Squeaky floors are a nuisance to anyone; Serious screeching noises can even lower the resale value of your home. Luckily, there's an easy and quick way to fix it using the right tools. Squeaky floors are caused by boards or floors or sheets behind the floors rubbing against each other. This repeated friction causes vibrations and sounds. By recognizing how to fix the board and putting it together, the squeaking sound can be eliminated.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Repairing the Floor from Below
Step 1. Identify the source of the squeak
The best way to identify a squeak is to stand on the floor, looking up at the subfloor as others walk around the room looking for the squeak. Listen and pay attention to squeaky areas so you can identify problem areas and the best way to fix them.
- Most of the squeaks occur due to friction between the plywood subfloor and the floor joist. The subfloor, which is the support structure under the top of the floor being traced, will shrink over time as the wood dries, deforms, and creates a high-pitched, annoying squeak.
- In addition, the top of the wooden floor is also commonly squeaked. To deal with squeaks at the top of the floorboards, skip to the next method. All floor squeaks under tile, linoleum, and other floor surfaces must be repaired from below, either through a basement or crawlspace.
Step 2. Assess the squeaking sound from above
We recommend placing weights on the floor to compress the boards and increase the effectiveness of the repair. You can use furniture, barbells, sacks, thick books, or other heavy objects. If you have to, you can also have someone stand on the squeaky floor to keep it compressed while you work.
Step 3. Install the brace between the joist and the subfloor
If the floor appears to be squeaking because the subfloor and joists are loose, the best way to fix this is to install supports to hold them together and eliminate the annoying squeaking sound. You can try to find The Squeak-Ender slats at an affordable hardware store.
- To attach one of the supports, attach the wedge plate to the bottom of the subfloor, just below the point where the floor squeaks. Use the screws provided, or use wood screws small enough to fit snugly in the holes of the frame.
- Hook the frame to the sticks provided and attach it to the joists, then secure using a wrench until the subfloor is completely level.
Step 4. Install the wood shim between the subfloor and the joist
Shims are small, thin strips of wood used to fill gaps, correct carpentry work, and prevent them from bulging and squeaking. For squeaks that come from small gaps, it may be easier and cheaper to fix using a shim than using supports to fill in the gaps.
- If you find the source of the squeak, but don't see a large enough gap between the subfloor boards and the joist, buy a pack of small shims and insert them into the squeaky gap. Apply wood glue to the shim, then slide it straight into the gap.
- Try not to force the shim into a gap that's too small and push the floor back up until it makes the squeaking worse, or move it to another area. You should always put weights on the floor if you want to try this method.
Step 5. Attach the subfloor to the floor
If you have to, you can use wood screws to close the squeaky gap. This method is more primitive, but in an emergency it is powerful enough to seal the subfloor and floor. Make a pre-drilled hole about the depth of the screw you selected (you can use any wood screw) to make sure it doesn't penetrate the floor surface.
It's hard to know the thickness of each layer of flooring, but you have to be careful not to drill too far and stick the sharp ends of the screws into the parts of the floor that will be stepped on a lot. To be sure, make a pilot/start hole according to the screw length selected and make sure everything is secure. After that, screw in as usual
Method 2 of 2: Repairing the Floor from Above
Step 1. Remove the carpet in the squeaky area, if needed
If you have hardwood floors, skip this step and go straight to slats. However, if you hear a squeak on a carpeted floor, decide quickly whether you're going to cut a small strip to attach it under, or use screws that go through the carpet.
- Some devices (e.g. Squeak-No-More) can be used to penetrate the carpet without removing it and possibly damaging it. The process is more or less the same, whether the carpet will be pulled or not.
- If you must remove the rug, pull it near the squeaky area and try to remove it as neatly as possible so that it can be easily re-glued with carpet adhesive later. If you can pull a certain section along the seam, continue as this is the best way to remove the rug instead of cutting a portion of the middle. There's no easy way to cover up your work, and it might be obvious unless you work on the seams.
Step 2. Find the crossbar near the squeak area
Walk around the squeaky area until you find the exact source point. Then, find the nearest crossbar using the stud-finder tool.
- If you don't have this tool, use a hammer or other heavy object to knock on the floor and hear the sound. The crossbar will sound flatter and thinner when tapped, while the other side will sound deeper.
- To be sure, you can drill pilot holes using a depth-control drill bit at various drill speeds to make sure you hit the crossbar before screwing in.
Step 3. Fix the loose boards on the joists
Drill through the squeaky wood, the subfloor, and attach them to the joists to fix the squeaky floor. The trick, you need strong wood screws (heavy duty) with the appropriate length. The length of the screw should be equal to the depth of the pilot hole that has been drilled.
Some devices include breakaway screws (screws that can be broken to adjust the length) that can be used to produce near-perfect repairs, especially those that go through carpet. This method is effective for repairing floors neatly and efficiently
Step 4. Fill the hole with wood putty
If you're working on hardwood floors, it's important to keep repair points as clean and smooth as possible. Wood putty, also known as wood plastic, is a type of putty made from sawdust or some kind of adhesive, and is very effective at patching nail holes. You can get them at home supply stores at affordable prices. Use a small amount of putty and sand the affected area until smooth.
You can match the color of the wood putty to the color of the floor. Make sure the colors are as similar as possible. If you're going to cover it with carpet, don't bother with caulking the floor
Step 5. Smooth the fix points
In some cases, it's a good idea to sand the top of the screw you're installing into until smooth. This method is not ideal if the floor is carefully stained, but you may need to smooth out any wood chips from the screwing process, or smooth out the rough edges of the wood putty you used. Use super fine sandpaper, and don't rub too hard.
Tips
- Sprinkle some talcum powder between the boards to reduce friction and squeaking.
- Screws grip better than nails. If regular nails don't look good, you can use special screws made by a trusted repairer's tool manufacturer, which will sink when installed and spread evenly on the floor. These screws can be installed through the carpet.
