can have their own noises associated with them. Again, not enough information to go on.

If the WRONG glue is used = adhesion failure = noise (popping).

If the wrong AMOUNT of glue used = adhesion failure = noise (popping)

If the subfloor is NOT dealt with properly = noise (hollow, squeaking, popping)

If the subfloor AND the glue are "messed up" = noisy (hollow, popping, creaking, bouncing, etc).

While it is true a lot of noise comes from cheap OSB plywood trying to grab cheap nails/staples, the use of adhesive does not guarantee "noise free" wood flooring. There are so many "moving parts" to wood-floor noises that only STUPENDOUS attention to subfloor preparation + installer PICKINESS during install = very little noise.

And the cost of both together in the same job = almost double a "guy's" install. The higher end installers (the one's people shy away from because their bids are substantially higher than everyone else's) often do HUGE amount of prep (and the attention to detail during install) to keep a wood floor "quiet". They do this because they KNOW they will NOT be called back.

Call-backs, in the building industry COST MONEY! So the guys who do it "right the first time" don't have to come back and "fix" what they should have done in the first place. The rest just shrug and walk away.