How to Fix a Squeaky Floor

Squeaky floors are irritating and can devalue your home if selling. It may also tell your friends and neighbors that you need to care more for your home! Squeaky floors are caused by the separate pieces of the floor (floorboards or the sub floor sheets) rubbing against one another; the intermittent "friction" causes vibrations and therefore, noise. If you prohibit the boards from moving, no squeaks. Here is how to bring back the peace and quiet to home sweet home.

Provided By:

Steps

If you have access to the floor from below Use some screws:
  1. Find the squeaky board.
  2. Put a couple hundred pound weight on the board, if possible.
  3. Select a screw somewhat shorter than the combined thickness of your subfloor and floorboard. Sheetmetal screws, with their flat points, work well.
  4. Drill a properly sized pilot hole for a screw.
  5. Install the screw
    • You may wish to use multiple screws along the length of the floor board.
If you don't have access to the floor from below
  1. Find the squeaky board.
  2. Put a couple hundred pound weight on the board, if possible.
  3. Secure the floorboard/subfloor to the joist (beam supporting the floor) using finishing nails or woodscrews.
  4. Countersink the nail or screw.
  5. If using nails, fill in the hole using a fill stick the same color as your floor.
For the less handy
  • Try lubricating the boards by sweeping some talcum powder or powdered graphite into the gap between the floorboards. French chalk is also an option.
  • Try wedging a glazier point (or a few) into the gap between the boards.

Video

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Tips

  • Screws hold better than nails. If normal screws would be unsightly, you can use special screws like "Squeeeeek No More" or "Counter Snap", which snap off - essentially countersinking themselves. These can even be installed through carpeting.

Warnings

  • This will make your home safe and sound. If you have teenagers sneaking in, or a loved one that gets up to eat in the middle of the night, you will not have a squeaky floor that will wake you up. And sometimes squeaky floorboards can be an indicator of a more serious problem; it pays to have your floorboards in top shape for safety reasons.

Things You'll Need

  • Hammer
  • Finishing nails
  • Countersinking punch
  • Fill wax the same color as your floor
or
  • Drill with bit
  • Screws

Sources and Citations

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XHdfXYbegg
  • http://www.wood-floor-guide.com/wood-floor-care/fixing-squeaky-floors/

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to How to Fix a Squeaky Floor. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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