29.09.14 Posted By Handle King Show
A second method for fixing squeaky floors is from above rather than below, as written about in a previous article how to fix squeaky floorboards. Start by removing the carpet from above the area of flooring which is squeaking, if you have a hardwood floor then obviously this step can be skipped and you can move on to finding the joist and boards that are to blame for the intolerable noise. When carpeted however, you’ve got a decision to make on how to remove the carpet, either pulling it up from the edge to the point of the squeak or cutting a small section of your carpet away and relaying it using a carpet adhesives after fixing the squeak. You could also use carpet screws that penetrate the carpet backing and secure the boards to the joist, although this method is as if you’re working blindfolded and almost leaving it up to chance whether you actually secure the boards to the joist. Walk around the squeaky area until you find the exact spot of the squeak. Mark the spot by placing a small object on top and should you have a carpeted room, consider the options you have for removing the carpet from the area without damaging it. For best results and an unnoticeable fix you will either pull the carpet up from the nearest edge or a natural joining seam rather than cutting it. Once you have removed the carpet from above the squeak point or if you’ve hardwood floors the next step is to locate the nearest joist. You can do this either by vision through the gaps of the boards or sound using a wooden or rubber mallet and tapping the flooring around the squeaking point listening for the change in sound. The sound when tapping above a joist will be a solid dull knock as oppose to an echoing empty noise created when tapping just the boards. To ensure you have located the joist drill a 2-3mm pilot hole through the board and into the joist, most boards are no thicker than 15mm so you will soon notice if you are drilling into a joist or not. Once you’re sure you’ve located the nearest joist to the squeak you can move on to securing it. If you haven’t drilled pilot holes from the previous step then now is the time to do so. Drill the guide holes with a maximum diameter of 3mm through the boards, subflooring and into the joist. Use heavy – duty wood screws of an appropriate length to go through the floorboard, subflooring and into the joist by no less than 30mm. Now that you have screwed the boards down and checked the intolerable squeaking has stopped you can fill the screw head holes with plastic wood filler. This step is more important if working on hardwood floors than carpeted floors, because your repairs will be left uncovered. Making sure to choose a wood filler that is the closest colour match to your wooden floor is also an inportant part of finishing the job with great results, various shades of both light and dark colour fillers are available from most DIY stores and online hardware shops. If you have repaired squeaking boards under a carpeted floor, you will now need to relay the carpet using adhesive, while reattaching it to the carpet gripper rods at the edge(s) of the room. Now you’ve fixed the squeaky floor, why not read our post on how to draught proof wooden floors
Creaky, noisy floors are a big nuisance and you may not know what tools you need to fix them. Fixing, or at least reducing the squeaks and creaks in your floor is a very doable DIY project for most people. Here are the tools you need to fix creaky floors: Tools you probably already have to fix a squeaky floorYou likely already have some of the tools you need to stop a floor from squeaking:
One other item you must have before working on your wood floors is a good putty or filler that matches the color of your hardwood floors to fill in any holes you make from screws or nails. I like ColorPutty products because they are easy to work with and blend multiple colors together if needed. ColorPutty will harden but remain flexible so it won’t dry out and crumble out of the hole. Tools to fix creaky wood floors from aboveThere are several options to help you fix creaky floors from above.Maybe you don’t have easy access to your floors from below through an unfinished basement or crawl space. Don’t worry! There are tools and methods you can use to eliminate squeaky floors from above. Using finish nails to fix creaky floorsUsing 2” finish nails and a hammer you can nail down wood flooring boards that are moving and causing squeaks. Be sure to only nail along the joists that support your floor. A nail set can then be used to hide the top of the nail below the surface of your flooring. Then use putty or filler to hide the nail hole. Try the “Squeeeeek No More”® breakaway screw kit for wood floorsThis breakaway screw kit is a great buy to help solve creaky floor problems. Screws have much better holding power than nails and don’t have to be used over joists. The “Squeeeeek No More”® includes unique breakaway screws and a special plastic fixture that will automatically snap off the screw slightly below the top of your floorboards so you can then cover the hole with putty. You will need to use your drill and a ⅛” drill bit with this kit. You can use baby powder or WD-40 to fix squeaky boards in your floorOk, this sounds a little weird – but you can actually try using baby powder or even WD-40 to stop some wood floors from squeaking. This tip really only works if you have two or more boards that are moving and rubbing against each other. It may be that this movement and friction is the source of your squeak. Baby powder or WD-40 can act as a lubricant and stop these boards from making noise. Be careful to wipe up any excess lubricant after working it into the edges of the boards that are squeaking. You don’t want anyone to slip! Tools to fix squeaky floors over carpetDo you have a creaking floor covered in carpet? I can tell you right now that the carpet isn’t the issue – your squeaking and creaking noises are coming from your subfloor. Fortunately, there is a “Squeeeeek No More”® breakaway screw kit for carpeted floors that includes everything you need except a drill to find the joists underneath your carpeted floor and fasten breakaway screws to your subfloor that will be hidden safely under your carpet. Tools to fix squeaky wood floors from belowIf you have access to your basement or crawl space you will be able to use these methods to stop your squeaky floors.The best way to fix a squeaky wood floor is usually from below if you have access to your floors through an unfinished basement or crawl space. You can often see the movement and source of your squeaks from below while having someone walk on them above. These are the tools and methods you can use to fix creaky floors from below: Use wood screws to stop movement that causes squeaky floors.If you suspect there are areas in your flooring where there is space or air between your subfloor and floor boards you can try driving 1” wood screws into your subfloor from below to tighten these areas and stop the movement that causes squeaks. Use wood blocks or shims to stop creaky wood floorsWhile looking at your floors from below you may notice there are areas where there is a gap between your subfloor and the joists that support them. When people walk on this area there will likely be movement that causes the creaks and squeaks that you hear. Screw wood blocks on either side of your joists to support your subfloor or insert wood shims into the smaller spaces above your joists. It will help to use construction adhesive along the joists to help secure them. Try the Squeak-Ender product to eliminate noise in your wood flooringAn inexpensive fastener kit called the Squeak-Ender will help you to tighten your subfloor to your joists to stop the movement that causes squeaks. You may need several of these kits depending on how wide spread your squeak issue is. You’ll also need a Phillips head screw driver and adjustable wrench to install this kit. Take the next step to your perfect floorIn order to fix your creaky floor you first have to identify where the squeak is coming from. Movement is what causes wood floor squeaks. Once you find out where the movement is happening you will have a good idea which method and tools to use to make that noise go away. I’ve written a comprehensive DIY guide to solving wood floor and carpeted flooring squeaks. I go through each of the tools listed here and tell you step-by-step how to use them. Read the post here: “How to Fix Squeaky Floors: The Ultimate DIY Resource Guide”. |