Why is it so noisy walking around in old houses?

Question

Not all, but most old houses I’ve been in required me to practically tiptoe all the time because anything more would sound like I’m stomping, and rattle everything around. Does it have to do with the way houses used to be built?

Edit for clarification: I don’t mean creaking. I’m more referring to how walking even slightly heavily will make your steps sound loud and booming

In: 15

Answer 1

Wood gets dry, nails start to pop up, the wood moves and you get creaks. However, some old houses are much quieter. Some are over-built using full dimension lumber and they’re rock solid. No bounce in the floor at all. No creaks at all. It just depends on how that person built over 100 years ago.