How do you stop squeeking floorboards?

This is really annoying me

[trillianjedi]

I'm guessing that they squeek becuase the edges of them rub together?

Can I plane a tiny amount of each edge and leave a tiny gap in between? If so, I guess I need to put something down before the new carpet goes in to stop dust coming up throught the gaps and creating those dust lines you get?

Or do I just need to whack a load more nails/screws into them to stop them moving about?

TJ

[hannamyluv]

http://www.google.com/search?q=stop+squeaky+floorboards&sourceid=firefox&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

#1 result - http://www.xtramsn.co.nz/homeandliving/0,,9777-2204284,00.html (as the wife of a handyman, the advice in this one is sound)

Jeez... a mod even and he doesn't know how to use a search engine to find the answer. ;)

[Leosghost]

Rub a candle along the edges ( mating surfaces ):).lift the boards one by one and do this putting back each one ..or you can stick felt strips along the same ...
Keeps you out of mischeif ...and gives the visitors something to shake their heads at ;)

Or all the stuff in the links that hannamyluv found ( I was typing this ..slowly as usual and "H" posted whilst )

[trillianjedi]

a mod even and he doesn't know how to use a search engine to find the answer.

I don't trust them because I know how easily manipulated they are ;-)

No, truth is I saw loads of info about using talcum powder and wax etc - but I wasn't convinced. Some other sites referenced those as "they don't work".

"Has anyone here actually succesfully stopped a squeeky floorboard and what worked" is what I should have asked and I think what you answered Hanna....

TJ

[Essex_boy]

The only way is to nail them down further if they have warped at the edges or should they have warped in teh middle remove and refit with new ones.

Is it a new house you live in? i.e under 6 months old.

You could try adding a heavy layer of carpet underlay.

[trillianjedi]

Is it a new house you live in? i.e under 6 months old.

160 years young. But these particular floorboards are not the originals.

You could try adding a heavy layer of carpet underlay.

I'll be doing that anyway, but while the carpet is up I figure I may as well do something to the actual boards?

TJ

[macrost]

TJ,
When you get ready to lay new carpet, find the screws that are gold and either 2 1/2 to 3 inches long. Find the area where the squeak is coming from, grab a 2x4 and lay it on the area. Smack it a few times with a hammer, then screw that noisy board/sub floor down.
Lay your carpet and then you should be good!

[trillianjedi]

Smack it a few times with a hammer

Now, that's more like the kind of DIY I like!

Thanks Macrost. Now you can go back to celebrating ;-)

find the screws that are gold

The previous owner was so tight I'm sure if there were any he'd have taken them out and sold them!

Maybe that's why they now squeek?

TJ

[createErrorMsg]

The squeak could be from the nails, themselves, either rubbing the board as it moves or themselves moving in their holes in the subfloor. If possible, you might want to avoid using the original nailholes when you reattach the boards.

[bunltd]

How do you stop squeeking floorboards?

Quit walking around... ;)

seriously, who said you could get up for a break? back to work

LisaB

[trillianjedi]

work

Nope, you got me. I'll have to look that word up.

Again.

TJ

[createErrorMsg]

How do you stop squeeking floorboards?

Squeaking floorboards are cause by loose nails and rubbing planks.

Squeeking floorboards have mice trapped under them.

;)

[bunltd]

Squeeking floorboards have mice trapped under them.

Doesn't that make it hard to use them? ;)

LisaB

[grandpa]

I've never tried this, but always heard it would work. Theres that word again Get yourself one of those needles that are used to fill footballs, basketballs, etc. Find your squeak, drill a small hole - the size of the needle - and inject a small amount of glue under the boards with the needle. Viola.

[Essex_boy]

Glue may work short term but the board isnt able to expand and contract meaning that it may break and splinter through your carpet.

[trillianjedi]

Doesn't that make it hard to use them?

Philosophical question : The mice or the floorboards?

glue

What about a similar idea with something flexible like mastic?

TJ

[tbear]

If you're gonna whack a few more nails in, I'd recommend you don't put them in straight (even if you could), bang 2 in at reverse angles.
Better still, use screws, the anti-oxidation type, so they last.
I always used screws in the (Victorian) London house I had. Get them in nice and tight, I scraped them on a bar of soap before screwing them in to help them go in easier (and out if needed). Worked a treat, countersunk the screws, ran over lounge floor with a sanding machine and put on a catalytic varnish. Beautiful and no squeaks or squeeks!

[vkaryl]

Rent a compressor-driven screw-gun, buy a case (it's about 1000 total) of galvanized decking screws, and toenail screws into the floorboards. You want about 10 screws per 5 feet of floor, 5 from each side of each board. Once you've done this, leave the floor alone to settle and readjust for about a month (preferably in spring or fall when the weather is variable, for obvious reasons). Once the floor has adjusted to the "new status quo", get your 350 pound brother in law to wander all over it for an hour or so (he needs the exercise anyway!) while you note on a scratch pad chart where there are any squeaks, groans, or mice left.

