Having a squeaky wood floor is one of the worst things when you’re trying to quietly sneak from one room of your home to another. That annoying sound seems to go right through you and send shivers down your spine. We’ve all been there! You may be waiting for your floors to fall through, for something to get caught, or for your downstairs neighbors to complain. Whatever your deepest fears are, they always seem to come out when you hear that telltale squeak.
But apart from tearing up your floor and putting in a new one, what can you do to fix your squeaky wood floors for good? Hardwood Bargains is here to help! There are a few different steps here, including finding where the squeak is, determining how bad it is, and more. So, let’s investigate that squeak and what your options are… and fast!
Identify the Source of the Squeak
Your first step is to identify exactly where the squeak is coming from. You may think you know, but have someone go beneath the floor, if possible. Have someone walk across the floor and listen for a squeak.
Knock on the floor to have the person above know they can stop, then have them knock on the floor where they just touched. Use masking tape or a pencil to mark exactly where the spot is. You may be able to see some kind of physical degradation in this spot.
If you can’t have someone walk on the floor, then you should be extremely careful and use your own weight to test for the squeak. You will have to make slight movements to really pinpoint where the squeak is.
How To Fix Squeaky Wood Floors
To get a complete fix of your floor, follow these steps:
- Shim the subfloor by driving wedges between the joists and subfloor. Use a clawhammer or rubber mallet to tap them into place, but you need to be careful because too much pressure could cause the floorboards to lift, which would actually make the problem worse.
- Next, you want to cleat the subfloor if there are several boards moving. You can do this by installing a solid piece of lumber and nailing them to the joists. Use drywall screws to secure the blocking as many times as necessary to get everything tight and solid.
- If the squeaks are caused by the floorboards rubbing against each other, you want to drive the screws from below through the subfloor. This will alleviate noise without disrupting the actual hardwood planks. Be sure to use pilot holes and have someone else raise the boards while you use the drill.
- If you need to repair the floor from above, then you want to drill pilot holes and nail setters to countersink the nail heads.
Whenever you try to fix your floor, be sure to put weight on it to ensure that everything holds. You don’t want to wait and realize that something went wrong when someone else walks over it.
Inexpensive Ways To Fix Squeaky Wood Floors
If you aren’t in the mood to do any renovation or tackle any big fixes, then there are some cheaper ways to fix your wood floors, at least for the short term. Unfortunately, if you have a large area that needs to be fixed, your best bet is to redo the entire room.
Try these techniques for an affordable, easy fix:
- Find the location of the squeak and sprinkle some kind of baby powder or baking soda over it, working the powder into the seams. This lubricates the wood and prevents the squeaking sound.
- Add pieces of wood shim between the floorboards and the subfloor until the squeaking stops. This works best if you are able to see under the floorboards, or you will have to do some slight renovations.
- Use screws to tighten the boards. Inset them from below and ensure they don’t go all the way through.
- If the squeak is near the edge of a room, you can always rearrange your furniture so that no one steps on the squeaky part of the board.
- Use carpenter’s glue or seam glue to fill in any of the “give” on the floor, especially if there are cracks. You have to be careful here, as this is just a short-term fix.
Solutions To Avoid When Fixing Squeaky Floors
Of course, there are other solutions that you want to avoid when you are fixing a squeaky floor. These are solutions that run rampant on the internet, but they aren’t actually good fits when you really need to fix the problem:
- Don’t wet the board and then put something heavy on it. Some internet rumors promise that you can fix the problem by putting something heavy on a wet or damp floor, and that will “bend” the wood back into shape. But the reality is that this will only cause problems for your floor in the future.
- Those “Squeaky Fixers” kits don’t really work. They can be a good solution for a weekend, but these kits aren’t quite extensive enough. They usually are missing a few critical items.
- Coconut oil doesn’t work. Just like in many of the “cures” that coconut oil provides, you won’t be able to fix your problems by smearing coconut oil over the boards. This will just make your floor slippery and difficult to walk on, plus it will get oil all over your floor and belongings. While different types of oils are often a great cleaning product, this solution is quite misguided.
What Causes Squeaky Floors?
Squeaky floors aren’t always caused by something going wrong with the floor, but sometimes they are. If you can pinpoint exactly why your floor is squeaking, you will be able to determine what the best fix is for it.
The most common issues are:
Seasonal Problems
Seasonal problems like changing humidity levels and temperatures can pose a threat to your floors. If your hardwood floor is made out of solid or engineered wood, they are likely to be impacted by weather conditions. These floors will expand and contract with humidity and temperature changes.
For example, if your floors squeak during the winter months, it could be that your floors have contracted and are now going to rub together more. You may just be able to wait out the weather, or you can use a humidifier to see if it will help.
Joist Problems
Joist problems are a more serious problem that won’t usually go away on their own. The joists are beneath your floor and subfloor, and they help to make up the very base of your floor and keep everything stabilized. Any loose joists or warped joists can cause a squeaking noise that is quiet, and if there aren't multiple loose joists, the noise can be quite pervasive.
You need to access the underside of your flooring to confirm the problem, tighten any joists you see that have loosened, and then replace any joists that have completely broken down or fallen. When in doubt, replace the joists.
Subfloor Problems
Subfloor problems exist as well, and they make things a little more difficult. Uneven subfloors are probably the most common issue homeowners face when they have a squeaky floor. You will have to fix any misalignment between the subfloor and the regular floor.
If your subfloor has been in your home for more than twenty years, or it has sustained a lot of water damage, you may want to look into replacing it.
Fixing Squeaky Wood Stairs
If you have squeaky stairs, it is important that you identify exactly where the sound is coming from so that you can fix it properly. Staircases on the inside of your home squeak because they are made up of quite a few different parts, and each of those parts has an age limit. Once they get older, they will start to squeak.
To fix a squeaky wooden stair, try the following:
- Always use flooring nails at opposite angles because this ensures the nails won’t become loose again.
- Always drill pilot holes for the nails, then drive the nails into the risers.
- For a smoother, cleaner look, you should fill the nail holes with wood putty and gently sand them down. You may have to restrain them. Be sure to check the staining on an extra piece of wood or a hidden location.
You Don’t Have To Live with Squeaky Floors
While a squeaky floor isn’t ideal, it’s something that you can usually live with. But you don’t have to! Most people will just learn to avoid that squeaky spot for some time until there is an even bigger issue that requires your attention. However, if you can spot treat your squeaky floor and eliminate it, you will probably be happier in your home.
Especially in older homes, squeaky floors are just a part of life. But luckily, there are ways to fix or eliminate the squeak so it doesn’t drive you crazy. Whether your squeaky culprits are dictated by the weather or by aging parts, you should do what you can, when you can, to prevent a long-term issue.
Sources:
How to Fix Squeaky Floors | This Old House
How to Use Wood and Plastic Shims | The Spruce
