Cohen Brothers, which is now licensing the technology, demonstrated the concept near Denver last year. Now, sneak boldly into the kitchen after midnight. That's because as you tiptoe to the kitchen, the hardwood floors creak . Loud enough, in fact, to wake the wife. The problem is the plywood subfloor.
Moisture wreaks havoc on plywood, causing it to swell and warp.
This creates gaps between the plywood and the framing. When you walk over the floor, the two materials rub together, causing a squeak. Enter AdvanTech, a new type of subfloor that won't swell or warp. It's also 20 percent less expensive than plywood, and there are versions for roof and wall sheathing as well. Perhaps best of all, J.M. Huber stands behind Americans' right to sneak around by offering a 50-year warranty on the product.