Take the chart and the screw-gun, and put more screws into the boards from both sides where the squeaks remain. Give it another week or so, get the brother in law to do another walk-over, and if it's pretty quiet, underlay and carpet with impunity.

(I provide the above from experience: my husband and I built our house ourselves, including hardwood flooring; and I worked for a builder....)

[thumpcyc]

Personally I like Tbear's plan, Wax it so it goes in and out easy, then screw it.

Sounds like a good plan to me!

Thumpcyc

[Essex_boy]

Yeah Ill second that!

Or just knock the house down and rebuild it....

[bill]

You people are are coming at this thing from the wrong angle.

There are several old temples and castles in Japan which are renowned for their "Nightingale Floors". It's a nice way to say they have squeaky floors. A lot of people (myself included) have paid money to walk on these floors. This was used as a type of security system to warn of intruders.

So, you could either look at this as an added security feature of your house, or perhaps you could use it to help in the resale value by telling people that the property comes with Japanese style "Uguisu-Bari" flooring.

;)

[trillianjedi]

added security feature of your house

Oh yeah, that reminds me of my second question:-

How do you stop a barking dog?

;-)

Silence rocks - the intruders can take the lot. I'm beyond care. I just want peace and quiet!

Probably just getting old

vkaryl - that sounds like as much work as Essex_Boy's suggestion (the second one ;-)).

TJ

[createErrorMsg]

screw it.

Put a heavy piece of furniture that you never use (like your computer desk, from the sound of things) on top of it and make sure you sleep in another room. ;)

[Webwork]

I've got an old house with lots of squeaks. At first i noticed them and thought about doing something, but over time the squeaks became part of the personality and voice of the house.

The house tells me when it's warming up on after a cold night by making a popping sound or two. I like knowing it's warming up a bit.

The stairs squeak a bit. I don't mind. It lets me know when my teenagers are getting in late. When the kids were younger it also tipped off mom and dad that our bedroom was about to be invaded, which came in handy a few times.

I can tell when someone is in any room in the house. They each have either a door that makes a particular sound when opening or closing, or have a particular footsteps on the floor sound. Nothing really bad or annoying. To me, it's comforting, as if the house is keeping me informed about what's going on, letting me know if my kids are up, if they might be excited or agitated or simply having a run to the bathroom. I even like the click, click, click of our chocolate Lab's toenails on the steps - letting us know she's feeling the need for company (or many needs to pee).

Frankly, I think when the kids move out (1 is now in college) I'm going to miss the dialogue, the voice of mother house, my fellow guardian of all things going on within this domain that I have responsibility for.

[grandpa]

How do you stop a barking dog?

Give it something to eat. Works great on guard dogs too.

BTW, I put a wood floor in my motorhome about a year ago. It's developed a nice squeak towards the rear, and it's the last thing I hear at the end of the day. Nice.

[vkaryl]

Webwork, that's a very poetic post. Thanks, you just started my day off on a really good note.

[Webwork]

Grandpa! Lemme guess....the master bedroom is in the rear of the RV?

Yawl doin' somethin with grandma to make the floor squeak? You devil!

[Kirby]

>How do you stop a barking dog?

[google.com...]

[grelmar]

From experience:

VKaryl's advice works well.

Other options:

Rip up the floarboards, lay down 3/4 inch plywood (of the tongue and groove flooring variety). Bond the plywood to the joists with builder's glue, and drop 2&1/2 inch screws in every 8 inches (roughly). By the time the floor squeaks again, you'll be looking at the grass from the other side.

OR

Lay down 1/2 inch plywood overtop the existing floorboards, thhoroughly bond it to the boards with builders glue, and drive a bazillion 1&1/2 inch screws.

Advantage of ripping up the floorboards: Lets you find any other problems in the joists while they're exposed. 160 year old house, the squeak could be coming from a cracked and shifting joist. Plus, you can run new electrical and low voltage (cable feeds, Cat 5E for your LAN, etc.) while the joists are exposed. Plus, if you wanna get fancy schmancy, you can fill the space between the joists with insulation, which acts as a sound barrier between floors.

Advantage of laying new ply over the existing floarboards: Pretty easy to do. Also, if you want to up the plywood to 3/4 T&G flooring, with the old floarboards underneath, you'll have built up the inch and a half of sub-floor you need if you wanna lay down tile.

[shigamoto]

sometimes floorboard squeek because the boards has become wider (if they are made of wood that is). To stop this remove two or three cms around the edges of the whole floor (near the walls).

Usually people put in sheets of plywood or masonite (don't know if it's spelled that way in english) on top of the wooden floor and then the carpet on top of that.